Category: Crime and Incidents

Wisconsin Probes How 8 Roller-Coaster Riders Became Trapped Upside Down for Hours

CRANDON, Wis.—State officials are investigating how eight people became trapped upside down on a roller coaster—some of them for more than three hours—at a festival in Wisconsin. The roller coaster’s cars got stuck near the top of a loop around 1:30 p.m. Sunday at the Crandon International Offroad Raceway. Rescue workers arrived to find eight…


Missing 2-Year-Old Girl Is Found Dead in Detroit, After Her Disappearance Sparked Massive Search

LANSING, Mich.—A missing 2-year-old girl was found dead in Detroit on Wednesday, authorities announced, three days after her disappearance sparked a massive search. Wynter Cole Smith’s body was discovered in the evening near a municipal airport that is about 6 miles (10 kilometers) northeast of downtown Detroit, Chief Ellery Sosebee of the Lansing Police Department…


Suspect in Fatal Shooting of Georgia Sheriff’s Deputy Arrested After Trying to Flee in Patrol Car

CORDELE, Ga.—A sheriff’s deputy in Georgia was shot and killed Wednesday and the suspect tried to flee in the deputy’s patrol car, authorities said. The Georgia Bureau of Investigation said it is investigating the shooting, which left 26-year-old Deputy Tyee Browne dead. The suspect, 25-year-old Croshawn Cross, was charged with murder and other crimes. “A…


2 New Jersey Firefighters Died Battling a Blaze Deep in a Ship Carrying 5,000 Cars

NEWARK, N.J.—Two firefighters were killed battling a blaze that began when cars caught fire deep inside a cargo ship carrying 5,000 cars at a New Jersey port, Newark’s fire chief said Thursday. Responding firefighters found five to seven vehicles already on fire when they reached the 10th floor of the cargo ship at Port Newark…


Rip Currents Prompted 200 Rescues in Virginia and North Carolina Over the July Fourth Weekend

VIRGINIA BEACH, Va.—Strong rip currents prompted lifeguards to pull about 200 swimmers from the Atlantic Ocean in Virginia and North Carolina over the holiday weekend. Tom Gill, chief of the Virginia Beach Lifesaving Service, told The Virginian-Pilot that the city’s more than 180 rescues were high even for a holiday weekend. Mr. Gill said that…


Maryland Panel Approves $2.9 Million Compensation for Wrongfully Convicted Man Who Spent 32 Years Behind Bars

ANNAPOLIS, Md.—A Maryland board approved $2.9 million in compensation Wednesday for a man who was wrongly imprisoned for 32 years, including a decade on death row, for two murders he did not commit. John Huffington was pardoned by former Gov. Larry Hogan in January. The former governor cited prosecutorial misconduct in granting a full innocence…


Relatives of El Paso Walmart Shooting Victims Seek Justice, Saying They’re Down but Not Out

EL PASO, Texas—A brother who traveled more than 1,000 miles to confront his sister’s killer. An uncle of an orphaned 4-year-old whose parents died while shielding the boy from the spray of bullets. A wife whose husband was gunned down at her side while their 9-year-old granddaughter looked on. Nearly four years after a gunman…


Illegal Immigrant Receives Sentence for Raping and Impregnating 9-Year-Old Girl

An illegal immigrant has been handed a life sentence after admitting to the rape and impregnation of a 9-year-old girl in Ohio. The man, Gerson Fuentes, 28, received a life sentence with the possibility of parole after serving 25 to 30 years, in accordance with his plea deal. Additionally, he will be required to register as a…


Kimbrady Carriker Identified as Suspect in Philadelphia Mass Shooting

The suspect in the mass shooting that left five people dead in Philadelphia this week has been identified as Kimbrady Carriker. Carriker, 40, was arrested on Monday, the same day of the shooting, but his identity was not confirmed until Wednesday when he was arraigned on murder and other charges. Magistrate Naomi Williams ordered Carriker…


Suspect Identified, Charged in Philadelphia Mass Shooting

The suspect in the July 3 mass shooting in Philadelphia that left five people dead has been charged with murder, prosecutors announced on July 5. The suspect, Kimbrady Carriker, 40, was arrested on the day of the shooting, but his identity wasn’t confirmed until July 5 when he was arraigned on murder and other charges. Magistrate Naomi Williams…