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Tag: suspect

  • Fact-checking claims about Charlie Kirk’s shooter

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    In the hours after conservative activist Charlie Kirk was assassinated, details about the shooter remained elusive, and social media users and live TV commentary filled the void with false information.

    As of late afternoon Sept. 11, a day after the shooting at Utah Valley University where Kirk had been speaking, authorities did not have the shooter in custody and had not released any suspect’s name.

    Federal Bureau of Investigation agents “have been working around the clock in coordination with our law enforcement partners,” FBI special agent Robert Bohls said during a Sept. 11 news conference. “We are and will continue to work nonstop until we find the person that has committed this heinous crime and find out why they did it.”

    Two people were taken into custody on the day of the shooting but neither was the shooter and both were released. 

    The FBI released images Sept. 11 of a “person of interest” and asked the public for help identifying the person. 

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    Here’s a rundown of what didn’t happen, despite claims to the contrary.

    No evidence the shooter might have been a Kirk supporter

    About an hour after the shooting, before Kirk’s death was announced, political commentator Matthew Dowd suggested during an MSNBC broadcast that the shooter could have been a Kirk supporter. 

    “We don’t know if this was a supporter shooting their gun off in celebration or — so we have no idea about this,” Dowd said.

    While the shooter remains at large, there is no evidence the shooter was a Kirk supporter or someone celebrating. 

    State and federal authorities said the shooter fired a single shot from a high-powered bolt-action rifle that was later recovered in a wooded area outside the university campus. A university spokesperson said law enforcement believes the shooter fired from the roof of a building about 150 or 200 yards away from Kirk.

    Dowd was fired hours later for his comments that also included statements about Kirk using “hateful words” that lead to “hateful actions.” MSNBC and Dowd both apologized for the rhetoric. 

    George Zinn was taken into custody, but is not the shooter

    Immediately after the shooting, videos of a bald man being dragged away by law enforcement officers circulated widely on X. People sharing the videos said the man’s name was George Zinn.

    Zinn was initially taken into custody, authorities said, but he was released and charged with obstruction by police.

    The Salt Lake Tribune reported that Zinn disrupted events in the past and has a criminal record dating to the 1980s. Salt Lake County District Attorney Sim Gill told the newspaper that Zinn was often arrested “on suspicion of trespassing” and was “politically conservative, leaning libertarian.”

    Michael Mallinson, a 77-year-old Canadian man, was not the shooter

    An image of a different bald man also went viral.

    An X post with more than 992,000 views said, “The assassination attempt on Charlie Kirk was allegedly carried out by Michael Mallinson, a member of the Utah Democratic Party, Fox News reported.” 

    That claim was unfounded.

    Mallinson said he is a 77-year-old retired banker “who lived and was in Toronto,” The New York Times reported after interviewing him. The rumor may have originated from an X account impersonating a Fox broadcast affiliate, the Times reported.

    The fact-checking website Lead Stories found that the image was posted in 2020 on X by an account with Mallinson’s name. That account was unavailable Sept. 11.

    Sam Hyde, a 40-year-old comedian, is not the shooter. It’s a recycled meme

    A meme has been recycled for almost a decade to push disinformation about the identity of the mass shooting suspects in the U.S. and abroad. The meme features a real-life comedian whose name and photos have repeatedly been used by internet hoaxers. Once again, after Kirk’s death, the meme circulated on social media. 

    “Charlie Kirk shooter and Palestinian sympathizer Sam Hyde identified as shooter,” said a Sept. 10 X post showing an image of a man with a rifle.

    Another Sept. 10 X post shared a video of the same man with a gun and footage of him shooting outdoors. The caption said, “Video of Charlie Kirk shooter now surfaces after the incident and the shooter is identified as Samuel Hackmann. Watch as he warns about the devastation he will be causing.”

    The video and images show Samuel Hyde, now 40, a comedian. One of the images of Hyde with a rifle is from a 2016 YouTube video that has been removed. 

    The video in the X post was originally posted on Facebook in 2020 with the caption, “self-defense situation,” and it is not related to the Kirk assassination. 

    Video of a shooter ‘escaping’ is from July in Nevada

    On Sept. 11, an X user shared a video saying it shows “Charlie Kirk’s real shooter escaping after the shooting.” The post gained 9.5 million views.

    But a reverse image search showed the video was taken from a different incident that happened in July, and in a different state. 

    KRNV News 4 posted the video July 29 on Facebook, saying police confirmed it showed a suspected gunman escaping after shooting multiple people at the Grand Sierra Resort in Reno, Nevada. Three people died and three were injured.

    RELATED: Charlie Kirk is dead after being shot at a Utah college event. What we know

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  • What we know about ongoing manhunt for Charlie Kirk shooting suspect

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    What we know about ongoing manhunt for Charlie Kirk shooting suspect

    Good morning. I’m Bo Mason, commissioner for the Utah Department of Public Safety. I’d be remiss if we didn’t start off today to recognize the significance of, of the day, um. Historically on 9/11, law enforcement has come together as *** group to recognize and honor those that sacrificed. To preserve the ideals of this country, the freedoms of this country. And instead, we find ourselves today hunting *** murderer. We chose to violate our rights, the rights of an individual within this country. Just to recap yesterday’s events. At around 12:20 p.m. Political influencer Charlie Kirk was in Utah Valley University, participating in *** student sponsored event with Turning Point USA. Charlie was shot at that event. He was transported to *** local hospital where he later passed. Last night, his body was moved to the office, the state office of the medical examiner. We will continue to facilitate movements um to get him home today, um, and with his family. Yesterday during the investigative process we located *** couple of persons of interest. We interviewed those individuals. And after releasing them and after clearing them of being suspects. They face scrutiny. They face threats. We asked the public to be patient with the investigative process. These individuals were not suspects. They were people of interest. We ask that you do not impose into those those people and that investigative process. They don’t deserve that harassment for being subject to that. I’d like to thank all the investigators that are involved in this. They have worked around the clock all day yesterday through the night last night. Investigators from the State Bureau of Investigations, from county, from city agencies, the university, our federal partners with the FBI, the ATF, um, and many others. Those are just *** few of the people that we have involved in this. I’d like to thank all of them for their, for their strong work. Through all that work last night, we were able to make *** few, few breakthroughs. Um, we were able to track the movements of the shooter. Starting at 11:52 a.m. the subject arrived on campus shortly away from campus. We have tracked his movements onto the campus, through the stairwells, up to the roof, across the roof to *** shooting location. After the shooting, we were able to track his movements as he moved to the other side of the building, jumped off of the building, and fled off of the campus and into *** neighborhood. Our investigators have worked through those neighborhoods, contacting anybody they can with doorbell cameras, witnesses, and thoroughly worked through those communities trying to identify any leads. We do have good video footage of this individual. We are not going to release that at this time. We’re working through some technologies and some ways to identify this individual. If we are unsuccessful, we will reach out to you as the media, and we will push that publicly to help us identify them, but we’re confident in our abilities right now and we would like to move forward in *** manner that keeps everyone safe and moves this process appropriately. Last night I communicated with Erica. The family is devastated. As Commissioner of Public safety. As *** father, as *** husband, I can only imagine what that family is going through. The heinous event that happened yesterday is not Utah. This is not what we’re known for. Over the past several weeks, we’ve seen the state come together to help families in mourning, come together as *** community to show what Utah is known for. For *** state of, of character. Of service, of camaraderie, of ***, of *** neighboring field. We will not stand for what happened yesterday. We are exhausting every lead. We have every officer invested in this, every investigator, every local agency. The outpouring of support from the law enforcement community has been astounding. We are, we are investing everything we have into this, and we will catch this individual. Having walked through the crime scene, through the hallways of this school, through the classrooms. I can’t imagine what the people on scene felt as well. *** horrific event where some of them barricaded in classrooms, some of them ran in fear. Can’t over over overstate. The tragedy and the horrific event that yesterday was. And how we will work to, to bring to justice the actions of one individual or any other individuals that assisted in that. Our state has gone through *** lot and we will come out successfully. With that, I’ll turn the time over to Special Agens charge. Good morning. My name is Robert Bows, and I’m the special agent in charge of the Salt Lake Field Office. Following yesterday’s tragic shooting of Charlie Kirk, FBI agents have been working around the clock in coordination with our law enforcement partners. We are and will continue to work nonstop until we find the person that has committed this heinous crime and find out why they did it. This morning, I can tell you that we have recovered what we believe is the weapon that was used in yesterday’s shooting. It’s *** high-powered bolt action rifle. That rifle was was recovered in *** wooded area where the shooter had fled. So the FBI laboratory will be analyzing this weapon. Investigators have also collected footwear impression, *** palm print, and forearm imprints for analysis. I understand there are *** lot of questions about motive. I assure you that all leads, tips, and tips are being fully investigated. As of this morning, we received more than 130 tests. We thank the community for that. The FBI has brought every resource to bear. And we will continue to do so throughout the course of this investigation. The FBI’s mission is to protect the American people. It’s to uphold the Constitution of the United States. Any attack on the First Amendment. is an attack on the very foundation of our democracy. That is why we will, we will relentlessly pursue this case and the shooter until we find him. We also continue to grieve with the family and the community. It’s our community. If you have any video or images from the shooting, we ask you to please submit them to our digital media tip website at www.FBI.gov/Utahvalley shooting. You can also call the FBI at 1-800-CALL-FBI. We truly rely on the public’s help in these types of cases, and no tip is too small or insignificant. Thank you. Um, Commissioner James Matthews from Sky News, can I ask, uh, about the shooter? There’s clearly information, uh, about him or her. You say you’re confident at this stage in terms of tracking down who they are. Can you talk to us about their movements, their demeanor? Do you think it’s *** man? And also, can I ask what were the security arrangements in place? Was that move. Being monitored, it’s *** question many people will have particular problem. So what I’ll release about the suspect is uh Suspect blended in well with, with the college institution. Um, we’re not releasing any details right now and then we, we will soon, um, but right now we’re not, but that, that individual um appears to be of, of college age, um. We are confident in our abilities to track that individual. If we’re unsuccessful in identifying them immediately, we will reach out to the public’s help and the media’s help in pushing those photos. That was *** new development overnight working through the night studying those cameras, so that’s something that’s new and that we’re working through right now. As far as the security, I cannot speak to that. Neither the Department of Public Safety nor the Federal Bureau of Investigation was involved in in the planning or security of this event, and that’ll have to be *** question later for other agencies. I wanted to ask you, you mentioned that you found the gun in *** wooded area. Do you believe that the suspect could be hiding in the woods, and is that suspect possibly still in this area? So that’s *** good question and it’s, it’s *** question that goes to the safety of the community, right? Um, no, not in those woods. We walked through those woods and secured it. Um, as to the community, I can tell you that this was *** targeted event. Um, we don’t believe the community is, is at risk. However, we’re exhausting every resource to find him, uh, and. We will, we will do so on the BBC from the images you have, can you see clearly the suspect’s face? You say he was college age, do you believe he was from this university, and how far do you think he may have gone in this time span? So I can’t comment specifically on his face or any details such as that, uh, as it’s continuing to be *** part of the investigation and, and again we’ll release that shortly. Uh, however, um, we’re, we’re doing everything we can to find him, and we’re not sure how far he’s gone. And you do? We, we have images of the of the suspects that you’ve been able to recover, do you believe you know who this person is, the person that you’re looking for at this point again, as part of the investigation, we’re not releasing any details fingerprints or DNA. We are, we are exhausting all of our resources to be able to collect those, uh, but that’s again part of the excuse me. You said you found the weapon. Have you been able to trace back the owner of that weapon or purchased it? We are working on that but again part of the of the FBI think that’s impacting. We’ve got complete and total support from everyone from the director on down and it’s been an incredible supportive environment so far. tweets like the one where I can say is that we’re working the investigation the best we have right now.

    What we know about ongoing manhunt for Charlie Kirk shooting suspect

    Updated: 11:02 AM EDT Sep 11, 2025

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    A manhunt continues Thursday as law enforcement officials search for the suspect responsible for fatally shooting conservative activist Charlie Kirk at the Utah Valley University campus on Wednesday.Kirk was speaking at a debate hosted by the conservative youth organization Turning Point USA when he was shot and killed. Kirk was the CEO and co-founder of Turning Point USA.What we know about the shooterPolice are still working to identify the shooter.The suspect targeted Kirk, firing a single shot from a distant rooftop, according to Commissioner of the Utah Department of Public Safety Beau Mason. Authorities said the suspect “appears to be of college age” and “blended in” with students on the college campus.Authorities said the suspect arrived on campus just before noon. After firing the shot, the shooter jumped from the roof, moved through stairwells and ultimately fled from campus into a neighborhood. A high-powered, bolt-action rifle was found in a wooded area where the shooter fled, according to the FBI. The shooter is still on the run, and it is not clear how far the suspect may have gotten, but the nearby woods have been secured, authorities said.Officials are reviewing grainy security videos of a person in dark clothing. “We do have good video of this individual,” Mason said.Federal, state and local authorities were working what they called “multiple active crime scenes.” Are there other suspects?A person of interest was taken into custody Wednesday evening after the shooting, but has since been released, Utah Gov. Spencer Cox said. No charges were filed. Officials have no information indicating a second person was involved, according to Cox. Two other people were detained Wednesday, but neither was determined to be connected to the shooting and both were released, public safety officials said. The Associated Press contributed to this report.

    A manhunt continues Thursday as law enforcement officials search for the suspect responsible for fatally shooting conservative activist Charlie Kirk at the Utah Valley University campus on Wednesday.

    Kirk was speaking at a debate hosted by the conservative youth organization Turning Point USA when he was shot and killed. Kirk was the CEO and co-founder of Turning Point USA.

    What we know about the shooter

    Police are still working to identify the shooter.

    The suspect targeted Kirk, firing a single shot from a distant rooftop, according to Commissioner of the Utah Department of Public Safety Beau Mason.

    Authorities said the suspect “appears to be of college age” and “blended in” with students on the college campus.

    Authorities said the suspect arrived on campus just before noon.

    After firing the shot, the shooter jumped from the roof, moved through stairwells and ultimately fled from campus into a neighborhood. A high-powered, bolt-action rifle was found in a wooded area where the shooter fled, according to the FBI.

    The shooter is still on the run, and it is not clear how far the suspect may have gotten, but the nearby woods have been secured, authorities said.

    Officials are reviewing grainy security videos of a person in dark clothing. “We do have good video of this individual,” Mason said.

    Federal, state and local authorities were working what they called “multiple active crime scenes.”

    Are there other suspects?

    A person of interest was taken into custody Wednesday evening after the shooting, but has since been released, Utah Gov. Spencer Cox said. No charges were filed.

    Officials have no information indicating a second person was involved, according to Cox.

    Two other people were detained Wednesday, but neither was determined to be connected to the shooting and both were released, public safety officials said.

    The Associated Press contributed to this report.


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  • FBI says Charlie Kirk shooter is college age, blended into university as he fled

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    OREM, Utah — Authorities said Thursday they have fresh leads in their massive manhunt for a college-age shooter who killed influential right-wing activist Charlie Kirk with a single bullet as he spoke at a Utah college campus.

    No suspects were in custody Thursday, more than 18 hours after the shooting, and officials have yet to identify the gunman. However, Robert Bohls, the special agent in charge of the F.B.I.’s Salt Lake City office, said that investigators recovered the weapon they believe was used to kill Kirk — a high-powered bolt-action rifle they found in a wooded area near the campus — as well as the suspect’s footprints and palm prints.

    “We are and will continue to work nonstop until we find the person that has committed this heinous crime, and find out why they did it,” Bohls said.

    A close ally of President Trump who founded the conservative youth group Turning Point USA, Kirk was killed Wednesday by a single shot fired from the rooftop of a nearby building as he addressed a question about mass shootings at a Utah Valley University campus in Orem.

    Investigators are tracking a suspect who appeared to be college age and blended in on the university campus, Bohls said at a Thursday morning news conference. They have scoured dozens of feeds from campus security cameras and collected footwear impressions, a palm print and forearm imprints for analysis.

    Video of the crowd captured by an attendee shows a lone figure in black dashing across the rooftop of the Losee Center, a building about 150 yards from where Kirk was speaking.

    Beau Mason, commissioner of the Utah Department of Public Safety, said investigators “are confident in our abilities to track” the shooter and had “good video footage” that they were not ready to release.

    “We are working through some technologies and some ways to identify this individual,” he said.

    After scouring camera security footage, investigators believe the shooter arrived on campus at about 11:52 am and moved through the stairwells, up to the roof, across the roof to the shooting location, Mason said.

    “We were able to track his movements as he moved to the other side of the building, jumped off of the building and fled off of the campus and into a neighborhood,” Mason said. “Our investigators worked through those neighborhoods, contacting anybody they can, with doorbell cameras, witnesses, and have thoroughly worked through those communities trying to identify any leads.”

    Bohls said investigators recovered a high-powered, bolt-action rifle in a wooded area where the shooter had fled. Bohls did not answer reporters’ questions whether the rifle had been traced to an owner.

    The Utah Department of Public Safety said Wednesday night its State Crime Lab is working “multiple active crime scenes” — from the site where Kirk was shot to the locations he and the suspect traveled — with the Federal Bureau of Investigation, Utah County Attorney’s office, the Utah County Sheriff’s office, and the local police departments.

    Hope for a speedy capture of the suspect faded Wednesday night after the F.B.I. released the man its director, Kash Patel, had said was a subject of the investigation. After thanking local and state authorities for taking into custody “the subject for the horrific shooting,” Patel announced that the man had been released after an interrogation by law enforcement.

    “Our investigation continues,” Patel said.

    Another man who was taken into custody a few hours earlier was later released after being booked by Utah Valley University police on suspicion of obstruction of justice.

    Speaking at the Pentagon Thursday at an event commemorating the Sept. 11 attacks, President Trump said he would posthumously award the Presidential Medal of Freedom to Kirk.

    “Charlie was a giant of his generation, a champion of liberty and an inspiration to millions and millions of people,” Trump said.

    The shooter is believed to have fired about 20 minutes after Kirk began speaking Wednesday on a grassy campus courtyard under a white canopy emblazoned with the slogan “PROVE ME WRONG.” The event, attended by about 3,000 people, was the first stop on Kirk’s American Comeback Tour of U.S. campuses.

    Some experts who have seen videos believe that the assailant probably had experience with firearms, given the precision with which the single shot was fired from a considerable distance.

    Videos shared on social media show Kirk sitting on a chair, taking questions in front of a large crowd of people.

    “Do you know how many mass shooters there have been in America over the last 10 years?” an audience member asks.

    “Counting or not counting gang violence?” Kirk responds.

    Almost immediately, a shot rings out. Kirk falls back, blood gushing his neck. Video show people screaming and fleeing from the event.

    The killing — the latest incident in a spate of violent attacks targeting American politicians on the left and the right — led to swift condemnation of political violence from both sides of the ideological divide. But it also led to a blame game.

    After President Trump celebrated Kirk as a “patriot who devoted his life to the cause of open debate” and “martyr for truth and freedom,” he said in an evening video broadcast from the Oval Office that “‘radical left” rhetoric was “directly responsible for the terrorism that we’re seeing in our country today.”

    Trump — who did not mention recent acts of political violence against Democratic lawmakers — called for a crackdown on leftwing groups.

    Even as the House of Representatives observed a moment of silence for Kirk Wednesday when he was still in critical condition, the floor descended into chaos when some Democrats pushed back on a Republican legislator’s request that someone lead the group in prayer.

    Florida Representative Anna Paulina Luna, a former conservative influencer and close friend of Kirk, pointed angrily at Democrats. “You all caused this,” she shouted.

    Kirk, 31, was one of the Republican Party’s most influential power brokers.

    The founder of the influential conservative youth organization Turning Point USA, Kirk had a vast online reach: 1.6 million followers on Rumble, 3.8 million subscribers on YouTube, 5.2 million followers on X and 7.3 million followers on TikTok.

    During the 2024 election, he rallied his online followers to support Trump, prompting conservative podcast host Megyn Kelly to say: “It’s not an understatement to say that this man is responsible for helping the Republicans win back the White House and the U.S. Senate.”

    Just after Trump was elected for a second time to the presidency in November, Kirk frequently posted to social media from Trump’s Mar-a-Lago estate in Florida, where he had firsthand influence over which MAGA loyalists Trump named to his Cabinet.

    Kirk was known for melding his conservative politics, nationalism and evangelical faith, casting the current political climate as a state of spiritual warfare between a righteous right wing and so-called godless liberals.

    At a Turning Point event on the Salt Lake City campus of Awaken Church in 2023, he said that gun violence was worth the price of upholding the right to bear arms.

    “I think it’s worth it to have a cost of, unfortunately, some gun deaths every single year so that we can have the 2nd Amendment to protect our other God-given rights,” he said. “That is a prudent deal. It is rational.”

    He also previously declared that God was on the side of American conservatives and that there was “no separation of church and state.” In a speech to Trump supporters in Georgia last year, he said that “the Democrat Party supports everything that God hates” and that “there is a spiritual battle happening all around us.”

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  • What horrifying videos tell us about the killing of Charlie Kirk

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    Multiple videos from the scene show graphic details about the killing of conservative commentator and political organizer Charlie Kirk at a university in Utah on Wednesday.

    Authorities are now poring over the video as part of the investigation into Kirk’s killing. They are still looking for the gunman after briefly detaining and then freeing two people of interest.

    Charlie Kirk speaks before he is fatally shot during an event Wednesday at Utah Valley University in Orem, Utah.

    (Tess Crowley / Deseret News / AP)

    The shooting

    Kirk drew a large crowd to the event at Utah Valley University. He was gunned down at 12:20 p.m. while talking about mass shootings.

    “Do you know how many mass shooters there have been in America over the last 10 years?” an audience member asks.

    “Counting or not counting gang violence?” Kirk responds.

    Almost immediately, Kirk is shot in the neck. One video shows blood pouring from the wound as he falls over. As the crowd realizes what has taken place, people are heard screaming and running away.

    “This incident occurred with a large crowd around. There was one shot fired, one victim,” Beau Mason, commissioner of the Utah Department of Public Safety, said on Wednesday afternoon. “While the suspect is at large, we believe this was a targeted attack toward one individual.”

    People run off on a lawn.

    Members of the crowd screamed and ran after a gunshot was heard and Kirk toppled from his chair.

    (Tess Crowley / Deseret News / AP)

    The shooter is believed to have fired from the roof of a building at Kirk as he participated in the public event in the student courtyard, where around 3,000 people were gathered, according to the Department of Public Safety.

    A source familiar with the investigation told The Times that a bullet struck Kirk’s carotid artery.

    Moments later, many in the crowd begin running.

    Jeffrey Long, chief of the university’s Police Department, said six of the force’s officers, including some plainclothes officers embedded in the crowd, were working with members of Kirk’s personal security team to manage safety at the event.

    The shooter

    Several videos show a person who appears to be dressed in black moving on the roof of university’s Losee Center moments before the gunfire.

    Mason, of the Utah Department of Public Safety, said authorities were analyzing campus security video that showed a suspect in dark clothing who might have shot at Kirk from a roof.

    The gunman is believed to have killed Kirk from at least 200 yards away using some type of sniper rifle, law enforcement sources told The Times.

    A woman covers her mouth with one hand.

    Allison Hemingway-Witty cries after the shooting.

    (Tess Crowley / Deseret News / AP)

    Some experts who have seen videos believe that the assailant probably had experience with firearms, given the precision with which the single shot was fired from a considerable distance.

    Witness Seth Teasdale told the Salt Lake Tribune that the gunshot was so loud it echoed across the pavilion where Kirk was speaking.

    Brynlee Holms told the Tribune the shot was “super loud,” which added to the panic in the crowd.

    “I just heard a clear shot, ‘Boom!’ And that was it,” another witness told KUTV.

    Police detained George Zinn and Zachariah Qureshi as suspects and later released them after determining they had no ties to the shooting, according to the Department of Public Safety. The manhunt for the shooter continues.

    What is not shown

    No videos have surfaced showing the gunman firing the shot or fleeing the scene.

    Mason said authorities were reviewing closed-circuit television video. “We’re analyzing it, but it is security camera footage, so you can kind of guess what the quality of that is,” Mason said. “We do know [the suspect was] dressed in all dark clothing. We don’t have a much better description.”

    Utah Gov. Stephen Cox called the attack “a political assassination” and said Wednesday was “a dark day for our state” and “a tragic day for our nation.”

    Law enforcement was working “multiple active crime scenes” including the area Kirk was shot as well as the locations where the suspect and victim traveled, according to the Public Safety Department. They did not provide any further information on the suspect.

    The FBI created a tip line to gather information that may lead to the shooter’s arrest.

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  • 17-year-old girl arrested in Sacramento for stabbing man, police say

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    BACK TO YOU, BRIAN. THANK YOU. WE ARE FOLLOWING SOME BREAKING NEWS IN SACRAMENTO THIS MORNING. POLICE SAY THEY’VE DETAINED A 17 YEAR OLD GIRL FOR THE STABBING OF A 19 YEAR OLD MAN. HAPPENED AROUND 415 THIS MORNING IN A HOME ON NIGHTLINGER STREET IN WEST EL PASO HEIGHTS. OFFICERS GOT THERE AND FOUND THE MAN WITH AT LEAST ONE STAB WOUND. HE IS EXPECTED TO SURVIVE NOW. THE GI

    17-year-old girl arrested in Sacramento for stabbing man, police say

    Updated: 8:18 AM PDT Sep 8, 2025

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    A 17-year-old girl was arrested early Monday morning in connection with a non-fatal stabbing in Sacramento, officials said. Officers with the Sacramento Police Department were dispatched around 4:15 a.m. to a residence in the 3700 block of Knightlinger Street in the West Del Paso Heights neighborhood. Upon arrival, a 19-year-old man was found with at least one stab wound. He was taken to a nearby hospital for treatment and is expected to survive, the police department said. The suspect was detained at the scene. She was then taken to juvenile hall and booked for related charges, the police department said. The relation of the victim to the suspect, along with the circumstances leading up to the stabbing, is unknown to the public at this time. See more coverage of top California stories here | Download our app | Subscribe to our morning newsletter | Find us on YouTube here and subscribe to our channel

    SACRAMENTO, Calif. —

    A 17-year-old girl was arrested early Monday morning in connection with a non-fatal stabbing in Sacramento, officials said.

    Officers with the Sacramento Police Department were dispatched around 4:15 a.m. to a residence in the 3700 block of Knightlinger Street in the West Del Paso Heights neighborhood.

    Upon arrival, a 19-year-old man was found with at least one stab wound. He was taken to a nearby hospital for treatment and is expected to survive, the police department said.

    The suspect was detained at the scene. She was then taken to juvenile hall and booked for related charges, the police department said.

    The relation of the victim to the suspect, along with the circumstances leading up to the stabbing, is unknown to the public at this time.

    See more coverage of top California stories here | Download our app | Subscribe to our morning newsletter | Find us on YouTube here and subscribe to our channel

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  • Osceola County deputies search for suspect in Kissimmee hotel shooting

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    The Osceola County Sheriff’s Office has issued a “Be on the Lookout” alert for Shahzaib Ahmed Khan, who is accused of fatally shooting David Donahue-Alayon at a Kissimmee hotel early Wednesday morning.Captain Kim Montes, the public information officer for the Osceola County Sheriff’s Office, said, “You know unfortunately, we do suspect it could have been an argument over some kind of drug transaction or involving some type of drugs.”Deputies were called to the Irlo Hotel on West Irlo Bronson Highway in Kissimmee around 1 a.m., where they found Donahue-Alayon dead and face down on the ground. “We had the medical examiner come out and reveal to us he had suffered a gunshot wound to the chest so now we have a murder,” Montes explained.Investigators believe both the victim and the suspect knew each other and are known to law enforcement. “Both men have a long history with law enforcement including drugs and weapons charges but that still does not excuse somebody for taking somebody’s life,” Montes said.Khan, 33, is considered armed and dangerous, and authorities are unsure if he remains in the Kissimmee area. “We do believe he’s still armed, so we don’t want anyone approaching him. We’re not sure if he’s still in Osceola County so we have put this bolo out to other surrounding counties, to other agencies,” Montes said.Anyone who comes in contact with Khan is urged to notify the Osceola County Sheriff’s Office, call 911, or contact Crime Line.

    OSCEOLA COUNTY, Fla. —

    The Osceola County Sheriff’s Office has issued a “Be on the Lookout” alert for Shahzaib Ahmed Khan, who is accused of fatally shooting David Donahue-Alayon at a Kissimmee hotel early Wednesday morning.

    Captain Kim Montes, the public information officer for the Osceola County Sheriff’s Office, said, “You know unfortunately, we do suspect it could have been an argument over some kind of drug transaction or involving some type of drugs.”

    Deputies were called to the Irlo Hotel on West Irlo Bronson Highway in Kissimmee around 1 a.m., where they found Donahue-Alayon dead and face down on the ground. “We had the medical examiner come out and reveal to us he had suffered a gunshot wound to the chest so now we have a murder,” Montes explained.

    Investigators believe both the victim and the suspect knew each other and are known to law enforcement. “Both men have a long history with law enforcement including drugs and weapons charges but that still does not excuse somebody for taking somebody’s life,” Montes said.

    Khan, 33, is considered armed and dangerous, and authorities are unsure if he remains in the Kissimmee area. “We do believe he’s still armed, so we don’t want anyone approaching him. We’re not sure if he’s still in Osceola County so we have put this bolo out to other surrounding counties, to other agencies,” Montes said.

    Anyone who comes in contact with Khan is urged to notify the Osceola County Sheriff’s Office, call 911, or contact Crime Line.

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  • Man steals car with three children inside, crashes in Malibu after pursuit, authorities say

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    A man was arrested after stealing a car in East Los Angeles with three children inside, then crashing it in Malibu during a police pursuit Friday evening, officials confirmed.

    The car, a light-colored sedan, was left running with three children inside at a 7-Eleven on East Olympic Boulevard, according to the Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department. A stranger jumped inside the idling vehicle and took off at around 6:38 p.m.

    The California Highway Patrol began pursuing the vehicle minutes later, traveling westbound on the 10 Freeway at Maple Avenue in Los Angeles, the agency confirmed.

    The chase continued until roughly 7:34 p.m., when the sedan appeared to T-bone a light-colored SUV at the intersection of Pacific Coast Highway and Kanan Dume Road in Malibu.

    Following the crash, live footage broadcast from a news helicopter showed the suspect fleeing the scene barefoot and shedding layers of clothes. The man ran through a residential area into a field before being arrested.

    Four people at the scene were taken to a hospital — three by helicopter and one by ambulance, according to the Los Angeles County Fire Department. Three were listed with minor-to-moderate injuries, but no condition was available for the fourth person.

    It is unclear how seriously injured the children were, but they were conscious and breathing after the crash as paramedics removed them from the vehicle, KTLA-TV reported.

    The suspect’s name was not immediately released.

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  • How to talk to children about school shootings after 2 killed in Minnesota

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    Another school shooting has unfolded, this time in Minnesota, as a new school year gets underway in many towns and cities across the United States.

    Two children — an 8-year-old and a 10-year-old — were killed and 17 others, including 14 children, were hurt when a gunman opened fire through the windows of a church during a Mass service at the Annunciation Catholic School in Minneapolis on Wednesday morning, according to Minneapolis Police.

    Minneapolis Police Chief Brian O’Hara said the gunman was in his early 20s and armed with a rifle, a shotgun and a pistol. O’Hara told reporters at a press conference that police believe the shooter fired from all three weapons.

    The suspect died at the scene from a self-inflicted gunshot wound, police said, adding that they are still investigating a possible motive behind the attack.

    Law enforcement officers set up barriers after a shooting at Annunciation Church, which is also home to a an elementary school, in Minneapolis, Minnesota, August 27, 2025.

    Ben Brewer/Reuters

    The Annunciation Catholic School mass shooting is the latest in an ever-growing list of school shootings that have taken place in the past decade, since the Dec. 14, 2012, shooting at Sandy Hook Elementary School in Connecticut that claimed the lives of 20 students and six educators.

    With each school shooting, the number of people affected by school shootings grows, as do the conversations parents and caregivers must have with kids about the reality of gun violence in the U.S.

    People gather at a vigil tonight at Lynnhurst Park after a shooting at the Annunciation Catholic School, Aug. 27, 2025, in Minneapolis.

    Bruce Kluckhohn/AP

    Read on to see six tips from experts on how to discuss school shootings with kids.

    1. Be proactive in talking with kids.

    Dr. Mona Potter, a board-certified child and adolescent psychiatrist, said that when a tragedy happens, parents should “avoid avoiding” when it comes to talking about it with their kids.

    “Rather than try to protect them, it’s really important to think about how do we prepare them for the world,” Potter told ABC News. “And that’s going to be different for the little ones, from the middle schoolers, from the high schoolers, but really being attuned to what your kids need, and making sure that you’re encouraging brave behaviors. Break it down into small steps and really encourage them to take on the world, and help them feel like you trust them and you know that they can do it.”

    Dr. Deborah Gilboa, a board-certified family physician and resilience expert, also said parents and caregivers should consider their child’s age and situation when deciding how to talk with them about events like school shootings.

    “The first thing to think about is how old is my kid, and are they gonna hear about [the school shooting] anyway,” Gilboa told “Good Morning America” in 2023, after six people were killed at The Covenant School in Nashville. “So if they’re going to hear about it anyway, or they’re over the age of 8, it’s an important conversation to know how to have with your child.”

    Gilboa said parents and caregivers can start the conversation with a question, like, “Have you heard about this?”

    The next step, according to Gilboa, is to thoughtfully listen to a child’s reply.

    “We really listen to their answer before we flood them with more information,” Gilboa said, adding that adults should refrain from telling kids how or how not to feel. “[Telling a child] ‘there’s nothing to be afraid of,’ doesn’t really help.”

    2. Be truthful about what happened.

    Dr. Melissa Brymer, director of terrorism and disaster programs at the UCLA-Duke National Center for Child Traumatic Stress, said parents and caregivers should be truthful with kids in an age-appropriate way.

    “For our young kids, they don’t need to have all the details,” Brymer told ABC News in 2022. “Many times they’re going to be worried about their safety, your safety as a parent or caregiver or their family members’ safety, so we want to reiterate what’s being done to help them right now.”

    Brymer said parents should be prepared for teenagers to want a “much more in-depth conversation.”

    “How do we talk about what this event has meant that might have impacted our value system?” Brymer said of a potential conversation starter with a teen. “Can you encourage your kids to think about is there a club or some type of activity that they can do within their schools to show and create change? In these times, many of us start to feel lonely. How do we reach out to those that might not have someone in their life?”

    3. Take care of yourself as a parent or caregiver.

    Gilboa said the “first step” a parent or caregiver should take before talking with a child is to make sure their own emotions are in check and that they feel supported too.

    “We can’t come to our kids and have the conversation if we’re a wreck,” Gilboa said. “Then, they’re going to feel like they need to take care of us.”

    Brymer also suggested parents and caregivers take a “pause” so they can be ready to talk to their kids.

    “Sometimes we don’t have the words right away,” Brymer said. “We might need to reach out to our own support systems and have those conversations, and then we can have them with our kids.”

    If a child’s stress levels or response to a mass shooting are hard to manage, experts say parents and caregivers shouldn’t hesitate to seek guidance from their pediatrician, a school counselor, social worker or other mental health experts. Parents should also seek out professional mental health help if they are struggling.

    4. Keep an eye out for changes in kids’ behaviors.

    Psychiatrist and author Dr. Janet Taylor said children may respond to disturbing news about mass shootings in different ways, and parents and caregivers should pay attention to see if their child’s behaviors change.

    Children may experience problems focusing, have difficulty sleeping or become more irritable, according to Taylor.

    “If you have younger children and they suddenly get more clingy or want to sleep in bed with you, pay attention to that and cuddle them as they need it,” Taylor told “GMA” in 2022, after 21 people were killed in a shooting at Robb Elementary School in Uvalde, Texas. “Older kids may become more isolated or feel that they have to solve things by themselves.”

    Gilboa said parents and caregivers should also watch for kids who may develop a fear of going to school, who look for reasons to stay home and who withdraw from activities.

    “Ask them, ‘Hey, tell me more about what’s going on.’ Don’t just assume it’s because they have a test they don’t want to take or something like that,” Gilboa said. “And make sure that if you’re really worried about them, you’re reaching out to their doctor or to their guidance counselor, their school counselor to get a little bit of extra support for you and for them.”

    5. Remember to keep checking in with kids.

    Instead of discussing a school shooting only once, Robin Gurwitch, a licensed clinical psychologist and retired Duke University professor, said it’s crucial to continue the conversation over time.

    “A one-and-done conversation is not sufficient,” Gurwitch told ABC News in 2018, after 17 students and teachers were killed at Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School in Parkland, Florida. “Let your child or teenager know that ‘I really do care about you and I am open to having this discussion.’”

    Gurwitch added, “It is really important to check back in tomorrow, to check back in the next day, to find out, ‘What are your friends talking about related to this school shooting?’”

    6. Offer kids a chance to help.

    Gilboa said that helping kids focus on a sense of purpose after tragedy can help protect their mental health.

    She said parents and caregivers should ask a child if there is something that they can do together to help, or a way they can make a difference, either on the issue at hand or something else to make the world better.

    “That teaches kids that they matter, that their actions matter and they can have positive impact, and mattering improves their mental health,” Gilboa said. “If we have empathy for their feelings, ask them how they’re doing and involve them in making a difference, we’re giving them the best shot we can of having stronger mental health through some unbelievable stressors.”

    The National Child Traumatic Stress Network offers comprehensive resource guides for parents, caregivers and educators to support students. Click here for resources related to school shootings.

    If you or someone you know is struggling with thoughts of suicide, free, confidential help is available 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. Call or text the national lifeline at 988. Even if you feel like it, you are not alone.

    Editor’s note: This report was originally published on March 28, 2023.

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    GMA

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  • Man kills his partner, her friend in Orlando shooting, police say

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    Two women are dead after a domestic-related shooting Sunday night in Orlando, the city’s police department said. >> Video above is earlier reportingIt happened at 5 p.m. at Village Springs apartment complex on Cinderlane Parkway north of Lake Orlando. When officers arrived, they found two female victims with gunshot wounds. Both victims were transported to Orlando Regional Medical Center, where they later died, Orlando police said. “Preliminary investigation indicates one of the victims found at the scene was in a relationship with the suspect,” OPD said. “The second victim was a friend of the deceased.”The suspect, Eliette De Jesus Marquez, fled the scene on foot but was eventually charged with two counts of first-degree murder.>> This is a developing story and will be updated

    ORLANDO, Fla. —

    Two women are dead after a domestic-related shooting Sunday night in Orlando, the city’s police department said.

    >> Video above is earlier reporting

    It happened at 5 p.m. at Village Springs apartment complex on Cinderlane Parkway north of Lake Orlando.

    When officers arrived, they found two female victims with gunshot wounds.

    Both victims were transported to Orlando Regional Medical Center, where they later died, Orlando police said.

    “Preliminary investigation indicates one of the victims found at the scene was in a relationship with the suspect,” OPD said. “The second victim was a friend of the deceased.”

    The suspect, Eliette De Jesus Marquez, fled the scene on foot but was eventually charged with two counts of first-degree murder.

    >> This is a developing story and will be updated

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  • Woman allegedly kidnapped by ex-boyfriend released after slow-speed pursuit

    Woman allegedly kidnapped by ex-boyfriend released after slow-speed pursuit

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    A woman who was allegedly kidnapped by her ex-boyfriend in El Monte was released after a 21-mile freeway pursuit through Los Angeles and Orange counties that at one point slowed to a crawl.

    According to the El Monte Police Department, the man showed up at the woman’s place of work in the 10300 block of Lower Azusa Road just before 6 p.m. Saturday. The two argued before the man allegedly forced the woman into her car, police said, and drove off without allowing her to exit. The woman called a friend, who tracked the car via the Find My iPhone app and contacted law enforcement.

    A Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department helicopter located the car on the 5 Freeway in the area of Commerce and notified California Highway Patrol.

    CHP attempted a traffic stop, but the man continued to drive, leading law enforcement on a chase for more than 20 miles.

    “Spike strips were utilized to puncture the vehicle’s tires which caused it to become inoperable and yield” near the 405 Freeway and Westminster Avenue, police said in a statement.

    But first, multiple law enforcement vehicles slowly tailed the vehicle as it inched onward in a slow-speed pursuit, KCAL News footage showed, until the car finally came to a stop.

    The suspect and a woman in the passenger’s seat got out of the car, video showed. The man walked over to the woman and hugged her while she spoke into her phone. He then slowly walked backward toward law enforcement with raised arms and surrendered. The woman was not injured, police said.

    The suspect is at a processing facility on $100,000 bail, according to the Sheriff’s Department.

    El Monte police said that charges of kidnapping and felony evading would be submitted to the Los Angeles County district attorney’s office. Anyone with information is asked to contact the Police Department at (626) 580-2100.

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    Colleen Shalby

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  • Suspect taken into custody after shootout that left 2 LAPD officers injured

    Suspect taken into custody after shootout that left 2 LAPD officers injured

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    Two Los Angeles police officers were wounded and a suspect was taken into custody Friday night after a shootout that erupted in South L.A. while officers were investigating a possible robbery, authorities said.

    The incident occurred around 9 p.m. Friday when the two officers from LAPD’s Southeast Division responded to a report of a robbery in the 9200 block of Central Avenue, according to police.

    At some point during the ensuing encounter, the officers exchanged fire with an armed suspect, who then fled the area, police said. It wasn’t immediately clear whether the suspect was struck.

    A radio call for help brought a massive police response — including officers from neighboring divisions to the scene — which sits on the border of Florence-Firestone, an unincorporated neighborhood north of Watts. Officers with police K9s searched the area late into the night; the suspect was found and arrested after several hours, police said.

    The two unnamed officers were taken to a hospital with non-life-threatening injuries. Police did not disclose where they were hit, but a law enforcement source told The Times that preliminary information suggests that one of the officers suffered a graze wound to the leg, while the other was struck in the hand by shrapnel.

    Both officers were conscious and talking when they arrived at the hospital, a law enforcement source told The Times on Friday. They were released from the hospital Saturday morning.

    L.A. police records show that LAPD officers have opened fire 24 times so far this year, compared with 32 in the same time period in 2023.

    According to a recent crime briefing by LAPD interim Chief Dominic Choi, the Southeast area is one of several police divisions in the city to see an increase in robberies.

    A Southeast officer was wounded in another police shootout in the division area in July, during which a man allegedly opened fire on a police squad with a machine gun. The man was later taken into custody and faces an attempted murder charge.

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  • Razor blades, white powder attached to political signs lead to more charges in Arizona DNC shootings

    Razor blades, white powder attached to political signs lead to more charges in Arizona DNC shootings

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    Arizona investigators surveilling the man accused of shooting at the Democratic National Committee office in a suburb of Phoenix saw him posting political signs with bags of a white, powdery substance attached, officials said.Investigators in Tempe began surveilling Jeffrey Michael Kelly, 60, as a suspect in three separate shootings of the DNC office after receiving tips from the public, Tempe Police Chief Kenneth McCoy said at a news conference Wednesday.They watched Kelly placing the signs with the bags attached from late Monday into Tuesday morning, the chief said.Kelly was arrested Tuesday on three felony counts of acts of terrorism and seven other counts related to the shootings, court records show. The state added three additional felony counts of making false terrorism reports Wednesday night, bringing the total number of counts to 13.“It’s the state’s belief that Mr. Kelly poses the most extreme danger within a democracy and within our community,” prosecutor George Kelemen said. “Trying to disrupt political activity, aiming violence at a political party, is completely, completely out of bounds.”In addition to the bags of powder, Keleman said the signs placed by Kelly had utility knife blades attached to the edges. It was not immediately known what the powdery substance was.With the additional felony charges, a judge doubled Kelly’s bond to $1 million cash, an amount his attorney argued was completely out of reach.“Five hundred thousand dollars might as well be $5 billion” for Kelly, defense attorney Jason Squires told the judge. Maricopa County Jail records showed Kelly was still incarcerated as of Thursday night.Kelly was not asked to enter a plea at Wednesday’s hearings. CNN reached out to the prosecutor’s office and Squires for further comment Thursday.Arizona is among the crucial battleground states in the upcoming election, where the rivalry between Vice President Kamala Harris and former President Donald Trump has intensified. The campaign season has already been marred by violence, including the alleged assassination attempts targeting Trump during a Pennsylvania rally and at his Florida golf course.Three shooting incidentsKelly is accused of shooting at the DNC office in Tempe on three occasions.First, on September 16, just after midnight, Kelly fired more than 10 shots from a BB gun into the front doors and windows of the building, McCoy said.A week later, on September 23, around the same time, about six shots were fired at the building, damaging the front windows and office signs, the chief said.“This time the situation escalated to the use of real bullets,” McCoy said.Surveillance video from the second incident showed a silver Toyota SUV leaving the parking lot shortly after the shots were fired.Two weeks later, on October 6, shortly after midnight, a glass break alarm was triggered and responding officers found three bullet strikes in the front of the building, McCoy said.The same silver SUV was seen in surveillance video, the chief said.“Threats, intimidation or violence toward political officials, no matter what party they are a part of, are completely unacceptable,” Mitchell said. “These actions create fear, and they weaken the trust in our elections, and frankly, they weaken our system of democracy.”“Our department recognizes the significance of this arrest, and we want to reassure our community that when you go to vote over the next 13 days, we are committed to keeping you safe,” McCoy said, denouncing political violence.Officials believe weapons stockpile points to ‘potential mass casualty event’More than 120 guns and more than 250,000 rounds of ammunition were found at Kelly’s home following his arrest, prosecutors said at Kelly’s initial court appearance Wednesday.Investigators believe he may have been planning a mass casualty event, prosecutors said.“Obviously … those numbers of guns as well as those numbers of rounds are certainly a factor that you would consider,” Mitchell said at the news conference.Defense attorney Jason Squires strongly disputed the claim that Kelly was found to be in possession of a grenade launcher during a search of his home. “He had a flare gun,” Squires said, stating Kelly is a sportsman who used it “in different competitive events.”Kelly was under suspicion for the 2022 theft of political signs, but, “I don’t believe charges were filed against him at that time,” McCoy said.A review of Kelly’s Facebook posts found a large number of posts and memes criticizing liberals and Democrats, showing support for former President Trump, and pro-gun and military content dating back to 2012. There are no public posts on his page after August 2023.“We’re continuing our investigation to see if we can learn if there were any additional things he planned on doing,” McCoy said.Squires told the judge Wednesday evening that his client is a “retired aerospace engineer” with a master’s degree and a top secret government clearance. He did not provide further details on the nature of his job that required special clearance.“There was no evidence at all that he was on his way to commit mayhem, destruction and death,” Squires said.The Arizona Democratic Party remains “undeterred and continue the work of ensuring voters in the East Valley turn out in full force now through Election Day,” a spokesperson for the group said.CNN’s David Williams and Chimaine Pouteau contributed to this report.

    Arizona investigators surveilling the man accused of shooting at the Democratic National Committee office in a suburb of Phoenix saw him posting political signs with bags of a white, powdery substance attached, officials said.

    Investigators in Tempe began surveilling Jeffrey Michael Kelly, 60, as a suspect in three separate shootings of the DNC office after receiving tips from the public, Tempe Police Chief Kenneth McCoy said at a news conference Wednesday.

    They watched Kelly placing the signs with the bags attached from late Monday into Tuesday morning, the chief said.

    Kelly was arrested Tuesday on three felony counts of acts of terrorism and seven other counts related to the shootings, court records show. The state added three additional felony counts of making false terrorism reports Wednesday night, bringing the total number of counts to 13.

    “It’s the state’s belief that Mr. Kelly poses the most extreme danger within a democracy and within our community,” prosecutor George Kelemen said. “Trying to disrupt political activity, aiming violence at a political party, is completely, completely out of bounds.”

    In addition to the bags of powder, Keleman said the signs placed by Kelly had utility knife blades attached to the edges. It was not immediately known what the powdery substance was.

    With the additional felony charges, a judge doubled Kelly’s bond to $1 million cash, an amount his attorney argued was completely out of reach.

    “Five hundred thousand dollars might as well be $5 billion” for Kelly, defense attorney Jason Squires told the judge. Maricopa County Jail records showed Kelly was still incarcerated as of Thursday night.

    Kelly was not asked to enter a plea at Wednesday’s hearings. CNN reached out to the prosecutor’s office and Squires for further comment Thursday.

    Arizona is among the crucial battleground states in the upcoming election, where the rivalry between Vice President Kamala Harris and former President Donald Trump has intensified. The campaign season has already been marred by violence, including the alleged assassination attempts targeting Trump during a Pennsylvania rally and at his Florida golf course.

    Three shooting incidents

    Kelly is accused of shooting at the DNC office in Tempe on three occasions.

    First, on September 16, just after midnight, Kelly fired more than 10 shots from a BB gun into the front doors and windows of the building, McCoy said.

    A week later, on September 23, around the same time, about six shots were fired at the building, damaging the front windows and office signs, the chief said.

    “This time the situation escalated to the use of real bullets,” McCoy said.

    Surveillance video from the second incident showed a silver Toyota SUV leaving the parking lot shortly after the shots were fired.

    Two weeks later, on October 6, shortly after midnight, a glass break alarm was triggered and responding officers found three bullet strikes in the front of the building, McCoy said.

    The same silver SUV was seen in surveillance video, the chief said.

    “Threats, intimidation or violence toward political officials, no matter what party they are a part of, are completely unacceptable,” Mitchell said. “These actions create fear, and they weaken the trust in our elections, and frankly, they weaken our system of democracy.”

    “Our department recognizes the significance of this arrest, and we want to reassure our community that when you go to vote over the next 13 days, we are committed to keeping you safe,” McCoy said, denouncing political violence.

    Officials believe weapons stockpile points to ‘potential mass casualty event’

    More than 120 guns and more than 250,000 rounds of ammunition were found at Kelly’s home following his arrest, prosecutors said at Kelly’s initial court appearance Wednesday.

    Investigators believe he may have been planning a mass casualty event, prosecutors said.

    “Obviously … those numbers of guns as well as those numbers of rounds are certainly a factor that you would consider,” Mitchell said at the news conference.

    Defense attorney Jason Squires strongly disputed the claim that Kelly was found to be in possession of a grenade launcher during a search of his home. “He had a flare gun,” Squires said, stating Kelly is a sportsman who used it “in different competitive events.”

    Kelly was under suspicion for the 2022 theft of political signs, but, “I don’t believe charges were filed against him at that time,” McCoy said.

    A review of Kelly’s Facebook posts found a large number of posts and memes criticizing liberals and Democrats, showing support for former President Trump, and pro-gun and military content dating back to 2012. There are no public posts on his page after August 2023.

    “We’re continuing our investigation to see if we can learn if there were any additional things he planned on doing,” McCoy said.

    Squires told the judge Wednesday evening that his client is a “retired aerospace engineer” with a master’s degree and a top secret government clearance. He did not provide further details on the nature of his job that required special clearance.

    “There was no evidence at all that he was on his way to commit mayhem, destruction and death,” Squires said.

    The Arizona Democratic Party remains “undeterred and continue the work of ensuring voters in the East Valley turn out in full force now through Election Day,” a spokesperson for the group said.

    CNN’s David Williams and Chimaine Pouteau contributed to this report.

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  • Chase security guard helped plan a $200,000 armed heist in Palmdale, authorities say

    Chase security guard helped plan a $200,000 armed heist in Palmdale, authorities say

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    The couple arrived at the Chase Bank in Palmdale as planned. It was early February and they were there to withdraw $200,000. Nearby, a private security guard stood watch, occasionally sending text messages on her cellphone.

    As the couple made their way across the parking lot that day, they were approached by two armed men, who robbed them before fleeing.

    At the time, it seemed like a random act of violence with a big payout, but federal authorities say it was actually an inside job.

    This week, the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives announced that three Antelope Valley residents were charged in connection with the armed heist.

    ATF officials identified the suspects as 24-year-old Tyjana Grayes of Palmdale, and Lancaster residents Jerry “Poppa” Wimbley Jr., 21, and Roman “Siete” Isaiah Smith, 24.

    According to a federal grand jury indictment, the planning for the heist may have begun sometime in January after the couple showed up at a Chase branch in Palmdale to deposit a check for $315,301. The pair sought to withdraw about $200,000 but were told to return at a later date.

    At one point, Grayes, a private security guard for Chase Bank, allegedly learned of the scheduled pickup from a bank teller and passed the information along to Wimbley and Smith, according to the indictment.

    On Feb. 9, the two suspects allegedly drove to the bank and waited in the parking lot for the victims to pick up the money.

    Federal investigators said that, while working at the bank, Grayes sent a series of text messages and phone calls about the victims to an unnamed co-conspirator, who then passed the information along to Wimbley and Smith.

    As the couple were leaving the bank with the cash, federal investigators alleged that Wimbley and Smith exited their vehicle with semiautomatic handguns, threatened to shoot the victims and stole the money.

    Federal officials said that Wimbley then laundered the money by visiting the Commerce Casino and Hotel in Commerce beginning Feb. 10 through March 8, purchasing about $34,500 in gambling chips and cashing out about $168,700. On some of those visits, federal investigators said, Wimbley cashed out money without purchasing any chips.

    The suspects, who are scheduled to be arraigned this month, have been charged with conspiracy to interfere with commerce by robbery and interference with commerce by robbery; and aiding in or using a firearm during a crime of violence. Wimbley is also charged with being a felon in possession of firearms and ammunition, and three counts of money laundering. Meanwhile, Smith is facing murder charges in a separate case.

    If convicted of all charges, the suspects would each face a maximum sentence of life in federal prison.

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    Ruben Vives

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  • Man killed in drive-by shooting as he and his mother were leaving a home in Compton, authorities said

    Man killed in drive-by shooting as he and his mother were leaving a home in Compton, authorities said

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    A man was fatally shot in a drive-by shooting Saturday night as he and his mother were leaving a home in Compton, the Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department said.

    The shooting occurred around 9:15 p.m. as the victim and his mother were exiting the home in the 800 block of South Chester Avenue, authorities said. One or more occupants of a white sedan traveling southbound opened fire on the victim before speeding away.

    Deputies who responded were directed to a local hospital where the man had been taken by a family member and later died, authorities said.

    The sheriff’s department has not identified the victim or determined a motive for the crime.

    No arrests have been made, and there was no additional information about a suspect or suspects in the case.

    Anyone with information is asked to telephone the sheriff’s department at (323) 890-5500.

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    Daniel Miller

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  • L.A. serial arson suspect arrested, accused of lighting string of downtown fires

    L.A. serial arson suspect arrested, accused of lighting string of downtown fires

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    A man suspected of starting a string of fires in downtown Los Angeles — including a blaze that required 170 firefighters to extinguish and caused $7 million in damage — was arrested Friday, authorities said.

    The Los Angeles Fire Department identified the suspect as Victor Marias, 31. The department presented the case to the L.A. County district attorney’s office on Friday and recommended filing multiple felony arson charges against him, along with a probation violation.

    “We view the crime of arson as one of the most egregious offenses in Los Angeles, and the LAFD Arson/Counter-Terrorism Section uses every resource available to investigate and prosecute those that are responsible,” LAFD Capt. Erik Scott said in a video shared by the department.

    Those recent fires included a massive blaze on Kohler Street on July 19, which spread to several commercial buildings and took more than five hours to extinguish — resulting in more than $7 million in damage and injuring one firefighter, authorities said.

    Investigators used surveillance camera video to identify a suspect and determine that the fire was started intentionally.

    Authorities allege Marias started the fire on Kohler Street as well as two others in the downtown area — on Willow Street on Sept. 22 and Oct. 3.

    Marias is also on active probation for a fire that damaged a structure just one block away from the Kohler Street fire in August 2023, authorities say.

    “Surveillance footage shows a suspect collecting rubbish from a public trash can, also collecting wood for kindling and placing it near the base of a power pole,” said Scott, describing the Oct. 3 fire. “Moments after walking away, flames erupted from the garbage, eventually damaging the pole.”

    There is also surveillance footage from Sept. 22 showing a suspect lighting trash on fire by the door of a business, he added. In both cases, residents provided the security footage.

    “The assistance provided by witnesses within the community was critical to identifying and ultimately arresting the suspect,” Scott said. “Their willingness to step forward and to take an active role in protecting their own neighborhood from harm is appreciated and commended.”

    The LAFD is asking residents with additional information, photos and videos of these fires to email LAFDArson@lacity.org.

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    Clara Harter

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  • NYPD releases image of suspect wanted for stabbing man in the back at East Village subway station

    NYPD releases image of suspect wanted for stabbing man in the back at East Village subway station

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    EAST VILLAGE, Manhattan (WABC) — Police have released surveillance video of the suspect wanted for stabbing a man in the back at a Manhattan subway station.

    The attack happened around 8:45 p.m. on Friday at the L train station at East 14th Street and First Avenue.

    According to the NYPD, a 29-year-old man was walking down the stairs at the station when he bumped into the suspect. Officials say the two got into an argument before the suspect stabbed the man in the back with a knife and fled the scene.

    First responders transported the victim to Bellevue Hospital in stable condition.

    Police say the suspect is a man last seen wearing all black and a white hat.

    Anyone with information about the stabbing is asked to call the NYPD’s Crime Stoppers Hotline at 1-800-577-TIPS (8477).

    ALSO READ | NYPD releases bodycam video of police shooting at subway station

    Josh Einiger has the details on teh newly released body camera video.

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  • Teen charged in shooting of 49ers’ Ricky Pearsall is ‘very sorry,’ attorney says

    Teen charged in shooting of 49ers’ Ricky Pearsall is ‘very sorry,’ attorney says

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    SAN FRANCISCO — 

    The 17-year-old accused of shooting San Francisco 49ers wide receiver Ricky Pearsall during a botched armed robbery attempt last weekend was arraigned in juvenile court Wednesday, a day after he was charged with multiple felonies, including attempted murder.

    Judge Roger C. Chan read the charges against the teenager, who because he is a minor was referred to only by his initials. The allegations include personal use and intentional discharge of a firearm, assault with a semiautomatic firearm and attempted second-degree robbery,

    The young man, whom police have said lives in Tracy, about 70 miles east of San Francisco, sat facing forward through the short proceeding, next to his court-appointed public defender, Bob Dunlap. His parents sat in the front row of benches reserved for the public, a few feet from their son. His mother required a Spanish-speaking translator.

    Assistant Dist. Atty. David Mitchell said members of Pearsall’s family also attended the hearing, though he did not specify which relatives or whether they joined online or attended in person.

    Neither the suspect nor his family made any public comments. While taking questions from the media after the hearing, Dunlap said the teenager — whom he described as a high school senior — and his parents were “very sorry” about the shooting.

    “This is very, very hard on them,” Dunlap said. “They assured me, and from what little I know, that this is completely out of character for him.”

    Pearsall, 23, was walking back to his car alone after shopping in one of the luxury stores in San Francisco’s Union Square district on Saturday afternoon when, according to police, a gunman confronted Pearsall and tried to rob him, targeting his Rolex watch. A struggle ensued, and the attacker’s gun fired multiple times, San Francisco Police Chief Bill Scott said during a Saturday evening news conference. Both Pearsall and the assailant were shot.

    A bullet struck Pearsall in the chest and exited through his back, missing his vital organs, according to a social media post by his mother. He was treated at San Francisco General Hospital and released Sunday.

    The suspect was shot in his left arm and treated at the same hospital, according to police. Dunlap said his client is bandaged but recovering well.

    Dunlap said it was too early to address questions about why the teenager was in San Francisco, or his motives. Dunlap said he has read a police report on the incident, but has not yet been able to review video of the shooting that investigators are gathering from area surveillance cameras, which he believed would shed more light on what happened.

    He added that there were “extenuating circumstances” that he believed could factor into the case, but provided no details. He also said he wasn’t convinced the attempted murder charge would “hold water at the end of the day.”

    A probation official revealed during the hearing that the suspect has a pending juvenile court matter in San Joaquin County. Officials provided no details on that case, though Dunlap said his client would probably be transferred back to San Joaquin County after the San Francisco proceedings conclude.

    San Francisco Dist. Atty. Brooke Jenkins has not yet said whether she would seek to try the teenager in adult court. That would require a ruling by a judge that “essentially means that the juvenile system would not be equipped to rehabilitate that minor,” Jenkins said.

    Dunlap said it would be inappropriate for the case to be transferred out of juvenile court.

    “I think that my client certainly should be treated as a juvenile. He is a juvenile,” Dunlap said.

    Pearsall, who played for Arizona State and the University of Florida, was drafted by the 49ers in the first round of the 2024 NFL draft. He was sidelined with a shoulder injury during much of the NFL preseason.

    The 49ers have put Pearsall on the non-football injury list, meaning he will miss at least the first four regular-season games. Team officials have said they expect him to make a full recovery.

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  • Kamala Harris and Donald Trump respond to Georgia school shooting

    Kamala Harris and Donald Trump respond to Georgia school shooting

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    Kamala Harris and Donald Trump respond to Georgia school shooting

    So before I begin, I do want to say *** few words about this tragic shooting that took place this morning in Winder Georgia. Um We’re still gathering information about what happened, but we know that there were multiple fatalities and injuries and um you know, our hearts are with all the students, the teachers and their families, of course, and we are grateful to the first responders and the law enforcement that were on the scene. But this is just *** senseless tragedy on top of so many senseless tragedies and it’s just outrageous that every day in our country, in the United States of America that parents have to send their Children to school worried about whether or not their child will come home alive. It’s senseless it. We’ve got to stop it and we have to end this epidemic of gun violence in our country once and for all, you know, it doesn’t have to be this way. It doesn’t have to be this way. So we will continue of course to, to send our prayers and our thoughts to the families and all those who were affected, including, you know, I I’m going off script right. Now. But listen, I mean, you know, at, at the last year I, um, I started *** college tour and, um, I, I, I’ve traveled our country meeting with our young leaders. Right. And so it was college age, young leaders. So I did trade schools, colleges, universities, community colleges, by the way, I love Gen Z. I just love Gen Z. But I’ll tell you one of the things, one of the things that I asked every time I went to the auditorium and it would be filled with these young leader students and I’d ask them raise your hand. If at any point between kindergarten and 12th grade, you had to endure an active shooter drill. And the, for the, for the young leaders who are here who are raising their hand, I’m telling you every time the auditorium was packed and almost every hand went up. You know, *** lot of us I’ll talk, I’ll speak about myself. You know, we had, well, I grew up in California earthquake drills. We had fire drills, but our kids are sitting in *** classroom where they should be fulfilling their God given potential and some part of their big beautiful brain is concerned about *** shooter busting through the door of the classroom. It does not have to be this way.

    Kamala Harris and Donald Trump respond to Georgia school shooting

    Both 2024 presidential candidates have responded to the news of a shooting at a Georgia high school that left at least four dead and nine injured on Wednesday. Vice President Kamala Harris began her remarks during a rally in New Hampshire by addressing the shooting. The Democratic presidential nominee said her heart is with the students and teachers of the school. She called for action to curb gun violence.”It’s just outrageous that every day in our country, in the United States of America, that parents have to send their children to school worried about whether or not their child will come home alive,” Harris said. “We’ve got to stop it,” she said, adding that “it doesn’t have to be this way.”Watch Harris’s remarks in the video player above.Former President Donald Trump is holding a rally in Harrisburg, Pennsylvania, later Wednesday. The Republican presidential nominee posted about the shooting on his Truth Social page. “Our hearts are with the victims and loved ones of those affected by the tragic event in Winder, GA,” Trump wrote. “These cherished children were taken from us far too soon by a sick and deranged monster.”

    Both 2024 presidential candidates have responded to the news of a shooting at a Georgia high school that left at least four dead and nine injured on Wednesday.

    Vice President Kamala Harris began her remarks during a rally in New Hampshire by addressing the shooting.

    The Democratic presidential nominee said her heart is with the students and teachers of the school. She called for action to curb gun violence.

    “It’s just outrageous that every day in our country, in the United States of America, that parents have to send their children to school worried about whether or not their child will come home alive,” Harris said. “We’ve got to stop it,” she said, adding that “it doesn’t have to be this way.”

    Watch Harris’s remarks in the video player above.

    Former President Donald Trump is holding a rally in Harrisburg, Pennsylvania, later Wednesday. The Republican presidential nominee posted about the shooting on his Truth Social page.

    “Our hearts are with the victims and loved ones of those affected by the tragic event in Winder, GA,” Trump wrote. “These cherished children were taken from us far too soon by a sick and deranged monster.”

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  • Search warrants issued, gang targeted in killing of ‘General Hospital’ actor Johnny Wactor

    Search warrants issued, gang targeted in killing of ‘General Hospital’ actor Johnny Wactor

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    Los Angeles police are serving search warrants, seeking to make arrests in the slaying of “General Hospital” actor Johnny Wactor, law enforcement sources said Thursday.

    The sources, who were not authorized to speak publicly about the case, said the investigation is focusing on Florencia 13 gang members tied to catalytic converter thefts in the region.

    A statement of probable cause used to obtain the warrants named Robert Barceleau, Sergio Estrada and Leonel Gutierrez as suspects. The three were targeted after police said their fingerprints matched those lifted from a floor jack they used while trying to steal Wactor’s catalytic converter.

    After reviewing videos and interviewing witnesses, homicide detectives with the Los Angeles Police Department identified three men, one with distinctive facial tattoos, who they say jacked Wactor’s car on Hope Street near Pico Boulevard to steal its catalytic converter before shooting and killing him May 25.

    A statement of probable cause used to obtain the warrants named Robert Barceleau, Sergio Estrada and Leonel Gutierrez as suspects. The three were targeted after police said their fingerprints matched those lifted from a floor jack they used while trying to steal Wactor’s catalytic converter.

    Wactor had finished a shift at the nearby Level 8 bar about 3:20 a.m. when he and co-worker Anita Joy were walking to his car and interrupted the thieves.

    Wactor first thought his car was being towed, Joy said. After realizing that wasn’t the case, he asked the men to leave, showing his open hands to indicate he wasn’t a threat. Nevertheless, he was shot at close range, Joy said. A security guard from the bar said he found Joy and the mortally wounded Wactor and called 911.

    Joy asked Wactor whether he was OK, and he responded, “Nope. I’ve been shot,” according to the statement of probable cause.

    After the shooting, the suspects fled north on Hope Street in a stolen getaway car described as a 2018 black four-door Infiniti Q50 with a tan interior, police said.

    Thieves target catalytic converters because they contain precious metals, including rhodium, palladium and platinum. They can sell for hundreds of dollars to auto parts suppliers or scrapyards, where they can be melted down and the valuable metals extracted.

    Thefts of catalytic converters skyrocketed in California during the COVID-19 pandemic. That prompted new state laws that make it illegal for recyclers to buy the parts from anyone other than the vehicle’s legal owner or a licensed dealer. Penalties were increased for buyers who fail to certify that a catalytic converter wasn’t stolen.

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    Richard Winton, Noah Goldberg, Libor Jany

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  • Christopher Dorner gun found at Airbnb of alleged ‘crime tourists’ after Beverly Hills robbery of $1 million watch

    Christopher Dorner gun found at Airbnb of alleged ‘crime tourists’ after Beverly Hills robbery of $1 million watch

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    A gun once registered to Christopher Dorner — the notorious former L.A. cop who killed four people including two law officers — was found in the L.A. Airbnb of a pair of alleged “crime tourists,” federal prosecutors say.

    The two South American nationals are accused of stealing a $1-million watch at gunpoint last week on the patio of the Beverly Wilshire hotel.

    Did they use Dorner’s gun to carry out the alleged crime?

    Assistant U.S. Atty. Jena MacCabe would not confirm the weapon was used in the alleged robbery, KCAL reported, but an affidavit says it was the only weapon found in connection with the arrests.

    “We’re still trying to figure it out,” MacCabe said.

    Prosecutors say the suspects held up the victim in front of his wife and twin 5-year-old daughters at the high-end Beverly Hills hotel. One held a gun while the other took off the man’s luxury watch, a Patek Philippe, then fled in a car with a stolen plate, the affidavit says.

    Street cameras near the Beverly Wilshire captured the Aug. 7 armed robbery of a man in front of his family.

    (U.S. District Court)

    Jamer Mauricio Sepulveda Salazar, 21, of Colombia, is charged with two felony counts related to the armed robbery. Nineteen-year-old Jesus Eduardo Padron Rojas, of Venezuela, is charged with felony conspiracy to commit robbery.

    Sepulveda said the crew had been doing surveillance for two weeks in an effort to steal a Patek Phillipe watch, the complaint says, and both men admitted their involvement in stealing a $30,000 Rolex in Beverly Hills two days before the $1-million watch theft.

    Investigators found a handgun in Padron’s pillowcase at the suspects’ Airbnb on Browning Boulevard in Los Angeles. The gun was registered to Dorner, a former officer who targeted LAPD officers who he felt had wronged him.

    Over nine days in 2013, Dorner killed four people — two police officers, the daughter of a former LAPD captain and her fiancé — and injured three others. He died in a cabin in Big Bear that went up in flames after a shootout with authorities.

    MacCabe said investigators were “trying to figure out how this gun from so long ago, somehow came into their possession and was tied up in this violent armed robbery series.”

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    Sandra McDonald

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