List of All Articles with Tag 'us crime news'

Jerrald Gallion planned to spend the weekend with his 4-year-old daughter but the devoted father was instead one of three Black people gunned down Saturday afternoon at a Dollar General store in Jacksonville, Florida. Gallion, 29, was shot as he entered the store's front door with his girlfriend in a predominantly Black neighborhood. The killing marked him as another victim in the latest racist attack in the US. “My brother shouldn’t have lost his life,” his sister, Latiffany Gallion, said Sunday. “A simple day of going to the store, and he’s taken away from us forever.” The gunman, 21-year-old Ryan Palmeter, opened fire Saturday using guns he bought legally despite a past involuntary commitment for a mental health exam. Authorities say he left behind white supremacist ramblings that read like “the diary of a madman.” The other two people slain were identified as Angela Michelle Carr, 52, who was shot in her car, and store employee Anolt Joseph “AJ” Laguerre, Jr., 19, who was shot as he tried to flee. On Sunday, family members recalled Gallion's sense of humor and work ethic. He saw his job as a restaurant manager as a way to provide for his daughter, Je Asia. Although his relationship with the child’s mother didn’t last, they worked together to raise Je Asia. That earned him lasting affection from Sabrina Rozier, the child’s maternal grandmother. “He never missed a beat,” Rozier told reporters Sunday evening after a prayer vigil near the shooting scene. “He got her every weekend. As a matter of fact, he was supposed to have her (Saturday).” Gallion attended St. Paul Missionary Baptist Church in Jacksonville, Bishop John Guns told a crowd during the prayer vigil. “In two weeks I have to preach a funeral of a man who should still be alive,” Guns said. “He was not a gangster, he was not a thug — he was a father who gave his life to Jesus and was trying to get it together." As the child sat nearby in a pink dress with long braids in her hair, Rozier said the girl last spoke to her father at about 2:30 a.m. Saturday when she was having trouble falling asleep. “We’re trying to decide how to tell his one and only daughter that he’s not coming back,” Rozier said. “I’m her grandmother and I don’t know how to tell her. I don’t have the words.” Read More Ron DeSantis booed at Jacksonville vigil as police say racist Florida shooter bought weapons legally – live Everything we know about the Florida Dollar General Shooting Ron DeSantis is booed by mourners as he attends Jacksonville vigil after racist shooting

Two men and a woman were killed in a racially-motivated shooting in Jacksonville, Florida on Saturday. The gunman, a white male in his twenties, “hated Black people”, Jacksonville Sheriff T.K. Waters said. He was identified on Sunday as 21-year-old Ryan Palmeter by the Jacksonville Sheriff’s Office; the sheriff called him a “maniac.” The victims were identified as Angela Michelle Carr, 52, Anolt Joseph “AJ” Laguerre Jr, 19, and Jarrald De’Shaun Gallion, 29. The shooting took place at a Dollar General store just blocks from the historically-Black Edward Waters University. The gunman was initially seen near the library on the campus but security guards tried to take him into custody and he escaped. Shortly before the shooting took place, the gunman’s parents called law enforcement to say they had found a manifesto, reported WJXT. The gunman had reportedly called his parents ahead of the attack and told them to look at his computer. Sheriff Waters described those writings as a “disgusting ideology of hate”. He also confirmed that the three victims were Black. The shooter, who had entered the store with an assault rifle covered in swastikas, took his own life. “His sickening ideology is not representative of the values of this Jacksonville community that we all love so much,” the sheriff said, adding that we “reject this inexcusable violence.”

The former Navy SEAL who claims to have shot and killed Osama bin Laden has been arrested in Texas. Robert O’Neill, 47, was booked into jail in Frisco on Wednesday and released later that day on a $3,500 bond, reported The Dallas Morning News. He was charged with a Class A misdemeanour of assault causing bodily injury and a Class C misdemeanour charge of public intoxication. Mr O’Neill was a member of SEAL Team 6 during the famed 2011 mission and subsequently claimed that he had fired the shots which killed the al Qaeda leader and September 11 mastermind at his Pakistan compound. Mr O’Neill had been in the Dallas area to record a podcast at a cigar lounge, according to The New York Post. It is not Mr O’Neill’s first run-in with law enforcement. In 2016, he was arrested in Montana on suspicion of driving under the influence after police said they found him asleep in the driver’s seat of a vehicle with the engine still running, reported The Montana Standard. He blamed a prescription sleeping pill that he told officials he took to deal with insomnia and prosecutors dropped the charges. He was instead charged with negligent endangerment and the prosecution was deferred while he underwent treatment. Mr O’Neill, who is from Montana, was banned from flying on Delta Air Lines after he posted a photo of himself without a mask, when it was still required because of Covid-19. He first made his claim that he was the person who killed Osama bin Laden in a 2014 interview with The Washington Post. The US government has never confirmed nor denied his claim, and different accounts of the operation have clouded who actually pulled the trigger. Some in the special operations community have criticised Mr O’Neill for breaking the code of silence associated with Naval Special Warfare. The official version of events will likely not be de-classified for decades. Read More Plea negotiations could mean no 9/11 defendants face the death penalty, the US tells families Afghanistan is moving into a darker future – and we are letting it happen A top lawyer’s son, a FBI raid and ‘weapons of mass destruction’: How a Philly teen allegedly turned ‘aspiring terrorist’

Multiple people were killed as an active shooter barricaded himself inside a Dollar General store in Florida. Jacksonville Mayor Donna Deegan confirmed that there were “a number of fatalities” caused by the shooting at the store on the city’s Kings Road on Saturday. “This is unacceptable. One shooting is too much but these mass shootings are really hard to take,” she said, according to WJXT. And she added: “It’s a heartbreaking thing for our community. It’s awful and it has happened in this community way too many times.” State Representative Angie Nixon, who represents the District 13 neighbourhood called the incident “tragic.” “These are things that we want to try to avoid by making sure that our communities are fully resourced, making sure we’re creating a climate of love and not tension,” Ms Nixon told WJXT. Councilwoman Ju’Coby Pittman said she was devastated to see yet more violence unleashed. “I’m tired of seeing all the shootings. The people in this community are hurting,” she said. The shooting took place near the city’s Edward Waters University campus, which issued a campus-wide stay in place order.

Multiple people were killed as an active shooter barricaded himself inside a Dollar General store in Florida. Jacksonville Mayor Donna Deegan confirmed that there were “a number of fatalities” caused by the mass shooting at the store on the city’s Kings Road on Saturday. “This is unacceptable. One shooting is too much but these mass shootings are really hard to take,” she said, according to WJXT. And she added: “It’s a heartbreaking thing for our community. It’s awful and it has happened in this community way too many times.”

At least four people have been killed and others are being treated for gunshot wounds after a mass shooting at a popular bikers’ bar in California’s Orange County. The Orange County sheriff said those killed included the suspected gunman, identified by The Orange County Sheriff’s Department as John Snowling, 59. Three people died and six others were injured before Snowling was killed by law enforcement. The fatal victims have been identified as John Leehey, 67, Tonya Clark, 49, and Glen Sprowl, 53. The incident began with a domestic dispute between the gunman and his wife. Snowling, a retired law enforcement officer with the Ventura Police Department, opened fire on his wife Marie Snowling and her dining companion. Sheriff Don Barnes said on Thursday that Snowling then continued shooting indiscriminately. A man who approached Snwoling as the gunman retrieved more weapons from his vehicle was fatally shot. Ms Snowling had filed for divorce in December 2022, according to The Los Angeles Times. A neighbour of the couple told the outlet she had moved in with her ailing mother while Snowling was spending most of his time in Ohio, where he owned a property. Read More A ‘domestic dispute’ spilled into historic biker bar Cook’s Corner. It ended with a mass shooting Gunman in Cook’s Corner shooting identified as retired police officer John Snowling

A shopping centre in Southern California was evacuated and a young man arrested after a "suspicious toilet" was left near a movie theatre. Police evacuated the Americana Mall in Glendale on Thursday at about 8pm on suspicion of a bomb, with the alert lifted approximately two hours later, according to KTLA. Upon discovering the toilet, which had been painted in multiple bright colours. police found a note that claimed explosives were hidden within the porcelain. Bomb squads rushed to the scene as shoppers at the mall were herded toward the exits. Explosives experts then examined the toilet but did not find anything suspicious inside. KCAL News' sky camera captured pictures of the lavishly decorated lavatory, which had been left in a paved area next to a what looked like a music stand. It was unclear if the stand was related to the toilet incident. The bomb squad used drones and x-ray equipment to examine the toilet, according to KTLA. Once the x-ray came back clear, a pair of bomb squad members dismantled the toilet and later cleared the area. Rick Caruso, the owner of the shopping centre, released a statement following the incident. “Earlier this evening, a suspicious item and note were left at The Americana at Brand. As a result of our significant investment in security measures, we were able to quickly assist the GPD in identifying and locating a suspect who was then arrested,” he said. “We do not tolerate criminal activity on our properties and will take every step necessary to ensure the safety of our guests, tenants, residents and employees. We extend our gratitude to our security team and to the GPD for their quick response and action in arresting the suspect.” Police have reportedly arrested a 22-year-old man named Timothy Taratchila in connection with the toilet bomb threat. He was identified after police reviewed surveillance footage in which they saw him allegedly placing the toilet near the shopping centre. Mr Taratchila is reportedly from Burbank, and was being held at the Glendale Police Department pending $15,000 bail. The incident left one news anchor in disbelief as he reported exactly what was unfolding the mall. "Your eyes do not deceive you," CBS News' Desmond Shaw said. "I'm going to utter a sentence that I never thought I would utter, that a suspicious toilet has caused an evacuation of one of the most busy shopping centres in the greater LA area,” adding that the situation was "bizarre". Read More F-18 military jet crashes during training flight near San Diego Maui county sues Hawaiian Electric Company over deadly Lahaina fires Largest known gathering of octopuses discovered off California

Investigators and family members of a North Carolina woman had not expected to find her remains after she went missing more than a month ago. On Thursday, the police said they found the remains of Allisha Watts, 39, who was last seen on 16 July. Her boyfriend of one year, James Dunmore, was arrested on the same day on suspicion of Watts’ murder, according to the Montgomery County Sheriff’s Office. Watts’ remains were found in a wooded area of a cemetery near the towns of Candor and Norman, sheriff Pete Herron said. “This is not the outcome that we had been hoping for, but by finding Allisha today... I hope and I pray it brings some closure to family and friends moving forward,” Mr Herron said at a news conference. Watts, who worked in the mental health field, was last seen in Charlotte, North Carolina on 16 July and her Mercedes was found in Anson County, southeast of Charlotte two days later. Mr Dunmore was found unresponsive inside the car, the county sheriff’s office said, according to CNN. It is not yet clear how her remains were found and how she died. Mr Dunmore, 51, who lives in Charlotte, was being held by police. The arrest warrant alleges he “unlawfully, willfully and feloniously did of malice aforethought kill and murder Allisha Watts”. He was arrested in the Charlotte area where Watts was visiting a residence on the day she went missing, police had said. Watts’ sister, Stephanie Johnson, told ABC News that her sister was with Mr Dunmore when she went missing. The two met when Watts drove to Charlotte to visit her cousin, Ms Johnson said. Talking about her sister, she said Watts was a “hard-working, independent, reliable, resourceful, loving, kind, attentive person”. The police said the case “is no longer considered a missing person investigation”. “This is not what we prayed for,” Watts’ friend, Dorothy Brower, told reporters after her body was recovered. “She was found, but it was not how we wanted to find her. She doesn’t deserve what her fate became. Just to dispose of someone who is just one of the best persons you could meet,” she said. Mr Dunmore is being held in the Montgomery County jail without bond . He is expected to appear in court on Monday. “This is an ongoing and active case and investigation, and there’s still much work to be done,” Mr Herron said. Read More Drink-driver who killed charity cyclist and hid body to be sentenced BTK serial killer is in the news again. Here's why and some background about his case Trump arrest live updates: Trump tweets historic mugshot after booking at Fulton County Jail

An Arizona woman who was allegedly kidnapped by a man in a wig posing as an Uber driver escaped after passing a note to a gas station customer pleading for help, according to authorities. The woman was abducted from a car dealership in Phoenix at 7am on Monday, the Yavapai County Sheriff’s Office (YCSO) said in a statement. The suspect, identified by authorities as 41-year-old Jacob Wilhoit, “restrained” the woman in the car and drove north towards Las Vegas, and they spent the night in a Lake Mead park, the sheriff’s office said. At 5pm on Tuesday, they pulled into a Chevron gas station 150 miles southeast in Seligman, Arizona. The woman signalled to another customer and passed a note with a description of her abductor and his blue Honda van, and begged them to call 911. “Help,” the note read. “Call 911.” The note included a a phone number and that they were headed to “Kingman Las Vegas”. Their van was intercepted by officers from the Department of Public Safety (DPS) heading westbound on the I-40, and Mr Wilhoit was detained without incident, according to authorities. Several firearms were found “in plain view” in his car, they said. Deputies also learned the woman had been reported missing by her mother the previous day, who named Mr Wilhoit as a “person of interest”. Mr Wilhoit has been arrested on charges including aggravated assault, unlawful imprisonment, kidnapping, and other assault and harassment charges. “The victim’s extraordinary action in passing the note, the customer’s willingness to assist, and the quick actions of YCSO and DPS saved the victim from her kidnapper and allowed her to return home with her family,” Yavapai County Sheriff’s Office said. Read More The BTK killer’s need for notoriety led to his capture a decade ago. He’s now a ‘prime suspect’ in at least two other murders Ambushed at an LA park, kidnapped and her body dumped in a field: What happened to Andrea Vazquez? California woman who vanished eight years ago reappears to ask police to take her off missing persons list

Five family members have been found dead in a home in northeast Ohio in an apparent murder-suicide, authorities say. Police in Uniontown, Stark County, made the grisly discovery after performing a wellbeing check at a home in the 13000 block of Carnation Avenue around 7.30pm on Thursday. Officers found five dead family members, and described the incident as a domestic dispute that “turned deadly”. The victims were identified as Jason Dunham, 46, Melissa Dunham, 42, Renee Dunham, 15, Amber Dunham, 12, and 9-year-old Evan Dunham. The Stark County Sheriff’s Office, Ohio Bureau of Criminal Investigation and the Stark County Prosecutor’s Office are helping Uniontown police with the investigation. Uniontown is a town of approximately 7,000 residents, situated 50 miles south of Cleveland. Read More GOP support for gun restrictions slips a year after Congress passed firearms law Philadelphia officer to be fired over shooting death of Black man as new video contradicts police account Donald Trump’s weight and height in Georgia arrest records raises eyebrows

A woman has been charged with animal cruelty for allegedly abandoning her dog at a Pennsylvania airport before boarding a flight to a resort in Mexico. Allison Gaiser, 44, allegedly ditched her brown-and-white male French bulldog at Pittsburgh International Airport on 4 August after she was denied boarding by the airline because it did not meet the criteria for an emotional support animal, the Allegheny county police said on Thursday. She also did not have a proper kennel required to bring the animal onto a flight, the authorities said. After leaving the ticket counter, Ms Gaiser was seen on surveillance cameras pushing the dog in the stroller back toward a moving walkway enclosure, next to glass exit doors in the airport's short-term parking lot. She later moved to an area where a county police officer found the dog unattended in the stroller about 40 minutes later at around 5.03am, authorities said. The dog, which was licensed and had an identification microchip, was found unharmed and turned over to an animal care facility. He was later sent to a foster home and is doing well, the police said. Authorities were waiting for Ms Gaiser when she returned to the airport about 12.30am on 10 August. She admitted leaving the dog behind because the airline wouldn't allow it on the plane but claimed to have made arrangements with her mother to pick up the animal at the airport, according to the Associated Press. She allowed the police to review text messages between her and her mother, but authorities said it was apparent that no immediate arrangement was made for Ms Gaiser's mother to pick up the dog. The mother said she only found out about the incident when Ms Gaiser's ex-husband shared a news story about the dog being left at the airport. Ms Gaiser has been charged with one misdemeanor count of animal cruelty, summary violations of animal cruelty, animal neglect and abandonment of animals by owner. Her initial court hearing is scheduled for 16 October. "There are many pets still looking for a home, and we would encourage anyone interested in adoption to reach out to Animal Friends at 412-847-7000," the police department said on Facebook. Read More Dog owner documents rescued maltese’s ‘journey to walking again’ after she was suddenly paralysed Dogs being killed, poisoned, beaten and mutilated on massive scale, says RSPCA Britney Spears called out by PETA over her alleged decision to buy new puppy instead of rescue

The son of a Los Angeles County fire captain has pleaded not guilty to kidnapping and murdering a California woman who was shot and abducted from a park. Gabriel Sean Esparza, 20, has been charged with multiple felonies including murder, kidnapping and attempted rape of 19-year-old Andrea Vazquez. Mr Esparza entered a not-guilty plea when he made his first court appearance for the brutal slaying on Wednesday. Prosecutors have formally filed seven charges against the suspect, according to a criminal complaint submitted in Los Angeles Superior Court. These also include attempted murder, kidnapping to commit another crime, assault with intent to commit a felony, and two counts of attempted forcible rape. Vazquez was randomly kidnapped on Sunday while in a car with her boyfriend in a Whittier park. While Vazquez and her boyfriend were sitting in the parked car at Penn Park, an armed man approached them and began shooting. Vazquez’s boyfriend fled the scene and when he returned, he “discovered blood” near it and Vazquez was gone. Vazquez’s body was found the following day in Moreno Valley. Read More Andrea Vasquez: California woman shot and kidnapped from boyfriend’s car found dead Ambushed at an LA park, kidnapped and her body dumped in a field: What happened to Andrea Vazquez?