logo
Woman killed in Morganton apartment fire; SBI investigates

Woman killed in Morganton apartment fire; SBI investigates

Yahoo24-03-2025
A 51-year-old woman died Sunday morning when a fire broke out at an apartment complex in Morganton, The News-Herald reported.
Student safety concerns rise as 2 struck by driver at crosswalk
The Morganton Department of Public Safety was called to Forest View Apartments on Lenoir Road shortly after 6 a.m. for a reported fire, said Assistant Chief Ryan Lander.
Officials identified the victim as Pricilla Deeli Perez Febus, the newspaper reported.
The fire started in an end unit.
Families were displaced and The American Red Cross is helping them.
The North Carolina State Bureau of Investigation has been called to assist with the investigation, officials said.
VIDEO: Popular Morganton attraction washed out by Helene partially reopens
Orange background

Try Our AI Features

Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:

Comments

No comments yet...

Related Articles

Stockton man thrust into national spotlight after fatal collision in Florida
Stockton man thrust into national spotlight after fatal collision in Florida

Yahoo

time5 hours ago

  • Yahoo

Stockton man thrust into national spotlight after fatal collision in Florida

Aug. 20—A long-haul truck driver accused of killing three people in a Florida traffic collision was arrested in San Joaquin County over the weekend. Newsweek reported on Monday that 28-year-old Stockton resident Harjinder Singh was arrested by U.S. Marshals on suspicion of three counts of vehicular homicide. He was booked into San Joaquin County Jail on Saturday, and appeared for arraignment Tuesday, according to inmate records. The Miami Herald reported that the Aug. 12 crash occurred when Singh attempted to make a U-turn in his 18-wheeler at an "official use only" area of the Florida Turnpike 19 miles north of Fort Pierce. The truck was blocking all the northbound lanes as a 2015 black Chrysler Town & Country minivan approached in the middle lane and slammed into the 18-wheeler, killing its three occupants. Two passengers in the minivan — a 37-year-old woman from Pompano Beach and a 54-year-old man from Miami — died at the scene. The driver, a 30-year-old man from Florida City, later died at a hospital, according to the Herald. Neither Singh or as his passenger, 25-year-old Harneet Singh of Yuba City, were injured in the collision. The pair flew to Sacramento on Aug. 13, as law enforcement does not make an arrest at the scene of vehicle crashes, the Herald reported. Vehicular homicide is punishable by as much as 15 years in prison in that state. According to Newsweek, federal immigration authorities have issued a detainer which could lead to deportation proceedings once the criminal case is concluded, reports state. In his monthly address to the public posted on social media, San Joaquin County Sheriff Pat Withrow said he was not able to hold Singh, an undocumented immigrant, on an ICE hold due to California law. "He's from out of the country, and he's here illegally, but California does not allow me to honor the ICE hold because he has committed no prior crimes," Withrow said. "We don't know if this was gross negligence or an intentional act." The Florida Highway Patrol told the Herald that Singh, who has a commercial driver's license in California, entered the United States illegally in 2018 through the Mexican border. It's unclear how he obtained a commercial driver's license, as California law requires applicants to show proof they are in the U.S. legally, among other requirements, according to the California Commercial Driver's Handbook. California's AB 60 allows undocumented immigrants to apply for a driver's license if they can provide proof of identity and residency. These licenses are marked "not for federal identification." Singh had been linked online to a 2019 crash in Arkansas that destroyed a historic bridge, but officials confirmed to Newsweek Monday he wasn't involved in that accident. That driver, also named Harjinder Singh, was fired by the US Citylink Corporation following the crash, reports state. News of the Florida crash went national, the Herald reported, with Singh being at the center of several social media posts by the Trump administration on Sunday and Monday, prompting a response from Gov. Gavin Newsom. In one post, Newsom's press office said the federal government issued Singh an employment authorization document during Trump's first term, which allows foreign nationals to work legally in the U.S. In response, Tricia McLaughlin, the assistant secretary for public affairs at the Department of Homeland Security, said Singh's work authorization was rejected in 2020 while Trump was in office and approved the following year under the Biden administration, the Herald reported. San Joaquin County District Attorney Ron Freitas filed a petition for a fugitive warrant against Singh on Tuesday. Singh agreed to waive extradition and awaiting transport to Florida. "Public safety depends on strong collaboration between states," Freitas said. "Our office has fulfilled its role in this matter, and Harjinder Singh will now face consequences in Florida."

Mainland High teacher charged with aggravated battery on a person 65 or older
Mainland High teacher charged with aggravated battery on a person 65 or older

Yahoo

time6 hours ago

  • Yahoo

Mainland High teacher charged with aggravated battery on a person 65 or older

A Mainland High School teacher was arrested Aug. 19 after police said she punched her 77-year-old former romantic partner. Lori Maree Coombs, 56, was charged with felony aggravated battery on a person 65 years or older. She was released on her own recognizance by a judge, according to Volusia County Branch Jail records. Coombs is prohibited from being on the Mainland campus while the arrest is under investigation, according to a message sent to parents from Principal Melissa Fraine. The message, now deleted, was posted in the comments section of the Daytona Beach Mugshots Facebook page by "Briana Nicolle." When reached by The News-Journal, the poster said her son attends Mainland High School, and she received the message by email Tuesday morning. According to the post, Fraine wrote in her email to Mainland High families that she was informing them of Coombs' arrest as required by Florida law. "Teacher Lori Coombs was recently arrested for aggravated battery on a person 65 years+," Fraine said in her message, adding that police and school officials were investigating the incident. Volusia County schools' spokesperson Danielle Johnson could not be reached on Wednesday, Aug. 20, for comment. Police: Coombs argued with victim over infidelity Daytona Beach police said they were called to the alleged victim's residence on Aug. 18, where he reported that he and Coombs had been in a relationship for two years. Coombs was moving out, and she came to the home to get her belongings, the arrest report noted. The victim said he didn't have any of her things and invited Coombs into the home to look. The two began arguing over infidelity, and Coombs started hitting the victim with a closed fist, police said. The victim blocked the blows and, in the process, suffered a small laceration caused by Coombs' fingernails, the report stated. After her arrest, Coombs told police the victim made a sexual comment toward her when she bent down to pick up a pair of socks, the arrest affidavit said. Coombs said that the victim reached down to grab the socks but hit her arm and suffered a scratch. She denied entering the victim's home or striking him, according to her arrest report. Coombs previously arrested for domestic battery, charges dropped Court records reviewed on Wednesday, Aug. 20, show Coombs was charged in 2020 for slapping and scratching a 58-year-old man she was romantically involved with. The alleged victim was helping her grade papers and made a mistake, according to an arrest report. She was charged with misdemeanor battery and was released on her own recognizance. The State Attorney's Office filed a "no information" document saying she would not be prosecuted, court records show. This article originally appeared on The Daytona Beach News-Journal: Lori Coombs, Mainland teacher, charged with aggravated battery

Wife Convicted of Shooting, Killing Husband After Open Marriage Spat
Wife Convicted of Shooting, Killing Husband After Open Marriage Spat

Newsweek

time10 hours ago

  • Newsweek

Wife Convicted of Shooting, Killing Husband After Open Marriage Spat

Based on facts, either observed and verified firsthand by the reporter, or reported and verified from knowledgeable sources. Newsweek AI is in beta. Translations may contain inaccuracies—please refer to the original content. A Georgia jury this week convicted 55-year-old Cheryl Coe on murder and aggravated assault charges in the 2021 shooting death of her husband, 48-year-old Luther "Luke" Coe III. Cheryl was found guilty of malice murder, felony murder and aggravated assault on Monday, The Newnan Times-Herald reported. She was sentenced to life in prison without the possibility of parole. A Georgia jury convicted 55-year-old Cheryl Coe on murder and aggravated assault charges in the 2021 shooting death of her husband. A Georgia jury convicted 55-year-old Cheryl Coe on murder and aggravated assault charges in the 2021 shooting death of her husband. Coweta County Sheriff's Office Why It Matters Text messages between the couple were shown in court. The messages appeared to show a disagreement between the two over the terms of their open marriage, according to The Newnan Times-Herald. Cheryl asked Luke for permission to see another man. Luke asked if Cheryl planned to see a second man that same day. Cheryl said she could and ended the message with "lol," standing for laughing out loud. Luke said the response "turned his stomach." Cheryl asked Luke if he wanted to end the open marriage, but he disagreed. What To Know The Coweta County Sheriff's Office responded to a residence on Tommy Lee Cook Road in Newnan on June 23, 2021, after Cheryl called 911 to report that she had accidentally shot her husband. Officials found Luke in a bedroom of the home. He was alive and first aid was rendered before he was pronounced dead at the scene. The sheriff's office said investigators determined that the gunshot was not accidental. Cheryl was then taken into custody and charged. During interviews with a detective, Cheryl said she had been drinking four or five hard ciders, took Klonopin and went to bed around 7:15 p.m., The Newnan Times-Herald reported. She said she woke up when the bedroom door opened. Cheryl said she was unable to identify the individual, and she reached for her firearm before firing two shots, according to the outlet. Cheryl later said she knew her husband had stormed into the room, and he attempted to drag her from the bed. She said she was trying to scare him off, and she did not mean to hit him. A medical examiner said the victim had muzzle compressions around the bullet wound, indicating that the barrel of a gun had been pressed into his body. What People Are Saying Prosecutor Laura Lukert, in a closing statement: "She is the most unreliable of narrators. The only consistency we have is that that woman shot Luther Coe." Defense attorney Thomas Mondelli, in a closing statement: "Fear is not malice. She acted out of fear." What Happens Next Coe will serve a sentence of life in prison without the possibility of parole. Do you have a story that Newsweek should be covering? Do you have any questions about this story? Contact LiveNews@

DOWNLOAD THE APP

Get Started Now: Download the App

Ready to dive into a world of global content with local flavor? Download Daily8 app today from your preferred app store and start exploring.
app-storeplay-store