The investigators claimed that Rafaela Vasquez was looking down at her smartphone, watching 'The Voice' when the car collided with Elaine Herzberg

A shooting after a high school commencement ceremony in Richmond, Virginia, killed two people Tuesday evening -- an 18-year-old on his graduation day and a man who'd attended -- and wounded five others, spreading terror and panic among hundreds who were celebrating, police say.

A 12-foot great white shark was spotted off the coast of South Carolina this week, about a year after it was detected near the New Jersey shore.

The aunt of a French teenager shot dead by police last week has urged the “violence to stop” and her nephew’s death to trigger “real change” peacefully, in a heartfelt interview with The Independent. Hatifa, who turned 47 on Saturday the day of her nephew’s funeral, described Nahel Merzouk, 17, as a “loving… teddy bear” who had big ambitions, liked to write rap lyrics and was “dedicated” to his mother. She said the family – who are of Algerian and Moroccan origin – had been overwhelmed by the national and global response to his killing last week by a police officer during a traffic stop in a west Parisian suburb. Thousands of people have taken to the streets across the country, calling for an end to police impunity and discrimination after a video of the incident was shared online. But it has also ignited violence with multiple cities ablaze as looters ransacked dozens of shops and torched thousands of vehicles, according to the interior ministry. Sunday morning a group of rioters ram-raided the home of a Paris suburb mayor, set the car alight and launched fireworks at his wife and young children. “I ask that the violence stop. I don’t want people to get hurt. The family is very much against the violence,” Hatifa, a mother-of-four herself, told The Independent. “We knew Nahel’s killing would have some impact but not this much. I think there are mass protests because so many mothers, like my sister, have had enough of being scared all the time.” She said the family were “very grateful” for the global support, which had helped as they dealt with “deep grief”. “But I hope that Nahel’s death is going to trigger some kind of change that means this never happens again,” she added. “At the end of the day, a grown-up shot a baby.” Nahel was fired at by a police officer during a traffic stop in the west Parisian suburb. The perpetrator of the shooting justified his action by the teenager’s refusal to comply and the police said he was “known” to them. But the incident was caught on mobile phone footage and showed Nahel driving away from the officers before one fired at him. His family believe he was likely terrified, and so panicked and drove off. France’s human rights ombudsman has opened an inquiry into the killing and the officer involved has been charged with homicide. Outraged at the murder, and the apparent efforts by the police to paint Nahel as a troubled teenager wanted by the law, has seen thousands take to the streets across the country. But that has spiralled into violence in many areas. Emmanuel Macron, facing the most severe challenge yet to his presidency, deployed 45,000 officers, including elite anti-terrorism units in a bid to end the unrest. Police unions, meanwhile, have declared they are “at war” with “savage hordes of vermin.” More than 3000 people have now been arrested across the country, curfews imposed and public transport curtailed as open street battles raged between protesters and police, and looting became rampant. Hatifa said the anger in the disenfranchised banlieues - or city suburbs - had been simmering for a while because of the endemic problem of discrimination in the police force. The youth, including Nahel, are regularly stopped by police, an action which scares them and heightens tensions, she added.“I don’t have all the answers to fix this. Racism and discrimination within the police a to stop. I know policemen are reaching their wits’ end and are taking their frustration out on young people. “But it has to stop, young people don’t like police, the police should be defending us not killing us,” she added. Haifa’s words echo those of Nahel’s grandmother who also called for calm in an interview with French TV channel BFMTV on Sunday. “Don’t break windows, don’t smash up schools, don’t smash up buses. Stop it, they’re mums on buses, they’re mums walking outside”, the grandmother begged. “Nahel is dead. My daughter had just one child, she’s lost, it’s over, my daughter has no life left. And they made me lose my daughter and my grandson.” Hatifa said the whole family was concerned about the mental health of Nahel’s mother, Mounia, who has been thrust into the international limelight. “My sister is focused entirely on the loss of her son, her only son. I am scared that she might make a mistake in her loneliness and solitude, when this quietens down,” she added. The officer who fired at Nahel has been taken into pre-trial custody, which French criminal law professors told The Independent was unprecedented. But many, including the family, fear that he may still be released. Nahel is the 16th driver to be shot at a traffic stop since the start of 2022, experts have told The Independent. The difference this time is that it was caught on camera. Hatifa said they were concerned by the impunity in the police force and hoped the officer, who has been detained on charges of homicide convinced and jailed. “It would be a disaster if after all that has happened, nothing changes and for this person to walk free. Young people in my neighbourhood go to prison for much less” she said with a shake in her voice. “We didn’t ask for a policeman to wake up one morning and put a bullet through my nephew’s heart. “I can’t breathe at night - I have never felt such pain. Nahel never hurt anyone.” Read More Paris protesters ram burning car into mayor’s home and leave family injured in ‘assassination attempt’ Paris shooting: Where are the riots in France and why are they happening? Travellers to France advised not to cancel trips but to avoid cities at night AP News Digest 2 p.m. Paris rioters ram burning car into mayor’s family home Where are the French riots and why are they happening?

Carina Lewis and her family were in a hotel when the building began to shake.

Harper Beckham made chicken burritos and fresh salsa with her father inspired by the movie 'Flamin' Hot'

A German federal court says it has rejected an appeal by a military officer who posed as a Syrian asylum-seeker and was convicted last of year of plotting to attack prominent politicians

Female reproductive health experts are calling on Meta, the parent company of Facebook and Instagram, to rethink its restrictions on reproductive health content.

Majorjon Kaylor has been charged with four counts of first-degree murder and burglary for entering a neighbor’s house and fatally shooting the family

Former NBA player Royce White wrote “Trump Won!” on the side of his head as he appeared at a Big3 game. The Big3 is a basketball league co-founded by rapper Ice Cube featuring three-on-three games. Mr White played for the Sacramento Kings and the Houston Rockets, but his NBA career was brief as he played only three regular season games. Since then, he has become an outspoken right-winger. Last year, he ran for the Republican nomination in Minnesota’s 5th Congressional District to challenge Democratic Rep Ilhan Omar. But he faced criticism when his campaign committee spent large amounts of money at major retailers without detailing how much of it was used for his campaign, Axios reported last year and he ultimately lost the primary in the solidly Democratic district. Mr White’s message earned him the praise of many on the right. “Royce White = MAGA fearless,” Steve Bannon said. “Royce White knows what’s going on,” former Arizona Republican gubernatorial nominee Kari Lake tweeted. “Trump won. EVERYONE knows it.” Similarly, last week, Mr White said he would support a presidential ticket with Mr Trump and Democratic presidential candidate and conspiracy theorist Robert F Kennedy Jr. Mr Kennedy also appeared at a Big3 game on Sunday. Despite initially criticising Mr Trump, Ice Cube later met with Mr Trump in 2020 to discuss the then-president’s agenda for Black Americans. “Every side is the Darkside for us here in America,” he tweeted at the time. “They’re all the same until something changes for us. They all lie and they all cheat but we can’t afford not to negotiate with whoever is in power or our condition in this country will never change. Our justice is bipartisan.” Read More Trump news – live: Guy Fieri faces backlash as new book claims Trump wanted to tap White House aides’ phones Trump wanted to tap phones of White House aides, new book claims Trump leaves Iowa Republicans with big bill after no-show at charity event Trump spreads White House cocaine conspiracy – live ‘Heartbreaking’ court ruling blocks trans youth from affirming care in Tennessee

All 21 passengers on a charter boat that sank in Italy's Lake Maggiore on Sunday, killing four people, were currently or formerly tied to Israeli and Italian and intelligence work, officials said.

Forty workers are trapped in a collapsed road tunnel in northern India for a seventh day as rescuers wait for a new machine to drill through the rubble so they can crawl to their freedom