Category: death penalty

Daughter of Mass Shooting Victim ‘Patiently Waiting’ For Justice

A man suspected of fatally shooting four people in Orange, Calif. remains unconscious in hospital, forcing law officials to delay his scheduled April 5 arraignment. “We are patiently waiting for him to be conscious,” Vania Tovar, who lost her father and sister in the shootings, told The Epoch Times. “They will be checking every day….


Virginia Becomes First Southern State to Abolish Death Penalty

Virginia, the state that has executed more people than any other in the nation, has abolished the death penalty. Governor Ralph Northam signed the bill into law on Wednesday, a month it was passed in the state’s Democrat majority House and Senate. “It is the moral thing to do,” he said during the press briefing,…


LA District Attorney’s Office Drops Death Penalty Bid Against Man Charged in Shooting Spree

LOS ANGELES—The Los Angeles County District Attorney’s Office March 16 dropped its bid for the death penalty for an ex-con from Sylmar who’s charged with killing five people—most of them within less than a week—during a shooting spree in the San Fernando Valley six and-a-half years ago. Alexander Hernandez, now 40, is charged with the…


Virginia Lawmakers Vote to End Death Penalty, Send Bill to Governor for Signature

Lawmakers in Virginia gave final approval on Monday to legislation that will end capital punishment in the state. Both houses of the Virginia General Assembly passed legislation that abolishes capital punishment in Virginia, including for people currently on death row. The House bill, HB 2263, and the identical Senate bill, SB 1165, now head to Gov….


Family of Murdered Boy Speaks Out About New Charges 

The mother of a boy who was abducted and murdered in Orange County in 1981 says she’s thankful that new charges have been filed against the alleged predator. “We want to live to see this thing put to rest,” Connie Vargo, the mother of the boy told The Epoch Times. “My goal is to have this over…


Family of Murdered Boy Thankful LA DA’s Controversial Rules Were Blocked

The mother of a boy who was abducted and murdered in Orange County, California, in 1981 says she’s thankful that new charges have been filed against the alleged predator despite directives from Los Angeles District Attorney George Gascón. “We want to live to see this thing put to rest,” Connie Vargo, the mother of the boy told The…


The Life Span of the US Death Penalty Just Got Shorter

Commentary The death penalty in the United States is on the verge of being snuffed out. The commonwealth of Virginia, which has executed more convicts than any other state in U.S. history, is now poised to abolish capital punishment. This is a big deal, as Virginia would become the first Southern state to eliminate the…


82 Advocacy Groups Urge Biden to End Federal Executions

Dozens of nonprofits and other groups on Tuesday urged President Joe Biden to move to end federal executions after 13 were carried out during the Trump administration. Amnesty International, the American Civil Liberties Union, and 80 other groups wrote in a letter to the Democrat that Biden should “act on your promise of ensuring equality,…


Virginia Senate Votes to Abolish the Death Penalty

The Virginia Senate voted Wednesday to pass a bill that would abolish the death penalty. The vote was 21-17 along party lines, with 21 Democrats for and 17 Republicans against the measure. One person, Republican state Sen. Bill Stanley, abstained from the vote. The bill, SB 1165, sponsored by state Sen. Scott Surovell, a Democrat, now…


Virginia Senate Approves Measure to Abolish State’s Death Penalty

Virginia’s Senate approved a bill on Feb. 3 that would make Virginia the 23rd state to abolish the death penalty if the measure becomes law. The 21-17 vote in the Democratic-majority chamber was split along party lines, with 21 Democrats for and 17 Republicans against the measure. One lawmaker, Republican state Sen. Bill Stanley, abstained. The bill, SB…