National News

Judge rules 'Access Hollywood' tape admissible in Trump hush money trial

Witthaya Prasongsin/Getty Images

(NEW YORK) -- The judge overseeing former President Donald Trump’s criminal prosecution in New York has denied Trump’s attempts to exclude the infamous "Access Hollywood" tape and testimony from key witnesses from his upcoming criminal trial.

The defense argued Michael Cohen, Trump's former lawyer, should not be allowed to testify because he has a history of lying, arguing that calling him to the witness stand would amount to suborning perjury.

Judge Juan Merchan rejected the argument.

“This Court has been unable to locate any treatise, statute or holding from courts in this jurisdiction or others that support defendant’s rational that a particular witness should be kept off the witness stand because his credibility has been previously called into question,” Merchan said.

He also will allow Stormy Daniels to testify since she is the recipient of the $130,000 hush payment at the center of the case, writing, “The probative value of the evidence is evident.“

Merchan declined to omit the "Access Hollywood" tape in which Trump is overheard bragging about how he approaches women.

Trump’s criminal trial in New York has been delayed until at least mid-April.

Copyright © 2024, ABC Audio. All rights reserved.


EPA bans remaining uses of cancer-causing asbestos in the US

Bill Clark/CQ Roll Call

(WASHINGTON) -- The Environmental Protection Agency on Monday announced a United States ban on the ongoing use of chrysotile asbestos -- a carcinogen that the agency estimates is linked to more than 40,000 U.S. deaths each year.

The announcement comes as part of President Joe Biden's Cancer Moonshot initiative, which is using federal resources to make progress on cancer research and treatment.

"While the use of asbestos in the United States has been declining for decades, the use of chrysotile asbestos has continued to this day. Because of its resistance to heat, fire and electrical conduction, it has remained in use for a variety of construction and industrial products," EPA Administrator Michael Regan said in a Monday press call.

"But the science is clear and settled," Regan added. "There is simply no safe level of exposure to asbestos."

Chrysotile asbestos is the only known form of asbestos currently used in or imported to the U.S. Exposure to asbestos can cause lung cancer, mesothelioma, ovarian cancer and other health issues, Regan said. It is also linked to more than 40,000 deaths in the U.S. each year, according to the EPA.

"Asbestos has harmed people across the country for decades, and under President Biden's leadership, we are taking decisive action to ban its use and advance this administration's historic environmental justice agenda," White House Council on Environmental Quality Chair Brenda Mallory said in a news release. "This action marks a major step to improve chemical safety after decades of inadequate protections, helping advance President Biden's Cancer Moonshot goal to end cancer as we know it."

The EPA previously tried to ban asbestos in most products under the Toxic Substances Control Act in 1989, but the U.S. Fifth Circuit Court of Appeals ruled the ban could apply only to products that would use asbestos for the first time. Continued use of asbestos in existing products was permitted.

Asbestos is currently used in the U.S. in products such as brake linings and gaskets in cars and in the production of chlorine.

Monday's ban is the first the EPA has issued for existing chemical use since Congress updated the Toxic Substances Control Act in 2016, which changed the process for evaluating and addressing safety concerns.

"The failed asbestos ban from over 30 years ago was the reason why we needed to rewrite TSCA. And why Congress did so with almost unanimous support in 2016," said Michal Freedhoff, assistant administrator for the Office of Chemical Safety and Pollution Prevention. "Today's rule is important for public health, but it's also a symbol of how the new law can and must be used to protect people."

Regan called the ban a "sign of what's to come."

"The Biden administration is transforming the way EPA is using the new chemical safety law to do what it was meant to do -- protect people from toxic chemicals," he said.

The EPA has set compliance deadlines for the ban to transition away from different uses of chrysotile asbestos, attempting to provide a reasonable transition period while discontinuing the use of asbestos in each product as soon as possible, the agency said.

"At EPA, protecting public health and the environment is our privilege and our greatest responsibility," Regan said. "And today's rule is a major step forward in helping us to achieve our goals."

Copyright © 2024, ABC Audio. All rights reserved.


Capitol Police wearing body cameras in pilot program to build public trust

USCP

(WASHINGTON) -- The U.S. Capitol Police on Monday started wearing body-worn cameras as part of its pilot program to protect its officers and members of Congress as well as enhance public trust, its chief said.

Seventy Capitol Police officers will wear the body cameras during the 180-day program. Eleven Capitol Police cruisers will be outfitted with dashboard cameras that will automatically record if a cruiser's emergency lights are triggered.

"I was confident that the cameras would do two things. First, they would remind the public just how challenging the law enforcement profession can be," Capitol Police Chief Tom Manger said in a news release. "Second, the cameras would also showcase the great work our cops do day in and day out. This is a great accountability tool for everyone."

Body cameras will not be used inside buildings on the Capitol or during interactions with members of Congress, Capitol Police said, as a measure to "protect the constitutional duties of members of Congress."

"The cameras will record public interactions requiring a police response," Capitol Police said in the release.

Officers will inform people if they are being recorded at the beginning of an interaction, and the cameras will record video and audio when officers use firearms or tasers, Capitol Police said.

The program comes after a review of Capitol security released following the Jan. 6 attack recommended Capitol Police use body-worn cameras to improve police accountability and protect officers from false accusations.

Once the pilot program is completed, a task force including sworn and civilian supervisors in the department will use feedback to analyze the program, and Manger will send a recommendation regarding a permanent body worn camera program to congressional stakeholders.

Copyright © 2024, ABC Audio. All rights reserved.


Trump, some co-defendants in Fulton County begin appeals process of disqualification ruling

Jason Marz/Getty Images

(WASHINGTON) -- Former President Donald Trump and some of his co-defendants in the Fulton County election interference case on Monday kicked off the process to appeal the judge's disqualification ruling that ultimately kept District Attorney Fani Willis on the case, asking the court in a new motion to grant a certificate of immediate review.

This is a developing story. Please check back for updates.
 

Copyright © 2024, ABC Audio. All rights reserved.


New video shows missing student Riley Strain briefly speak with police on night he vanished in Nashville

Metro Nashville PD

(NASHVILLE, Tn.)-- Newly released video shows missing college student Riley Strain briefly speak with a police officer on the night he vanished in Nashville, Tennessee.

Officer Reginald Young came across Strain, 22, while responding to a car burglary on Gay Street, south of the Woodland Street Bridge, on the night of March 8, according to Nashville police.

Around 9:50 p.m., Strain walked by alone. The officer asked how he was doing, and Strain responded, "I’m good, how are you?"

"No video has been discovered that shows Riley away from Gay St after the 9:52 p.m. timeframe," police said Monday.

Strain disappeared on the night of March 8 after drinking in Nashville's Broadway area, according to police. The University of Missouri senior was visiting Nashville with his Delta Chi fraternity brothers for their formal, his family said.

Police earlier released video showing Strain at 9:47 p.m., crossing the street with a group and checking his phone. He then stopped and changed directions for a moment before proceeding down the street behind the group.


3 separate shootings erupt within 1 hour in Jacksonville Beach, Florida

ABC News/WJXX

Three separate, unrelated shootings erupted within an hour in Jacksonville Beach, Florida, on Sunday night, leaving one person dead and several hurt, according to authorities.

The first shooting was reported at 7:50 p.m. when two people started firing guns near the Best Western Hotel, Jacksonville Beach police said on Monday.

One bystander was injured and both suspects were injured, police said.

At 8:13 p.m., a man fired shots while running in front of businesses, police said. No one was hurt, police said.

The gun was recovered but police said they are still looking for the suspect.

One person was killed in the third shooting, which unfolded around 8:31 p.m. near Sneakers Bar, police said.

Authorities said they are looking for three suspects who displayed guns.

The downtown district and bar area and the Jacksonville Beach beachfront have been "locked down," and will remain shut down until further notice, Sgt. Tonya Tator told reporters Sunday night.

"We've got a lot of work ahead of us to figure out everything, put all the pieces together," she said.

ABC News' Jessica Gorman, Darren Reynolds and Okelo Pena contributed to this report.

Copyright © 2024, ABC Audio. All rights reserved.


Suspect charged with multiple counts of murder in 2-state crime rampage: Prosecutors

WPVI

A suspect accused of killing three family members, including his 13-year-old sister, in a Philadelphia suburb and then fleeing to New Jersey is now in custody, officials said.

The suspect -- identified as 26-year-old Andre Gordon Jr. -- was initially reported to be barricaded with hostages inside a residence in Trenton midday Saturday, hours after the shootings unfolded at two residences in Falls Township, Pennsylvania, police said.

Following an hourslong standoff, police received information that Gordon was possibly on the street, according to Trenton Police Director Steve Wilson. The suspect, who was found walking several blocks from the home, was apprehended without incident Saturday evening, Wilson said.

Gordon may have "slipped out" of the residence before police were able to establish a perimeter around the home, Wilson said.

Residents in the home and neighboring residences had been safely evacuated while authorities presumed Gordon to be barricaded inside, police said.

Gordon had been sought in connection with shootings that occurred Saturday morning at two homes in Levittown, a community within Falls Township, officials said.

Gordon allegedly carjacked a vehicle in Trenton before traveling to the area and "forcibly" breaking into both homes, according to Bucks County District Attorney Jennifer Schorn. He was armed with an AR-15-style assault rifle, according to Falls Township Chief of Police Nelson Whitney.

Gordon was charged in Pennsylvania with three counts of first and second-degree murder, aggravated assault, robbery and other charges, according to court documents. In New Jersey, Gordon was charged with first-degree carjacking and weapons offenses, New Jersey Attorney General Matthew J. Platkin said in a statement Sunday.

"The string of violent acts ... is the latest in a horrific litany of illustrations of how illegal guns and assault rifles can empower one aggrieved and disturbed actor," Platkin said. "We will pursue justice for the victims and hold the defendant accountable for his reprehensible actions."

Falls Township officers were first dispatched to a residence on Viewpoint Lane at approximately 8:52 a.m. ET on Saturday where two people had been fatally shot, police said. The victims were the suspect's 52-year-old stepmother, Karen Gordon, and his 13-year-old sister, Kera Gordon, according to Schorn.

Three other family members in the house, including a minor, managed to hide and "avoid being shot by Gordon as he went through the house searching for them," Schorn told reporters during a press briefing on Saturday.

A 25-year-old woman was then shot and killed at a residence on Edgewood Lane at approximately 9:01 a.m., police said. The victim, Taylor Daniel, shared two children with the suspect, Schorn said.

Four other people were present in the home at the time, including the two children and Daniel's mother, Schorn said. She suffered non-life-threatening injuries after Gordon allegedly bludgeoned her with the assault rifle, Schorn said.

Gordon is accused of then stealing a 2016 dark gray Honda CRV at gunpoint to flee back to Trenton. The carjacking occurred at approximately 9:13 a.m. in the parking lot of a Dollar General in Morrisville, police said. The operator of the vehicle was unharmed.

The Honda CRV was recovered unoccupied in Trenton at approximately 11:38 a.m. on Saturday, according to Falls Township police.

Authorities in Trenton have not recovered a rifle, Wilson said. P

The suspect was expected to be brought to the Trenton Police Department for processing and eventually extradited to Pennsylvania, according to Wilson.

Schorn said she could not speak to a motive at this time or the suspect's past criminal history.

Chief Whitney said police have had "minor" contacts with Gordon in the past but "nothing that would indicate anything like this would happen."

The suspect is believed to be unhoused and has ties to the Trenton area, police said.

Schorn said they will investigate "every aspect" of how he came into possession of the firearm.

Police in Falls Township had issued a shelter-in-place warning amid the search for the suspect that has since been lifted.

A shelter-in-place advisement in nearby Middletown Township was similarly lifted.

The Bucks County St. Patrick's Day parade scheduled for Saturday morning was canceled due to police activity, according to Pennsylvania State Sen. Steve Santarsiero.

Copyright © 2024, ABC Audio. All rights reserved.


Police discover Riley Strain's bank card amid college student's disappearance

@MNPDNashville/X

Authorities discovered a clue in the case of missing University of Missouri college student Riley Strain, Sunday, who vanished while visiting Nashville earlier this month.

Nashville Police announced Strain's bank card was found Sunday on the embankment between Gay Street and the Cumberland River, near Riverfront Park, in a post on X (formally known as Twitter). "The search for him continues," Nashville PD added.

Strain was visiting Nashville on Friday, March 8, when he went missing after being kicked out of a bar on Gay Street in the city's Broadway area, Nashville police said.

The 22-year-old was last seen by friends at 9:52 p.m. after he was kicked out of Luke Bryan's bar, Luke's 32 Bridge, police said.

Strain and his Delta Chi fraternity brothers were in Nashville for a formal, according to Strain's parents.

"He was excited 'cause he was out, and he was sending me pictures at the different bars they were going to. And he was having fun with his fraternity brothers," his mom, Michelle Whiteid, told ABC News.

Surveillance video from a nearby business showed the 22-year-old walking alone as he stumbled down a street at 9:46 p.m. An additional angle showed Strain running and falling down.

There's no indication of foul play and no indication Strain was in a fight or argument with anyone that night, Nashville Police Sgt. Robert Nielsen said at a March 14 news conference.

The last known surveillance video footage of Strain showed him walking north between James Robertson Bridge and Woodland Street Bridge, Nielsen said, adding that no one else was around him.

Authorities are searching by foot, by drone and by boat, including using boats with sonar equipment, Nielsen said.

"He's a good kid. He was down here looking forward to a fun weekend," Strain's dad, Ryan Gilbert, told ABC News. "We want to bring him back home safe."

Strain's parents and stepparents have been in Nashville for days helping with the search.

The Tennessee Alcoholic Beverage Commission said it is investigating whether Strain was overserved before his disappearance.

"There are no specific rules or statutes that governs escorting out intoxicated patrons from their businesses or providing assistance in getting someone home," the Tennessee Alcoholic Beverage Commission said in a statement. "However, state law prohibits serving alcoholic beverages to someone who is visibly intoxicated. A violation is a class A misdemeanor. The TABC has opened an investigation into this matter to see if any violations have occurred."

TC Restaurant Group, operator and owner of Luke's 32 Bridge, said earlier this week that it's working with police "to provide security camera footage and any other potentially helpful information to aid in the search for Riley Strain. Our thoughts are with his family and loved ones for his safe return."

Strain is a senior majoring in business and interdisciplinary studies, according to the University of Missouri.

"Our thoughts are with Riley's family as the search continues," Angela King Taylor, interim vice chancellor for Student Affairs at the University of Missouri, said in a March 11 statement.

"The Delta Chi Fraternity is deeply concerned for the safety of Riley Strain, a valued member of our Missouri Chapter," the fraternity said in a March 11 statement. "Our thoughts and hopes are with Riley's family and our Missouri Chapter during this challenging time."

Anyone with information is asked to call Nashville Crime Stoppers at 615-742-7463.

Copyright © 2024, ABC Audio. All rights reserved.


Suspect in fatal New Mexico State Police officer shooting captured: Officials

New Mexico State Police

The suspect wanted in the killings of a New Mexico state trooper and a South Carolina paramedic was captured Sunday following a shooting involving law enforcement, authorities said.

The suspect, Jaremy Smith, was taken into custody in Bernalillo County, New Mexico, after leading police on a chase that resulted in a shooting involving at least one deputy from the Bernalillo County Sheriff's Office, according to the New Mexico State Police.

Smith is suspected in the fatal shooting of New Mexico State Police officer Justin Hare early Friday and the slaying of Phonesia Machado-Fore, a South Carolina paramedic who was reported missing on Thursday, authorities said.

The 33-year-old suspect, who was identified on Saturday by police, was the subject of a massive manhunt. New Mexico State Police Chief Troy Weisler had said during a news conference, "Jaremy Smith, we are coming for you."

Bernalillo County Sheriff's deputies spotted Smith driving a car in Albuquerque at about 8 a.m. local time, officials said. Smith allegedly led deputies on a chase that ended in his arrest, according to authorities.

"The Bernalillo County Sheriff's Office is currently in the area of Unser and Anderson Hill for a deputy-involved shooting," the agency said in a social media post, referring to a neighborhood in southwest Albuquerque. "The Multi-Agency Task Force has initiated an investigation."

No deputies were injured in the incident, officials said.

Hare was gunned down around 5 a.m. Friday after answering a call to help a disabled motorist on Interstate 40 near Tucumcari, about 235 miles east of Albuquerque near the Texas border, officials said.

When Hare pulled up behind the disabled BMW, the suspect exited the vehicle and approached the officer's passenger side window, Weisler said.

"A short conversation ensued about repairing his tire and possibly getting a ride back to town when, without warning, the suspect pulled out a firearm and shot Officer Hare," Weisler said during Saturday's news conference.

The suspect then walked to the driver's side of the patrol car and allegedly shot Hare again, Weisler said. He alleged that Smith pushed Hare into the passenger seat and drove off in the patrol car with the mortally wounded officer.

When Hare did not return several attempts to contact him, an officer was sent to the scene and saw Hare's patrol car driving at a high speed on a frontage road along the Interstate 40 road, Weisler said. Hare managed to set off a distress signal, sending an emergency signal to dispatch, police said.

Police eventually located the patrol car, crashed and empty, Weisler said. Hare was later found critically injured by the side of a road and taken to a hospital, where he was pronounced dead.

During the investigation, police learned the car Smith was driving at the time of the encounter with Hare was registered to Machado-Fore, a paramedic for Florence County, South Carolina, Emergency Medical Services, authorities said.

Machado-Fore was found dead outside of Lake View in Dillon County, South Carolina, on Friday after she had been reported missing by her family, according to the Marion County Sheriff's Office. An autopsy has been scheduled for Monday.

Smith has an "extensive" criminal history dating back decades in South Carolina and has ties to the Albuquerque area, Weisler said.

Before Smith's arrest, warrants were issued charging him with Hare's murder.

Copyright © 2024, ABC Audio. All rights reserved.


2 killed, 5 injured in DC shooting, police say, as search for suspect continues

X/@DCPoliceDept

A suspect in a shooting that left two people dead and five injured early Sunday in a historic neighborhood of Washington, D.C., remained on the loose and unidentified, according to police.

The shooting erupted around 3 a.m. at the intersection of 7th Street NW and P Street NW, about seven blocks east of Logan Circle and four blocks north of Mt. Vernon Square, police said. The shooting occurred near the Kennedy Recreation Center.

Law enforcement in Washington, D.C., were searching Sunday for a suspect who they said fled on foot following a deadly shooting.

"We're asking anyone who may have any information related to this incident or may have witnessed it, to contact the Metropolitan Police Department," Executive Assistant Chief Jeffrey Carrol said during a news conference Sunday morning.

Investigators were searching for a Black man with "average build, wearing light pants, blue shirt," according to the Metropolitan Police Department.

"Last seen on foot southbound on 7th Street NW," the department said. "DO NOT TAKE ACTION CALL 911."

Carroll said officers called to the scene found seven adults, who had all been shot.

"The initial information that we have at this time is that a total of seven people were shot at this location, two of which have since been pronounced deceased," Carroll said.

The names of the two people killed were being withheld by police pending notification of their relatives.

Carrol said the other shooting victims were hospitalized, but did not release information on their conditions.

A motive for the shooting remains under investigation, police said.

Sunday's shooting came amid a 35% increase in homicides in Washington, D.C., this year compared to the same period in 2023, according to police department crime statistics. There were 274 homicides in all of 2023 in Washington, D.C., a 35% jump from 2022, according to the statistics.

Copyright © 2024, ABC Audio. All rights reserved.


Suspect in fatal shootings in Philadelphia suburb barricaded in New Jersey residence with hostages: Police

WPVI

(FALLS TOWNSHIP, Pa.) -- An "extremely dangerous" suspect accused of killing three people, including his 13-year-old sister, in a Philadelphia suburb is barricaded with hostages at a residence in New Jersey, officials said.

The suspect -- identified as 26-year-old Andre Gordon Jr. -- was reported barricaded inside a residence in Trenton at 12:22 p.m. local time, hours after the shootings unfolded at two residences in Falls Township, Pennsylvania, police said.

All residents of the home involved in the barricade situation, as well as the residents of neighboring homes on the same side of the street, have since been evacuated without injury, Trenton Police Department Det. Lt. Lisette Rios confirmed to ABC News Saturday afternoon. Gordon is believed to be in the residence alone, Rios said.

There is a large police presence around the residence. Officers can be heard urging Gordon to surrender in footage from the scene.

Police said Gordon is believed to be armed with an AR-15-style assault rifle used in the shootings and additional weapons.

The suspect knew the victims in the shootings, which occurred Saturday morning at two homes in Levittown, a community within Falls Township, officials said.

Gordon allegedly carjacked a vehicle in Trenton before traveling to the area and "forcibly" breaking into both homes, according to Bucks County District Attorney Jennifer Schorn.

Falls Township officers were first dispatched to a residence on Viewpoint Lane at approximately 8:52 a.m., where two people had been fatally shot, police said. The victims were the suspect's 52-year-old stepmother, Karen Gordon, and his 13-year-old sister, Kera Gordon, according to Schorn.

Three other family members in the house, including a minor, managed to hide and "avoid being shot by Gordon as he went through the house searching for them," Schorn told reporters during a press briefing on Saturday.

A 25-year-old woman was then shot and killed at a residence on Edgewood Lane at approximately 9:01 a.m., police said. The victim, Taylor Daniel, shared two children with the suspect, Schorn said.

Four other people were present in the home at the time, including the two children and Daniel's mother, Schorn said. She suffered non-life-threatening injuries after Gordon allegedly bludgeoned her with the assault rifle, Schorn said.

Gordon is accused of then stealing a 2016 dark gray Honda CRV at gunpoint to flee back to Trenton. The carjacking occurred at approximately 9:13 a.m. in the parking lot of a Dollar General in Morrisville, police said. The operator of the vehicle was unharmed.

The Honda CRV was recovered unoccupied in Trenton at approximately 11:38 a.m., according to Falls Township police.

Schorn said she could not speak to a motive at this time or the suspect's past criminal history.

Falls Township Chief of Police Nelson Whitney said police have had "minor" contacts with Gordon in the past but "nothing that would indicate anything like this would happen."

The suspect is believed to be unhoused and has ties to the Trenton area, police said.

Schorn said they will investigate "every aspect" of how he came into possession of the firearm.

Police in Falls Township had issued a shelter-in-place warning amid the search for the suspect that has since been lifted.

A shelter-in-place advisement in nearby Middletown Township has similarly been lifted.

The Bucks County St. Patrick's Day parade scheduled for Saturday morning was canceled due to police activity, according to Pennsylvania State Sen. Steve Santarsiero.

This is a developing story. Please check back for updates.

Copyright © 2024, ABC Audio. All rights reserved.


Suspect in New Mexico trooper shooting named, linked to South Carolina woman found dead

New Mexico State Police

(DILLON COUNTY, S.C.) -- The suspect in the murder of a New Mexico State Police officer has been identified as Jaremy Smith of Marion County, South Carolina, and he has been linked to a South Carolina woman who was found dead Friday, according to police.

Phonesia Machado-Fore, a South Carolina first responder, was found dead after she had been reported missing by family on Thursday. The New Mexico suspect was driving her car when the trooper was murdered, according to South Carolina's Marion County Sheriff’s Office.

Warrants have been issued for Smith in the murder of New Mexico State Police Officer Justin Hare. Hare was fatally shot after responding to a call early Friday on Interstate 40, according to Gov. Michelle Lujan Grisham.

Machado-Fore's body was found outside of Lake View in Dillon County. An autopsy has been scheduled for Monday.

The link was made when New Mexico State Police called South Carolina's Marion County Sheriff's Office on Friday to inform them that Machado-Fore's car was involved in the murder of one of their officers.

Federal, state and local authorities worked together to identify the driver and find Machado-Fore, ultimately finding her body in the course of their investigation.

Copyright © 2024, ABC Audio. All rights reserved.


One dead, Five injured in shooting at Indianapolis bar

Jeremy Hogan/Getty Images/STOCK

(INDIANAPOLIS, Ind.) -- At least one person is dead and five others have been injured after a shooting inside a bar in Indianapolis.

The shooting took place shortly after 1 a.m. on Saturday morning at an establishment in Indianapolis, Indiana, on the 800 block of Broad Ripple Avenue when officers from the Indianapolis Metropolitan Police Department (IMPD) were working in the are and heard shots being fired inside a nearby business, according to a statement released from IMPD early Saturday morning detailing the incident.

“When officers arrived, they located a total of five adult male victims with injuries consistent with gunshot wound(s),” IMPD said. “Those officers provided first aid to those victims on the scene. Indianapolis Emergency Medical Services (IEMS) arrived shortly after and transported those victims to area hospitals.”

One male victim was pronounced deceased by medical personnel after arrival, while another male victim was able to transport himself to a local area hospital for treatment after being shot in the same altercation, authorities said.

“IMPD homicide and aggravated assault detectives responded to the scene to begin the investigation,” police said. “The Indianapolis-Marion County Forensic Services Agency responded to identify and collect potential forensic evidence.”

The Marion County Coroner’s Office will is now assisting in this case and they will determine the exact manner and cause of death of the one male victim. The conditions of the other five victim are currently unknown.

The identity of the man who was killed in the shooting has not yet been made public but the coroner’s office said they would release the name of the victim once his next of kin has been notified.

No suspects are currently in custody and the investigation remains active and ongoing.

Anyone with information about this incident should contact the IMPD Homicide Office at 317.327.3475. Alternatively, they can call Crime Stoppers of Central Indiana at 317.262.8477 to report an anonymous which could lead to a cash reward of up to $1,000 if the information leads to a felony arrest.

Copyright © 2024, ABC Audio. All rights reserved.


Former students, parents speak on anti-LGBTQ bullying at Nex Benedict's school

ABC News

(OWASSO, Okla.) -- The death of LGBTQ teen Nex Benedict following a fight in a high school restroom has been ruled a suicide, shining a renewed spotlight on the intensifying environment in Oklahoma schools and anti-LGBTQ bullying.

ABC News spoke with former students and local parents, who say that the impact of anti-LGBTQ policy and rhetoric is a growing concern in Oklahoma schools like Owasso High School, where Benedict was a student.

"I was constantly fearing for my safety," said 2022 Owasso alum and trans student Riley, who requested to go by their first name for safety reasons. "Looking back, I think that if I were out [as trans] during high school, I probably wouldn't have survived."

Benedict, 16, died on Feb. 8, one day after a physical altercation between the student and others at Owasso High School. According to Benedict's family, Benedict was nonbinary and went by they/them pronouns.

Benedict's family claimed that the teen had experienced several months of bullying from other students, which began after Oklahoma Gov. Kevin Stitt signed a bill into law in May 2022 that barred transgender and gender expansive youth from using bathrooms consistent with their gender identity, citing safety concerns.

Oklahoma alone has had 54 anti-LGBTQ bills pass through the legislature in the ongoing legislative session.

Research highlighted by the American Psychological Association shows that such policies and laws targeting access to health care, sports participation, and school policies have resulted in "heightened levels of anxiety, depression, and suicide risk among the transgender community."

​​LGBTQ youth are at greater risk for poor mental health, bullying and violence than their non-LGBTQ peers, and are also more at risk of seriously considering suicide or attempting it, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

Researchers say that supportive policies and practices in schools protecting LGBTQ students can ease this burden and promote better health outcomes.

Owasso alumni, parents share concerns

Riley told ABC News that she was a student at Owasso High School when the recent wave of anti-transgender bills began to move through the state legislature.

"It really reaffirmed the fact that I had to just keep my head down and make it through high school," said Riley. "Because even if teachers are supportive, then like they may not even have the ability legally to be supportive of it … There's always the fear that even safe teachers would be forced to out me or put me in an unsafe position just because of the legal circumstances."

Benedict's death forced Riley to emotionally confront aspects of her high school experience as a trans person that she hadn't processed before.

"I wasn't out in high school. A couple of people knew that I was bi, but no one knew that I was trans," said Riley. "It almost kind of makes it worse, because people will say the most vile and ridiculous stuff around me. And sometimes they'd assume that I would agree with them. And sometimes they would just say [things] not realizing that it would be hard for me."

She said that despite repeatedly sending emails to administrators when witnessing or hearing offensive language, "they've never done anything about it," she said.

Marley Hutchins, another 2022 Owasso alum who goes by they/them pronouns, said they also experienced and witnessed anti-LGBTQ bullying in the halls of Owasso High.

"The administration doesn't follow through, they don't seem to care that much about it," said Hutchins. "Which I think is also why their response to this has been so disappointing. Because they just, they won't stop repeating the same talking points. They just keep saying that they take all reports of bullying very seriously. But we're telling them that that's not true."

Hutchins said they are happy they graduated when they did, because they believe recent anti-transgender policies and rhetoric from officials has worsened the experiences of LGBTQ youth.

"I think things have gotten a lot worse, as more elected officials have been a lot more vocal, as certain elected officials have come into power, like [Oklahoma State Superintendent] Ryan Walters," Hutchins said.

In an interview with ABC News, Walters stood firm on his support of current anti-transgender policies following Benedict's death: "To make sure that all individuals are safe in a school, we want every student to be protected, we want every student to be successful. That also means we're not going to lie to students. And we're not going to push a gender ideology."

Anna Richardson, a local parent whose 17-year-old son is a senior at Owasso, told ABC News that students have told her they have little faith in the school's safety policies.

"When I printed those out and showed them to a group of teenagers, they were laughed at -- the students laughed at them," Richardson said. "And they were like, 'none of that happens.' They're like, you know, 'it doesn't make any difference. If you go tell an adult or whatever, they're not listening to us. So why even, why even bother?'"

Richardson helped organize a vigil to honor Benedict's memory. Though she said she is still learning more each day about the LGBTQ community, she held the vigil to show students that there are people in the community standing up with them against hate.

"My biggest message has always been that the adults in the room need to step up as the adults in the room," said Richardson. "We need to start leading our conversations with love and kindness."

She continued, "This behavior and patterns of quote unquote, bullying, harassment, assault, hate speech, whatever you want to label out that as -- it starts at home, it starts in our homes."

Cassidy Brown, a member of the LGBTQ community and 2009 Owasso alum, is a parent to a 2-year-old and is worried about their future in Oklahoma with the current anti-LGBTQ sentiment.

"It's scary for me to think that I could send my son to a public school where he might even get ridiculed because he has two moms," Brown told ABC News in an interview.

How state and local officials have responded

Owasso Public Schools and Oklahoma state officials are at the center of the scrutiny surrounding Benedict's death by suicide.

Owasso told ABC News that the safety and security of students is their top priority, as well as "fostering a safe and inclusive environment for everyone," said a spokesperson for the district.

"Bullying in any form is unacceptable," the statement read. "We take reports of bullying very seriously and have policies and procedures in place to address such behavior."

The district spokesperson said administrators are in the midst of a detailed review of policies, curriculum, and programs "in collaboration with our students, families, staff, and community."

The statement continued, "The results of the pending investigations by the Owasso Police Department and the Office of Civil Rights will also help to inform this process."

Meanwhile, the Department of Education has opened an investigation into Owasso Public Schools following a complaint from the Human Rights Campaign related to concerns about bullying and discrimination.

The district responded to the investigation in a statement to ABC News, stating that "the district is committed to cooperating with federal officials and believes the complaint submitted by HRC is not supported by the facts and is without merit."

However, state officials have stood by anti-trans policies and rhetoric in light of the criticism, including Walters.

Walters has said that he wants the "focus to be on the basics and education."

When asked about concerns that some students can't focus on school because of rhetoric that invalidates their identity, Walters said that he wants students to be successful and protected, but that he would not "lie" to them.

"What we see here is an effort from the left to lie about the death of this child to push an agenda and to try to push us off of our positions and our stances," Walters told ABC News. "We're not going to back down to that. We're going to continue to move the state forward in education."

If you are struggling with thoughts of suicide or worried about a friend or loved one, call or text the Suicide & Crisis Lifeline at 988 for free, confidential emotional support 24 hours a day, seven days a week.

Copyright © 2024, ABC Audio. All rights reserved.


Guatemalan migrant accused of police officer's death released after case dismissed

Attorney Phillip Arroyo

(BAKER COUNTY, Fla.) -- Virgilio Aguilar Mendez, the teen migrant from Guatemala who was arrested following the death of a Florida police officer, has been freed from U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement's custody his lawyers told ABC News.

Attorney Phillip Arroyo shared a video on TikTok showing the moment Aguilar Mendez was released for the first time since May 2023. The video shows the teen smiling and nodding while speaking with Arroyo.

Aguilar Mendez, a 19-year-old farmworker was arrested in May after Sgt. Michael Kunovich, an officer with the St. Johns County Sheriff's Office in St. Augustine Florida approached him. Kunovich made contact with him due to "suspicious behavior," according to an arrest report reviewed by ABC News.

Aguilar Mendez, who does not speak English, attempted to walk away from the officer, but a struggle ensued, according to body camera video and audio of the incident obtained by ABC News.

Body camera shows Aguilar Mendez being thrown to the ground, put in a chokehold, and tased on multiple occasions. Arroyo told ABC News that minutes after the incident, Kunovich suffered a heart attack and died.

ABC News obtained a copy of the autopsy report, which concluded Kunovich died of natural causes after suffering cardiac dysrhythmia, which may have been a result of the severe heart disease he was noted to have, a prior heart attack, or heart and lung deterioration due to smoking. Prosecutors dropped charges against Aguilar Mendez earlier this month.

Criminal defense attorney Jose Baez, who represented Aguilar Mendez's criminal case claimed during an exclusive interview in February that the sheriff's office conducted an "unlawful arrest" and that racial profiling was the reason he was initially approached by police.

Baez also fought back against a police report that claimed Aguilar Mendez "armed himself with a folding pocket knife" that was in his pocket after he was placed in handcuffs. Officers claimed he ignored commands to drop the knife and that the knife "had to be forcefully removed from the defendant's hands." Body camera video, reviewed by ABC News, did not clearly show the moment he allegedly grabbed the knife. In the video, Aguilar Mendez can be heard saying he uses the knife to cut watermelon. Baez confirmed he cuts watermelon and harvests peppers for work.

After charges were dropped, St. Johns County Sheriff defended Sgt. Kunovich's actions.

"There have been attempts by some to portray Aguilar Mendez as a victim and vilify Sergeant Kunovich. I continue to stand behind Sergeant Kunovich's actions on the night of May 19, 2023," St. Johns County Sheriff Rob Hardwick said in a statement earlier this month. "The danger associated with law enforcement is a risk we assume when we enter this profession. Sergeant Kunovich died a hero protecting the citizens of St. Johns County and there is nothing more noble than that. Please continue to hold our agency and Sergeant Kunovich's family in your thoughts and prayers."

Mariana Blanco, assistant Executive Director of the Guatemalan-Maya Center, an organization that has been advocating for the teen, praised his release.

"Our work has just begun in terms of the healing work that will need to be done with Aguilar Mendez so we're just excited to have him back and bring him into a community where he's going to feel welcomed, and aprreciated and safe," Blanco told ABC News. "This case just proves that local authorities in Florida are not prepared to work with our workforce."

Aguilar Mendez, is from a small Indigenous community in Guatemala and primarily speaks Mam, according to Arroyo.

Copyright © 2024, ABC Audio. All rights reserved.