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Tag: shooting

  • Ashley Guindon: Virginia Cop Killed On First Day Of Duty Honored By Fellow Officers

    A Virginia police officer named Ashley Guindon was shot and killed on her first day on the job after she and two other colleagues responded to a report about a domestic argument.

    Guindon was fatally shot in Prince William County, Virginia on Saturday, February 27, just a day after being sworn in as a county police officer.

    According to police reports, a woman had already been killed inside the house during a domestic altercation before the responding police officers arrived. Officers reportedly received a call around 5:30 p.m. on Saturday about a “verbal argument.”

    Army Sgt. Ronald Hamilton, who once served in the Army, started shooting as soon as the police officers came to his house. Guindon died during the shootout while the other two police officers were badly wounded.

    Prince William County Police Chief Stephan Hudson paid tribute to Ashley Guindon and honored her heroic act on Sunday. Hudson is tight-lipped as to what might have pushed the military serviceman, who worked at the Pentagon, to open fire.

    The suspect and his wife had been arguing all day before the police officers arrived, according to the investigation. Hamilton reportedly shot and killed his wife when she tried to report their dispute to 911, and then fired at the arriving authorities. Their 11-year-old son was said to be at home when the incident happened. A handgun and a rifle were recovered at the crime scene.

    According to the Toronto Sun, Commonwealth’s Attorney Paul Ebert has authorized a capital murder charge, first-degree murder, and malicious wounding, against Hamilton.

    Ashley Guindon earned a bachelor’s degree in aeronautics at Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University in Daytona Beach, Florida. She also had a license to fly historical aircraft. Guindon had served in the Marine Reserve as a Corporal before joining the police academy.

  • Uber Driver Said He Was “Just Tired” After Fare Asked If He Was The Shooter

    Uber driver Jason Dalton reportedly told a passenger that he was “just tired” when the man jokingly asked whether he was the shooter who had gone on a rampage in Kalamazoo, Michigan over the weekend.

    Dalton allegedly drove around the city on a shooting rampage on Saturday evening, killing six people. When news of the murders reached a man in the backseat of an Uber car, he tried to lighten the mood. He didn’t get the reaction he was expecting.

    The man, who gives his name as Derek, said Dalton was calm when he picked him up.

    “I jokingly said to the driver, ‘You aren’t the shooter, are you?’ and he either shook his head or said no, and I said, ‘Are you sure?’ And his response wasn’t like you would expect, like a laugh. It was just very calm and quiet. It was, ‘I’m just tired. No, I’m just tired,’” Derek said.

    Unbeknownst to Derek, there was already a manhunt underway for a car fitting the description of Dalton’s vehicle. He escaped unharmed, and about thirty minutes later, Dalton was arrested. He is scheduled for arraignment today, but people across the country are anxious to know whether there was a motive for the killings, which took the lives of six innocent people in various locations.

    One woman was shot when Dalton opened fire near an apartment complex because she shielded children from the gunfire. She is listed in serious condition today.

    “This person put themselves between the children and the shooter, right away,” Sheriff Richard Fuller said, referring to her as a “hero”.

    A 14-year old girl was also seriously wounded in the attacks and is in critical condition.

    Derek wasn’t the only fare Dalton picked up during the nearly seven-hour spree; passenger Matt Mellen says he got scared when the Uber driver began driving erratically and jumped out of the car the first chance he got.

    “We got about a mile from my house, and he got a telephone call. After that call, he started driving erratically, running stop signs. We were kind of driving through medians, driving through the lawn speeding along and then finally, once he came to a stop, I jumped out of the car and ran away,” Mellen said.

    Mellen also said that Dalton was oddly calm throughout the ordeal; he reportedly surrendered peacefully to police.

  • Tulane Med Student Shot While Helping Kidnapping Victim

    Tulane med student Peter Gold was shot in the stomach in the early hours of Friday morning when he stopped to help a woman in trouble, and now police say they have the suspect in custody.

    21-year old Euric Cain was arrested on Monday after officials identified him from surveillance footage, where he was seen dragging a woman down the street around 4 a.m. When Gold saw what was happening and stepped in, Cain shot him in the stomach; a second attempt at shooting Gold was miraculously thwarted when the gun jammed. Gold is reportedly in critical but improving condition at a local hospital; the intended kidnapping victim is reportedly well, although Euric made off with her purse.

    “Now he will likely spend the rest of his life in jail, as he should,” said New Orleans Mayor Mitch Landrieu.

    The entire incident was captured on surveillance cameras, and police had a manhunt on their hands and were offering a reward with information leading to Cain’s arrest before he was apprehended today. Friends of Gold’s spoke to the media, saying they weren’t surprised that he would have stepped in to help someone, even if it was a stranger.

    “Doesn’t surprise me that he would have pulled over his car and attempted to save somebody,” said classmate Ryan O’Halloran.

    Gold’s family issued a statement, asking for privacy as he heads down the road to recovery.

    “While we deeply appreciate everyone’s concern, support and prayers as our family faces this crisis, our sole focus at this time is on Peter’s recovery. We ask that everyone respect our need for privacy while we join Peter as he begins to recover from the injuries he has sustained,” the statement read.

  • ‘Deadliest Catch’ Producer Joe McMahon Gunned Down, Killed at 25

    Former Deadliest Catch producer Joe McMahon was gunned down outside his Pasadena home on Friday, and died at the scene. He was just 25 years old.

    A former associate producer for one season of Deadliest Catch, McMahon worked for the Discovery Channel on their popular show for nine episodes in 2013.

    It was early Friday morning when authorities received a call about a shooting in the Chapman Woods neighborhood of Pasadena. When they arrived on the scene they found the Deadliest Catch producer suffering from “multiple gunshot wounds.” He was pronounced dead shortly thereafter.

    A representative of the Discovery Channel issued a statement about the tragedy on Friday.

    “We are heartsick about this tragedy,” the network said about Joe McMahon’s untimely and tragic passing. “Our thoughts and prayers go out to his family and to all that knew and worked with him.”

    Family members identified McMahon at the scene and told authorities he worked on Deadliest Catch.

    Sources told investigators they don’t believe the murder to be drug related, nor do they believe Joe McMahon was involved in any type of drug activity.

    It’s heartbreaking when someone so young loses their life to senseless violence. It will be interesting to learn what investigators find in the coming days.

    Meanwhile cast and crew members of Deadliest Catch are likely coming to grips with this loss–as are the family members and friends of Joe McMahon.

  • Mesa Shooting Victim Has Ultimate But First, Let Me Take a Selfie Moment

    I most certainly require medical attention, but first let me take a selfie.

    One way to document a traumatic ordeal is to Snapchat it and send it to your friends. Isaac Martinez, who was one of the people shot in the Mesa, Arizona shooting spree on Wednesday, took that route.

    Arizona Republic reporter Yihyun Jeong tweeted out Martinez’s selfies, one of which appears to be taken right after being shot in the shoulder. “I just got shot,” it reads. The other features a smiling Martinez presumably in the hospital.

    Check it out:

    On Wednesday, a man reportedly shot a man and two women at a motel. The man died at the scene and the two women have been taken to the hospital. He then went to a restaurant near East Valley Institute of Technology and stole a car, shooting an EVIT student in the process. That was Martinez.

    He then went to an apartment complex, broke into a room, and shot another man. Authorities say he’ll survive.

    Police eventually caught up to him and arrested him at a vacant condo building. They’ve identified him as 41-year-old Ryan Elliot Giroux. According to CBS News, Giroux is a white supremacist with a “lengthy criminal history.”

    [h/t CNET]

  • Beanie Sigel: Rapper an Unintended Shooting Victim

    Pleasantville, New Jersey police have revealed that the bullet that struck rapper Beanie Sigel in the stomach was likely not intended for him.

    Sigel, born Dwight E. Grant, was shot in the abdomen Friday during a drive-by, just after dropping his children off at school. The Philadelphia-born MC had been living with his brother-in-law.

    Lt. Danny Adcock commented, “He may have become involved in something that was not necessarily his own doing. Just wrong place, wrong time, if you will.”

    The bullet that hit Sigel exited through his back, and the 40-year-old Roc-A-Fella Records signee spent five days in the hospital. His 22-year-old brother-in-law suffered only minor scratches and bruises, and was not cooperative with authorities after being asked how he’d sustained the injuries. While he isn’t suspected as being the gunman, Sigel’s relative is still being looked at as a possible instigator of the shooting, as he had previously been charged with drug possession and the possession of an illegal firearm.

    Adcock added, “cooperation from the family is minimal.”

    Sigel’s “Feel It In The Air”:

    The incident was not the first instance when Sigel, 40, took a bullet. In 2006, the rapper sustained multiple gunshot wounds, and was likewise charged with illegal weapons possession.

    Sigel was transported to an Atlantic City hospital after the incident. It has been reported that he is in stable condition.

    The multi-platinum selling artist speaks out against the record industry:

    Sigel was recently released from a federal prison, after serving over a year for tax evasion.

  • Nordstrom Black Friday Shooting Victim Dies

    A man walked into a Chicago Nordstrom department store during its Black Friday event, and shot his ex-girlfriend in the back of her head, before turning the gun on himself. The victim has since died.

    Authorities say 31-year-old Marcus Dee approached Nadia Ezaldein, 22, shot her, and then committed suicide. Ezaldein was pronounced dead at 3:43 p.m. on Saturday, according to the Cook County medical examiner’s office. Her family has since donated her organs.

    A Facebook page has since been set up in Ezaldein’s name.

    Ezaldein, a seasonal employee at the Nordstrom situated in Chicago’s Magnificent Mile shopping district, turned 22 on the day of the shooting. Police evacuated the store, and it remained closed on Saturday, before reopening on Sunday. Nordstrom spokeswoman Tara Darrow commented that the shootings were a “really sad and scary situation,” though authorities have deemed the store to be safe.

    Ezaldein had reportedly broken up with Dee last year, and he was accused of stalking and harassing her ever since, before shooting her at approximately 8:30 p.m., in front of a store full of Black Friday shoppers.

    Ezaldien was rushed to Northwestern Memorial Hospital, but doctors assessed that she had no brain activity, and she was taken off life support after her organs were harvested.

    Spokeswoman Darrow added, “We are deeply saddened to learn that our employee who was injured in Friday evening’s tragedy passed away this afternoon. Our thoughts and prayers are with her family and friends.”

  • Andrew Fryberg, 4th Shooting Victim, Dies

    Andrew Fryberg, 4th Shooting Victim, Dies

    Andrew Fryberg, 15, one of the shooting victims at Marysville Pilchuck High School, has died.

    According to the Seattle Times, Fryberg passed away at Harborview Medical Center on Friday, November 7.

    Andrew had been in the intensive care unit, labeled in critical condition, since the shooting occurred two weeks ago. Fryberg is the fourth shooting victim to pass away- Zoe Galasso, 14, Gia Soriano, 14, and Shaylee Chuckulnaskit were the other three victims. The shooter, Jaylen Fryberg, took his own life on the day of the shooting.

    The fifth victim Nate Hatch was released from Harborview Medical Center on Thursday, November 6 after undergoing surgery to repair his jaw. He described Andrew as his “other half and my brother.”

    “We express our thanks for the amazing support from the community, as well as from everyone around the world that have been praying for us all through this tragic event,” Fryberg’s family said in a statement following his death. “We also want to say a special thank you to all the amazing staff that have cared for our son and brother here in the pediatric intensive care unit at Harborview. Our family is overwhelmed with the love and care that has been provided to our loved one during this time and you all will forever hold a special place in our hearts.”

    The Tulalip Tribes also issued a statement. “With the passing of Andrew Fryberg this evening the Tulalip Tribes offer up our prayers and condolences to his family. As they mourn his passing the Tulalip Tribes grieves along with them. The Tulalip Tribes and Marysville will be forever changed as a result of the senseless and tragic incident that took place on the morning of October 24th and know that healing will not happen overnight. We remain committed to taking this journey together, step by step, holding up the families most impacted and helping our communities heal.”

  • Gia Soriano Dies From Injuries Sustained From Marysville Shooting

    A girl who was shot along with four other teens when a student opened fire in a Washington state high school died of her injuries on Sunday, October 26, more than two days after the incident. Gia Soriano, 14, passed away at Providence Regional Medical Center in Everett, raising the death toll of the shooting to three.

    “We are devastated by this senseless tragedy. Gia is our beautiful daughter and words cannot express how much we will miss her. We’ve made the decision to donate Gia’s organs so that others may benefit. Our daughter was loving, kind and this gift honors her life,” said Soriano’s family in a statement, which was read by Dr. Joanne Roberts at a press conference held in the hospital. The Soriano family also thanked hospital workers for their care and asked that their privacy be respected at this time.

    Soriano was injured when a popular freshman student named Jaylen Fryberg opened fire in the cafeteria of Marysville-Pilchuck High School north of Seattle, on Friday, October 24. Fryberg also reportedly shot his cousins 15-year-old Andrew Fryberg and 14-year-old Nate Hatch, who remain in critical and serious condition, respectively, at Harborview Medical Center in Seattle. Other victims included 14-year-old Shaylee Chuckulnaskit, who is also in critical condition, as well as another female student who was shot dead by Fryberg on Friday before he was killed by what is believed may be a self-inflicted wound. As yet, it is unclear whether Fryberg shot himself intentionally or accidentally during a struggle with a teacher.

    Fryberg was the popular son of one of the prominent families of the Tulalip tribe. Members of the closely-knit community at the nearby Tulalip Indian reservation are apparently shaken by the incident. Matt Remle, a tribal guidance counselor, said that he knew some of the children involved in the shooting well, describing them as “really happy, smiling kids.” He said that no one knew what motivated Fryberg to do it.

    “Maybe it would be easier if we knew the answer. But we may never know,” said Remle.

  • Senzo Meyiwa Shot Dead During Home Invasion

    South African goalkeeper Senzo Meyiwa was shot dead on Sunday during a home invasion gone wrong. Meyiwa was a goalkeeper and team captain for the Orlando Pirates soccer club in Johannesburg. He had also served as goalkeeper for the South African national team during several matches throughout the past year and a half.

    Meyiwa’s death came as a shock to both fans and teammates. The Orlando Pirates held a press conference on Monday to express its sympathies to Meyiwa’s family.

    “This is a sad loss whichever way you look at it – to Senzo’s family , his extended family, Orlando Pirates, and to the nation,” said Irvin Khoza, chairman of the Orlando Pirates.

    Khoza went on to say that the team was “devastated” by Meyiwa’s death and that he encouraged players to cry during a get-together early Monday morning. Khoza has asked the Premier Soccer League and the South African Football Association to postpone a scheduled match between the Pirates and the Kaizer Chiefs, saying that holding the match at this time would be “insensitive.” He also requested that the media help track down Meyiwa’s killers and bring them to justice.

    South African President Jacob Zuma also released a statement expressing shock and outrage over Meyiwa’s death.

    “We mourn the death of this young footballer and team leader whose life has been taken away at the prime of his career,” said Zuma. “The law enforcement authorities must leave no stone unturned in finding his killers and bring them to justice. Words cannot express the nation’s shock at this loss. We wish to extend, on behalf of government and all the people of South Africa, our words of condolence to his family and relatives, his friends and peers in the football game, his club Orlando Pirates, and our national soccer team as well as the football fraternity as a whole. May his soul rest in peace.”

    According to a BBC report Meyiwa was staying at his girlfriend’s house in the Johannesburg suburb of Vosloorus at the time of the shooting. South African police stated that two men entered the house Sunday evening and demanded valuables. After Meyiwa was shot the men fled with a third man who had been standing outside the house. Early reports have suggested that Meyiwa was shot while trying to defend his girlfriend.

  • Ottawa Shootings: Parliament And War Memorial Among Scenes Of Violence

    Ottawa Shootings: Parliament And War Memorial Among Scenes Of Violence

    Citizens across Ottawa, Canada are presently experiencing a lock-down situation as reports emerge that a series of shootings have taken place in the capital city.

    Though the story is still developing, it’s believed that the first outbreak of shooting happened at the War Memorial. An unknown gunman opened fire, hitting a soldier. The wounded man was soon after rushed to a nearby hospital.

    It was confirmed by Jason Kenney, a member of the Canadian House of Commons, that the soldier has died.

    According to Reuters, a witness saw the masked gunman hijack a vehicle and drive towards Parliament.

    The driver was reportedly not harmed by the shooter.

    A short while later, there was gunfire exchanged between Parliament security officials and at least one armed man.

    Not long after the incident at Parliament, shots were reported near Rideau Centre Mall.

    A reporter for The Globe And Mail who was inside Parliament at the time officials exchanged fire with at least one individual recorded video footage of the harrowing incident:

    There are presently conflicting reports as to the state of the gunman. Some sources say that the individual is dead while others are saying that this has yet to be confirmed for certain.

    Also a source of disagreement is the number of parties said to be responsible for the shootings.

    While some claim that it was a lone gunman responsible for the three shootings, there are also reports that at least one other person is being sought by authorities.

    Aside from the soldier at the War Memorial, two other individuals were reportedly hospitalized in connection with today’s incidents:

    No members of Parliament were believed to have been injured during any of the shootings.

    More details to come as information about the shootings is confirmed.

    UPDATE (1:20 PM)

    Shooter confirmed dead; this is the man credited with taking down the shooter:

    Military bases are being closed across Canada as a precaution:

    UPDATE (1:27 PM)

    Possible eye-witness confirmation that the first gunman was killed:

    Eye-witness tweets claim the first gunman was killed before the third shooting took place near the Rideau Centre Mall:

    This would confirm reports that more than one shooter is involved.

    UPDATE (1:39 PM)

    Due to today’s events, the game between the Toronto Maple Leafs and Ottawa Senators has been postponed:

  • Klamath Falls Shooting Suspect Now In Custody

    Klamath Falls Shooting Suspect Now In Custody

    Oregon law enforcement officials have confirmed that persons of interest in the shooting of a Klamath sheriff’s deputy have been identified and arrested.

    On Wednesday afternoon the deputy was making a routine traffic stop near the intersection of Onyx Avenue and Bisbee Street in Klamath Falls.

    Without warning, the driver of a black SUV opened fire on the law enforcement official.

    The sheriff’s deputy has since been identified as 40-year-old Jason Weber. Weber is a seven year veteran of the Klamath County Sheriff’s Office.

    The sheriff’s deputy was reportedly hit twice, in the face and side.

    Weber was initially transported to the Sky Lakes Medical Center in Klamath Falls, but the deputy was later transferred to the Oregon Health and Science University in Portland.

    It is known that his injuries were serious enough to require an operation.

    As of now, Weber is reported to be in stable condition.

    The man responsible for shooting him remained after the incident, however it was announced Thursday that the Klamath County’s major crimes team successfully apprehended the man accused of shooting the sheriff’s deputy.

    The suspect has been identified as William Jack Parkerson. KTVZ reports that Parkerson was apprehended in Chiloquin early Thursday morning. Parkerson’s girlfriend Karey Leigh Pascoe was also arrested and taken into custody.

    The 30-year-old was charged with attempted aggravated murder and assault in the first degree with a firearm.

    His 33-year-old girlfriend was charged with conspiracy to commit aggravated murder with a firearm and first-degree assault with a firearm.

    Both remain in police custody.

    Law enforcement officials said that they are still trying to locate the vehicle associated with the sheriff deputy’s shooting.

    The suspect is said to have driven away in a black 1989 Jeep Cherokee with Oregon Licence plate ZFQ 270.

    Anyone with information as to the whereabouts of this vehicle should contact the Klamath Falls Police Department tip line at 541-883-5334.

  • Married Police Officers Murder Daughter’s Boyfriend

    Two Tulsa, Oklahoma police officers who are married to one another have been charged in the shooting death of the 19-year-old boyfriend of their daughter.

    Jeremy Lake was found shot to death in the street near downtown Tulsa Tuesday evening, according to Tulsa Police Department spokeswoman Jillian Roberson. Lake had been walking with the officers’ daughter Lisa, 18, when Shannon Kepler confronted him. After an argument, Kepler shot Lake, and began shooting at his daughter as she fled.

    Lisa Kepler said at a news conference Wednesday that she had been living with Lake, after her parents kicked her out of their house a week before. “I don’t know what could have led them to do this,” she said, adding, “They didn’t even know Jeremy.”

    Officer Shannon Kepler, 54, was arrested on a first-degree murder charge, and Gina Kepler, 48, was arrested on a complaint of accessory to murder after the fact. Both are presently in the Tulsa County jail, and there is no word if they secured attorneys. Both are on paid administrative leave.

    Tulsa Police Chief Chuck Jordan said in a statement that “the circumstances around this incident drives home the fact that domestic violence is a societal problem and transcends all economic groups.”

    “I as well as the whole department am saddened for both families involved in this tragic event,” Jordan added.

    Lisa Kepler said during an interview after the shooting, “I turned my dad in. I’m not going to deny it. … I don’t care. He’s going to rot, and I hope it happens.”

    Image via Wikimedia Commons

  • Ohio Walmart Shooting Bystander Collapses and Dies

    Ohio Walmart Shooting Bystander Collapses and Dies

    An innocent bystander collapsed and later died while fleeing a shooting incident at a Walmart store in Beavercreek, Ohio Tuesday.

    Beavercreek police shot John Crawford, 22, of Fairfield, Ohio after he refused to stop waving a gun at shoppers. He was taken to Miami Valley Hospital, where he later died. Crawford’s girlfriend believes he was brandishing a toy gun, and the incident is under investigation. Police Chief Dennis Evers said officers acted appropriately when they shot Crawford.

    Angela D. Williams, 37, of Fairborn, collapsed as she fled the police confrontation with Crawford, and died of what is believed to be a heart attack. According to the Greene County Coroner’s office, Williams was “apparently running from a dangerous situation inside the Walmart store when she collapsed. She was taken to Soin Medical Center where she died at 9:14 p.m.”

    Williams was to be married Saturday and had children from the ages of 10-years-old to 18-years-old.

    Bill Robinson, administrator of Villa Springfield, the nursing home where Williams worked, issued a statement – “Angie was a free-spirited person, she was a very compassionate person. As far as her abilities here, she was a nurse who went above and beyond. A huge part of our team. It’s very somber and a lot of emotions are going through the building right now. Sadness, shock and heartache. It’s devastating today in our building.”

    Police said a 911 call was received saying Crawford was waiving a “rifle-type weapon” at Walmart customers, including children. The Ohio Bureau of Criminal Investigation has been brought in as an outside party to investigate the shooting, and has yet to reveal if the gun Crawford had was real or a toy.

    Both officers involved in the shooting are presently on paid administrative leave. BCI spokeswoman Jill Del Greco said, “BCI is going to look at the entire situation and look at what happened and what led up to the incident and how the officers responded. We will not make a determination of if the shooting was justified or not.”

    Image via YouTube

  • Texas Home Shooting Leaves 6 Dead

    Seven people were shot at a home in Spring, Texas, Wednesday evening, and six of the victims died from their wounds.

    A brief standoff between the suspect and authorities ensued after a car chase. Harris County police used two trucks to stop the suspect’s vehicle on a cul-de-sac near the site of the shooting at 711 Leaflet Lane in the Enchanted Oaks subdivision.

    The surviving victim, who had a gunshot wound to the head, told police that the suspect was a family member, and had left to go assault another family member who was at work at a nearby restaurant.

    Harris County Precinct 4 Assistant Chief Deputy Mark Herman revealed that three children were killed at the scene. Three adults and another child were medivaced via Life Flight to Memorial Hermann Hospital. One child passed away at the hospital, bringing the total fatalities to six. The ages of the deceased ranged from 5 to 40.

    So far, deputies called the shooting a “domestic dispute.” After a roughly 30 minute chase with the suspect, he remained sitting idle in his vehicle while surrounded by deputies with guns drawn and at least a dozen patrol cars. A large SWAT vehicle then rammed into the suspect’s car, crushing its front end. A second SWAT vehicle pulled directly behind the suspect’s vehicle and rammed into the back of it, wedging the suspect in.

    Here is an aerial view of the chase:

    Police said the suspect, who is in his mid-40s, had a handgun and was holding it to his head. They were speaking with the man via cell phone.

    Image via Youtube

  • Bourbon Street Shooting Injures Nine People

    Nine people were injured on Sunday morning after an angry man opened fire into a crowd lined up Bourbon street. Witnesses reported that the man appeared to be angry and had gotten in an argument with another man prior to the shooting.

    The shooter then took out a gun and shot the man he had been arguing with and continued to shoot into the crowd, firing at random at innocent bystanders.

    A witness described the horrific scene saying,

    “Just turned around and he started shooting at the crowd. He seemed pissed off at some dude, pulled the gun out and started shooting at the guy then turned around on the crowd and started shooting at us.”

    The injured people were taken to a local hospital and are expected to recover. One victim, a woman, was still in critical condition and one person has already been released.

    The shooter was able to escape through the crowd before police arrived, but he may have been caught on video by several witnesses and store surveillance cameras in the area.

    New Orleans Mayor Mitch Landrieu was extremely upset about the shootings and released a statement saying,

    “These kinds of incidents will not go unanswered. NOPD was in the immediate vicinity at the time of the incident, and I am confident that between video evidence and eyewitness accounts, we will bring the perpetrators to justice. Our crime fighting efforts have brought murders in the city of New Orleans to a historic nearly 30-year low. But on days like today, the statistics don’t matter because every life is precious — from the 9th Ward to the French Quarter. We will not rest until every corner of this city is safe.”

    Several police officers were near the block where the shootings occurred and responded to the scene immediately. More police officers have been sent to patrol the city and the mayor said that there will be a heavy police presence during the upcoming Essence Festival and the Fourth of July holiday.

    Image via Wikimedia Commons

  • Reality TV Shooting: Las Vegas Man To Be Jailed

    There’s always a bit of danger when filming a reality television show about repossessing vehicles.

    Not everyone reacts sanely to the reality that a failure to pay for one’s car over a period of time will likely result in its repossession.

    However, sometimes a person will threaten your life that has absolutely nothing to do with the actual event.

    That last scenario is what landed a Nevada man in a lot of trouble.

    Las Vegas native Carlos Enrique Barron was sentenced on Tuesday to 90 days in the county jail and five years probation for opening fire on a reality television crew.

    The 43-year-old had pleaded for leniency prior to sentencing, telling Clark County District Court Judge James Bixler he wished to avoid jail if at all possible.

    Barron said that the incident had “changed” him and “taught [him] a lot of things.”

    He also pointed out that despite shooting at members of the Repo Games crew, no one was actually injured by his actions.

    Barron had originally claimed he was acting in self-defense.

    Members of a crew filming the Repo Games reality television show were blocking his driveway. Their van was blocking his driveway, which was the initial cause of the confrontation.

    Barron said he felt threatened and that’s why he opened fire.

    Luckily for Barron, the jury acquitted him of the most serious charges linked with his behavior, including multiple counts of attempted murder and a felony count of discharging a firearm into a vehicle.

    In January, the same jury found Barron guilty of felony assault with a deadly weapon, carrying a concealed weapon, burglary, and one misdemeanor count of discharging a firearm.

    The maximum sentence for all charges would have sent the former special education teacher to state prison for upwards of 22 years.

    Despite Barron’s request for leniency, Bixler said that he simply had to be punished. His actions put an untold number of innocent people in danger.

    Said the judge, “You can’t do this and not have some kind of penalty attached.”

    He did allow Barron to remain free for an additional month ahead of a July 24th status hearing.

    Image via YouTube

  • Courthouse Shooting: Georgia Authorities Kill Gunman

    A Georgia man’s plans to engage in a mass shooting on Friday ended with one injury and his own death.

    Authorities were forced to gun down Dennis Ronald Marx outside the Forsyth County Courthouse in Cumming, Ga.

    The 48-year-old reportedly drove up to the courthouse in an SUV at around 10:00 am. After riding up on the sidewalk, the man threw down spike strips and explosives in an effort to keep officers away from him.

    Forsyth County Sheriff Duane Piper said that Marx fired at police officers through the windshield of his vehicle.

    Deputies returned fire. The gunman received multiple gunshot wounds. One sheriff’s deputy was shot in the leg during the exchange.

    The injured deputy was identified as James Rush. He was the first deputy to encounter Marx.

    While it’s not known if he is the one who fatally shot the gunman, Rush is credited with preventing a larger tragedy.

    Said Piper, “The entire situation was solved by that deputy’s actions.”

    The 46-year-old Forsyth County deputy is expected to make a complete recovery.

    An investigation into Marx’s background revealed that the man had taken a terrifying amount of time to make preparations for the incident.

    He was armed with grenades, homemade explosive devices, and several magazines. Marx had also rigged his body with explosives.

    Marx was due in court Friday to enter a guilty plea in a drug case.

    His lawyer, Ann Shafer had described Marx as “unstable at times”.

    She waited for her client for 40 minutes before determining he wouldn’t be coming to court. Shafer said that as she was exiting the courthouse, she heard gunfire.

    Said Shafer, “I feel very lucky that I walked out the back of the courthouse instead of the front.”

    Her client had made threats against her and other lawyers in the past.

    In his complaint against the Forsyth County Sheriff’s Department, Marx made various paranoid accusations against Georgia authorities. He at one point claimed that they had used chemical agents to make him believe an explosion occurred.

    Investigators are carefully searching Marx’s home, where he had reportedly not stayed in 10 days. They are concerned it may be rigged with explosives.

    Image via YouTube

  • Moncton News: Shooter of 5 Mounties Still at Large

    At 7:20 pm Wednesday night, five Royal Canadian Mounted Police (RCMP) responded to a phone call reporting an armed man, wearing camouflage, traipsing about a small neighborhood in Moncton, New Brunswick. At 8:30 pm, photographer Daniel St. Louis arrived on the scene and was immediately shocked by what he saw.

    “I walked over and I saw two feet, facing the street, toes up. I realized, ‘Oh my God. There’s somebody down.’ As I got close, I realized it was an officer and this is not a good situation.”

    St. Louis’s assessment could not have been more accurate.

    The RCMP are still looking for the suspect, 24-year-old Justin Bourque. Bourque is being pursued for the killing of three police officers and the wounding of two more. At the time, not much is known about the suspect. Police are asking his family and others to volunteer all the information they have on the suspect, however.

    In the meantime, the RCMP continues to ask people to remain inside their homes and to stay vigilant: “The suspect is being pursued, he is well armed and extremely dangerous. Know that we have and will continue to bring the full weight of the RCMP to the task of catching this person, and looking after our people,” informed Commissioner Bob Paulson in a statement Thursday.

    To ensure that everyone is as protected as possible, the RCMP tweeted a map of the area in which the shooter has been spotted, along with a picture of the suspect.

    Moncton Mayor George LeBlanc expressed his disbelief of the scenario which has unfolded, stating, “Never in my darkest dreams did I think we would be facing what we’re facing today in Moncton.”

    The same sentiment was shared by St. Louis: “Our quiet little city, what is going on here? How is this happening to us? It always happens to somebody else.”

    The attack against the police in Moncton is the largest such attack against the RCMP since 2005, when a man shot and killed four mounties in Alberta – the most devastating attack against the Royal Canadian Mounted Police in 120 years.

    Image via YouTube

  • Clearwater Beach Shooting Leaves 2 Wounded

    Clearwater Beach was witness to a shooting on Memorial Day, but we can be thankful that this particular incident didn’t end in any deaths.

    The Tampa Bay Times reports that a fight broke between two groups at the Hyatt Regency Clearwater Beach Resort on Monday evening. Soon after, shots were fired and two people were wounded. According to a Clearwater Beach spokesperson, somebody from one of the two groups left and returned with a gun. Soon after, somebody opened fire on a group of people in the Hyatt’s parking garage. Finally, there was a third shooting incident near Frenchy’s South Beach Cafe.

    Despite three incidents occurring within minutes of each other, nobody was killed. Two of the people involved were injured, however, with one being shot in the groin while the other was shot in the hand. The former was taken to the hospital while the latter fled the scene.

    After the incident, police closed off the area and began to look for those involved. A SWAT team was called and police searched the Hyatt Regency room by room. In the end, eight people were taken into custody, but none have been charged yet. It’s likely they will face weapon possession charges as police found multiple guns.

    As for the cause of the incident, nobody knows at the moment. Witnesses at the scene only report seeing two groups getting into a fight and then hearing gunfire a few minutes later.

    As you can imagine, it caused quite a commotion:

    Here’s an amateur video of the scene after police arrived:

    Unfortunately, the above incident isn’t the only shooting that happened over the weekend. A shooting on Saturday at Myrtle Beach saw three dead and one injured after a fight broke out in front of the Bermuda Sands hotel.

    Image via Christopher Fischer/YouTube

  • Myrtle Beach Shooting Leaves 3 Dead And 1 Injured

    Investigators are still trying to piece together what led to a fatal shooting in front of a popular oceanfront motel in Myrtle Beach.

    The South Carolina destination is always buzzing during warmer months, and especially holidays like Memorial Day. However, what began as a day of fun ended in startling tragedy.

    Police say that at around 11:00 pm on Saturday evening, at least one unidentified individual opened fire at the Bermuda Sands motel. The incident was witnessed by a number of vacationing tourists, who looked on in horror.

    In the aftermath, it was determined that three individuals had been killed.

    Horry County deputy coroner Darris Fowler identified the victims as 22-year-old Sandy Gaddis and 21-year-old Devonte Dantzler of Summerville, S.C. and 28-year-old Jamie Williams of Ladson.

    A fourth victim, who has not yet been identified, was reportedly hospitalized.

    While the investigation into what caused the shooting is ongoing, a witness named George Covington told Sun News that he had seen several persons fighting in front of the hotel shortly before the shooting began.

    Said Covington, “At first, everyone was standing around to see who was going to win the fight.”

    Suddenly, guns were drawn and what started out as a physical altercation devolved into a violent shoot-out. It is not clear from Covington’s eyewitness statement whether or not at least one of the victims had opened fire.

    One witness filmed the frantic minutes that followed the shooting and posted the video on YouTube:

    Police say that the incident was unusual for the location, which at worst is the site of motorcycle accidents brought on by recklessness.

    Authorities admitted that there are no suspects in custody at the moment.

    “We’ve got detectives working on it around the clock,” said Myrtle Beach Police Capt. David Knipes. Knipes would not say if law enforcement officials had identified any possible motive for the shooting. However, he did feel that the killings were not a random incident.

    Image via YouTube