TikTokker, 22, allegedly shot and killed Marine veteran in front of his fiancée and 10-month-old infant: cops
Justin Guzman, 22, a wannabe influencer who posted cringey lip-sync videos on TikTok, surrendered to the Houston Police Department on Monday in connection to the senseless killing of Marine veteran Anthony Sanders, 30, earlier last month, according to KPRC.
5 Justin Guzman, 22, turned himself in to police on Monday in connection
to the killing of Marine veteran Anthony Sanders.
guzmanhimself1/TikTok
In a hearing Monday, Sander's parents, both of whom are Army veterans, submitted evidence that included a TikTok posted by Guzman in which he emotes and dances in front of a television news segment about the shooting, KHOU reported.
'We're here for justice. Justice for Anthony and also to stand for what he stood for as a person,' father Frank Sanders told the outlet. 'This was uncalled for.'
On June 3, Sanders confronted Guzman and his alleged accomplice Marko Cinan, 23, in the parking garage of the Galleria Mall after the pair had allegedly insulted the Marine vet's fiancée in an elevator of the shopping complex where she worked, according to reports.
5 Anthony Sanders, 30, was shot and killed in front of his infant son and fiancee on June 3, according to Houston police,
Click 2 Huston
5 Army veteran parents Royal (left) and Frank (right) Sanders submitted a TikTok as part of evidence in which they allege Guzman danced in front of a news story covering the shooting.
Click 2 Huston
After the exchange of words, Sanders went to drive away from the dispute with his partner and their 10-month-old son in the car — but Guzman allegedly 'brake-checked' the vet and blocked him in with his own vehicle.
When the Marine got out of his car to address the aggressive driving maneuver — he was shot a total of ten times as his infant and wife cowered in their car.
Royal Sanders was grateful that her son stepped out of the car before the bullets started flying, 'because had he not stepped out, the baby was in the car, the fiancée was in the car,' she told KHOU at the courthouse Monday.
5 The Orange Garage at Houston's Galleria Mall where the altercation and shooting took place.
Click 2 Huston
Houston police stopped and detained Guzman, Cinan, and a third male shortly after the shooting but they were then released.
Cinan turned himself into HPD on June 25 and was booked into Harris County Jail.
Lawyers for Guzman said the 22-year-old was acting in self defense, claiming that Sanders had presented a knife when he confronted Guzman and Cinan about insulting his fiancée, Financial Express reported.
5 Cinan (left) and Guzman (right) appeared in several TikTok videos on the latter's popular profile.
guzmanhimself1/TikTok
Cops found no evidence at the scene that indicated Sanders was armed, according to reports.
Guzman is being held on $750,000 bond and Cinan, who has a criminal record, is being held on $1million bond, according to Law and Crime.
The pair are featured in several TikTok videos on Guzman's well account which boasts over 50,000 followers.
In several tasteless videos, the pair hold their hands like guns and pretend to fire at the camera.
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Miami Herald
2 hours ago
- Miami Herald
Influencers urged to steer clear of hot topics during US immigration crackdown
Avoid politics. That's the advice lawyers are increasingly giving U.S.-based content creators who aren't citizens as an immigration crackdown spreads across the country. "Every chance I get to tell them to scrub their socials even for likes and reposts of innocuous content - like JD Vance or anti-war memes - I do," said Genie Doi, an immigration lawyer who works with influencers. In the combative, anything-goes world of digital media, internet personalities tend to gravitate toward hot-button, controversial subjects, not shy away from them. But in the current political climate, lawyers are telling their clients that weighing in on topics like Palestine or the U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement raids in Los Angeles, can come with serious risks, including unwanted scrutiny from authorities or unfriendly competitors. Last month, Khaby Lame, a Senegalese-Italian influencer with millions of followers on TikTok, was detained by immigration agents in Las Vegas after overstaying the terms of his visa, according to a Department of Homeland Security senior official. Lame, who has partnered with many mainstream brands, including Pepsi and Hugo Boss, has since voluntarily left the country. Afterward, Bo Loudon, a conservative influencer who is friends with President Donald Trump's son Barron, took credit for tipping off DHS. Even though Lame typically doesn't speak in his TikTok videos, which come across as entirely apolitical, Loudon has since described him as a "far-left influencer." Lame didn't respond to a request for comment. "No one is above the law!" Loudon wrote on X. For many social-media personalities around the world, the U.S. is a desirable place to work due to the big marketing budgets of U.S. brands, as well as the proximity to dealmakers and casting directors in Hollywood. But for anyone with a large following on social media, coming into the U.S. these days isn't without potential hazards. In May, Hasan Piker, a popular, far-left political commentator and U.S. citizen, was stopped and questioned by U.S. border agents at Chicago's O'Hare International Airport about his views on Palestine, which he regularly shares on Inc.'s livestreaming site Twitch. In an interview with Bloomberg News, Piker said he believes DHS interrogated him to send a message to others in his position. "The goal was to threaten people who might also want to speak out and go to protests regardless of their citizenship status," he said. "It's a threatening environment they want to cultivate to stop people from exercising their First Amendment rights." "Our officers are following the law, not agendas," DHS Assistant Secretary for Public Affairs Tricia McLaughlin responded via email. "Upon entering the country, this individual (Hasan Piker) was referred for further inspection - a routine, lawful process that occurs daily, and can apply for any traveler. Once his inspection was complete, he was promptly released." Earlier this year, U.S. Customs and Border Protection revoked Piker's Global Entry privileges - a program in which approved individuals get expedited clearance on their return to the U.S. Doi, the immigration lawyer, is now advising clients who aren't U.S. citizens to avoid international travel altogether. At ports of entry, CBP has broad authority to search and seize electronic devices of incoming travelers though the agency says that fewer than .01% of all international travelers were subject to such searches last year. "Every entry at the border is an opportunity for CBP to inspect your electronics without a warrant," Doi said. One in five Americans get their news from influencers, according to a 2024 Pew Research survey, with 27% of news influencers identifying as conservative or pro-Trump, versus 21% as left-leaning. So far in his second term, Trump has directed most of his attacks on the media at mainstream outlets, ranging from CNN and CBS News to the New York Times - all of which have full-time legal departments poised to respond to such threats. By contrast, even the most popular online creators tend to have much slimmer operations, potentially leaving them more vulnerable to aggressive legal tactics. David Rugendorf, an immigration attorney, said he now advises content creators, regardless of their citizenship status, that anything they have ever posted online could be used against them. As a result, he said, some are opting to delete old posts. "This government," Rugendorf said, "is particularly attuned to the power of social media" and "wants to counter" certain positions. In early June, Derek Guy, a fashion critic whose popularity has soared on social media for mocking the sartorial choices of conservative politicians, revealed his own status as a longtime, undocumented resident of the U.S. "The lack of legal immigration has totally shaped my life," he wrote on X, where he has more than 1 million followers. "It has taken an emotional toll, as this legal issue hangs over your head like a black cloud." Afterward, some conservatives suggested online that the Trump administration should kick Guy out of the country. Before long, Vice President Vance weighed in on X, posting a meme of the actor Jack Nicholson nodding his head up and down menacingly. Guy didn't respond to requests for comment for this story. In mid-June, Mario Guevara, an independent, Spanish-speaking journalist with a sizable online following, was arrested while livestreaming anti-Trump protests outside of Atlanta. He was subsequently handed over to ICE. Guevara, who moved to the U.S. from El Salvador in 2004 according to the New Yorker, is currently facing deportation hearings. The Committee to Protect Journalists has said that Guevara "has authorization to work" in the U.S. DHS said that he entered the country illegally. Guevara's lawyer didn't respond to a request for comment. "Following his arrest by local authorities, ICE placed a detainer on him," DHS's McLaughlin said. "Following his release, he was turned over to ICE custody and has been placed in removal proceedings." Scrutiny from immigration authorities isn't the only potential risk for politically outspoken influencers. In recent years, a growing number of large advertisers have been shying away from politically active creators, said Crystal Duncan, an executive vice president of brand engagement at Tinuiti, a marketing firm. In recent months, many brand managers have grown even more wary. "In general, brands have been less vocal about political and social issues since the change in administration, given shifts in the political climate and heightened polarization," said Jasmine Enberg, principal analyst at eMarketer. David Melik Telfer, a lawyer in Los Angeles, said that most international influencers come to the U.S. on O1-B visas, under the same category as traditional entertainers. Lately, he said, the U.S. State Department has been scrutinizing applications more closely and challenging them more often. "They are examining everybody's social media," he said. "If your number one priority is not being detained and remaining in the U.S., I would certainly not attend any protest." Copyright (C) 2025, Tribune Content Agency, LLC. Portions copyrighted by the respective providers.
USA Today
4 hours ago
- USA Today
Sketching swastikas, debating politics & 'edgy' jokes: Idaho shooter wasn't typical loner
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Authorities continue to search for a motive in the killing of firefighters called to a wildfire June 29 on Canfield Mountain, just outside Coeur D'Alene. So far, there are no easy answers for why a 20-year-old son of a tree trimmer and archery enthusiast would suddenly turn on first responders. What is known, according to his friends, is Roley was part of a close-knit circle growing up before he landed in northwest Idaho, a region known for its embrace of independence, gun rights and stalwart conservatism. Five former schoolmates told USA TODAY they didn't keep in touch with him after high school but recounted what they knew of Roley growing up. What turned an opinionated, gregarious teenager into a killer, they couldn't say. All five former classmates expressed surprise, anguish and sadness over Roley's violent fate, and they said Roley didn't fit the stereotype of other mass shooters. 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For decades, the white supremacist organization Aryan Nations was headquartered there — until 2000, when a lawsuit by the Southern Poverty Law Center bankrupted the group. Although the group's compound was razed, the locals are still trying to shake the stigma. While Coeur d'Alene, a city of over 57,000 has grown over the years and is also home to progressive residents, it sits in a conservative part of the state long associated with anti-government groups. In 2022, 31 members of a white-nationalist group were arrested in the city and charged with conspiring to riot during a Pride event. Although many were from other states, it didn't help efforts to distance the city from its past. 'This is not who we are as a community,' Bruce Mattare, a Kootenai County commissioner, said at a press conference the day of the firefighters' shooting last month. 'And when you hear how others portray the people who live here on the news, it's not true. What happened here decades ago is not reflective of the fine people who live here today.' Tony Stewart, who helped found the Kootenai County Task Force on Human Relations in the early 1980s in response to the Aryan Nations, said after the group left, he helped offer one of its vacated compound buildings to local firefighters for training purposes. From a controlled burn to a wildfire attack A few miles away — and 24 years to the day after the remnants of the Aryan Nations' compound were destroyed in a controlled burn — firefighters were called to put out a grass fire. The call came in about 1:21 p.m. local time. About 20 minutes later, still examining the blaze whose smoke could be seen in the distance, they were suddenly scrambling to call for help as the bullets flew at them, a barrage of high-powered fire. Some could be heard on the radio pleading for help after two were hit. Hikers were still making it off the mountain as the gunfire continued. The shooter was concealed by heavy brush and seemed to be well prepared. Investigators believe the gunman set the fire. 'This was a total ambush,' Kootenai County Sheriff Bob Norris said. The next day, authorities found Roley's body by tracking cell phone data. The haunting question: Why? After he moved to Idaho, Roley spent time working in the tree maintenance business. His father had recently remarried, moved to Idaho, and started a tree trimming and stump grinding business in the area, according to his social media posts and the company's website. Wess Roley attempted unsuccessfully to enlist in the U.S. Army in Idaho several times in the last several years, Chris Surridge, a spokesperson for the U.S. Army confirmed. He was deemed ineligible each time, but the Army declined to specify what disqualified him. The Army declines people for a variety of physical and mental health disqualifiers, as well as background based on education, crime or drug use. He had expressed interest in becoming a firefighter, too, Norris said. Roley appeared to be living in his car at some point, and had five run-ins with local law enforcement that were "very, very minor in nature," Norris said. "He cooperated on each one." His encounters with police mostly had to do with trespassing, Norris said. At one point, police had to ask him to leave a restaurant. Attorney Justin Whittenton, who represents Roley's family in Arizona, where his mother and stepfather live, issued a statement on their behalf that reads in part: 'There are no words that can suffice for this tragedy and the infinite losses suffered by those affected by this shooting. We do not understand why this happened or how this came about.' Wess Roley's grandfather told reporters his grandson had appeared to be thriving in Idaho. He had a loving family, Dale Roley told CNN. 'He had his own apartment. He was doing good," he told ABC. But in recent months, he had become "kind of a loner," he said. The day after the shooting, his father, Jason Roley, who did not respond to requests for comment, posted an image dedicated to the deceased firefighters, reading 'IN LOVING MEMORY OF OUR FALLEN HEROES, JUNE 29 2025.' His caption under the image: 'I have no words. I'm so sorry for the family's' Nick Penzenstadler contributed reporting.
Newsweek
19 hours ago
- Newsweek
Mom Captures Moment Between Two Sons—No Idea It Will Be Their Last Together
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. There are some moments you never forget, and for Alli Skrbek, that will always be the moment she read a message informing her that her eldest son had taken his life. While she was unable to save him, she's on a mission to break the stigma around depression and to urge others to seek help when they need it. As a mom-of-four, Skrbek of Prescott Valley, Arizona, knows when her children are unwell or unhappy. Over the last year, she saw many of those signs in her eldest son, Alex Fornerod, but there was no way of knowing just how much he was struggling. He was facing many internal battles, but Skrbek told Newsweek that she "thought he was doing really well." Four years ago, Fornerod moved to Florida with his grandparents and he "started getting into trouble." As a result, he moved back in with his mom for six months and she was very concerned by what she saw. "He would get angry, accuse us of doing things (like talking about him, taking his wallet or keys), and he became very paranoid," Skrbek said. Alex Fornerod, 22, with one of his younger brothers during the Christmas holidays in 2024. Alex Fornerod, 22, with one of his younger brothers during the Christmas holidays in 2024. @alli_mom / TikTok Skrbek and her husband assumed his behavior was caused by alcohol and tried to address that. Nonetheless, Fornerod convinced them he was fine and that he'd ease up on the drinking. "Something shifted in Alex, and he wasn't the same. He was always angry, agitated, or drunk. We thought it was alcohol—we didn't know he was struggling with depression," she said. Major depression is one of the most common mental illnesses, affecting over 22.5 million adults in the U.S. This accounts for more than 8 percent of the adult population, according to statistics from Mental Health America. People with depression experience persistent sadness, lose pleasure and interest in activities they once enjoyed, become irritable, feelings of guilt or hopelessness, and in some instances, thoughts of suicide. Mental Health American suggests that 5.2 percent of U.S. adults experience suicidal thoughts. While it may not always seem like it, depression is treatable. Most commonly with antidepressants, psychotherapy, or a combination of the two. Early treatment is more effective, and the majority of those who received treatment showed vast improvements. But despite help being available, over 28 million adults with mental illness have not received any treatment. Seeing her son go through that was so hard for Skrbek, who said it was "hard to watch." She wanted to help, but he was convinced he didn't have a problem. The Final Holiday Together Shortly after, he moved out without telling anyone and got a new job. He'd finally got back on track, or so Skrbek thought. He told her that he wasn't drinking much and when she went to visit, he seemed well. But after moving in with his aunt and three cousins in November 2024, Fornerod's behavior spiraled. He started taking cocaine and nitrous oxide, though his mom had no idea. When Christmas 2024 swung around, he returned home for the holidays. It's always been the family's favorite time, and it was wonderful to have everyone back together. "During that visit, he hardly drank and we laughed like old times. He was very loving—that was my son. He always had such a beautiful heart and deep love for his brothers and his momma. It was so nice to have happy Alex again," Skrbek continued. She captured a wonderful moment of her eldest son joking around with his younger brothers. They were just playing around, but it meant the world for Skrbek to see her son happy. She never could have imagined that would be one of the last times her boys would be together. "The Thursday before he took his life, he said he was going to move back to his friend's house. He was having problems with his cousins. They partied too much, and he needed to get away from it," she said. On March 30, Skrbek received a text from her eldest son that read: "I'm so thankful I have you. I love you mom." That was the last time she'd ever hear from him, because on March 31, he shot himself at the age of 22. His body was discovered the following day. Looking at her phone on April 1, Skrbek was in "complete shock" when she read a message that said her son had killed himself. How could this be real? She thought he was doing so well. The Aftermath of Her Son's Death When Skrbek was given access to her late son's phone, she realized he'd been living in a completely different world to what he portrayed. He was doing drugs, drinking heavily, and behaving recklessly with his gun. Skrbek told Newsweek: "Alex was clearly crying out for help. He wrote notes on his phone talking about his life and how angry he was. He kept that side very hidden, so we had no idea the last four months of his life was so dark." While grieving her son's life, Skrbek is determined to raise awareness by creating a platform on TikTok (@alli_mom). She posts about his experience, what people can do if they need help, and how her family is coping. On May 18, she shared the video of her sons playing together last year, showing how he appeared perfectly fine while battling depression. The video has gone viral with over 12.3 million views and 943,800 likes on TikTok at the time of writing. Not only does that video warm Skrbek's heart, but it also breaks it. Skrbek struggles with anxiety and feels like part of her is missing. Knowing she can never hug or speak to her son is a loss unlike any other. Her younger sons are aged 13, 8, and 20 months, and they're all processing the grief differently. From anger, breaking down, to closing themselves off, she's having to help them through it all. "We don't have enough awareness surrounding depression and suicide," she said. "My son was not happy when he took his life—he was angry. Many think suicide is a choice, but it's not. My son just wanted the pain to stop. "Had I known that would be the last time I'd hug my son, or known he was struggling with depression, there are so many things I would go back and change. I'd like to portray that life is fragile. If someone is struggling, please reach for help." If you or someone you know is considering suicide, please contact the 988 Suicide and Crisis Lifeline by dialing 988, text "988" to the Crisis Text Line at 741741 or go to
