Suspected sniper's body found after firefighters killed
A man has been found dead near a firearm on a mountain in the US state of Idaho after two firefighters were shot dead in an ambush while attending a blaze.
The Kootenai County Sheriff's department said a tactical response team found the dead man late on Sunday.
Officials did not release his name, nor did they say what kind of firearm was found.
Though the shelter-in-place order was lifted, the sheriff's office cautioned residents to be prepared because the fire was still burning.
Sheriff Bob Norris had earlier said law enforcement officers and firefighters were taking sniper fire and urged people to stay clear of the area around Canfield Mountain, a nature zone popular with hikers near Coeur d'Alene, about 420km east of Seattle.
"This evening, members of the SWAT team located a deceased male on Canfield Mountain. A firearm was found nearby," the sheriff's office said in a statement.
"At this time, the shelter in place is being lifted, however there is still an active wildfire on Canfield Mountain. Residents in the area are advised to be prepared and ready should further action need to be taken."
The sheriff said the shooter had used high-powered sporting rifles to fire rapidly at first responders, with law enforcement initially unsure of the number of perpetrators involved.
They were in a spot "with heavy brush and they are well prepared and blending in with their surroundings," Norris added.
Law enforcement is investigating whether the fire could have been intentionally set in order to lure first responders to the scene.
"FBI technical teams and tactical assets are currently on the scene providing support," FBI deputy director Dan Bongino wrote on X.
"It remains an active, and very dangerous scene."
Firefighters received the first call of a fire around 1:21pm on Sunday, Norris said, and about 40 minutes later, reports emerged that they were being shot at.
"We don't know how many suspects are up there, and we don't know how many casualties there are," Norris said.
"We are actively taking fire sniper as we speak."
Governor Brad Little said "multiple" firefighters were attacked.
"This is a heinous direct assault on our brave firefighters," Little said.
"I ask all Idahoans to pray for them and their families as we wait to learn more."
Norris said it appeared the sniper or snipers were hiding in the rugged terrain and using a high-powered rifle. He said he instructed deputies to fire back.
They were in a spot "with heavy brush and they are well prepared and blending in with their surroundings", he said.
Gun ownership is widespread in the US, where the country's constitution protects the rights of Americans to "keep and bear arms".
Deaths related to gun violence are common - 17,927 people were murdered by a gun in 2023 in the US, according to the most recent available data from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.
with reuters
A man has been found dead near a firearm on a mountain in the US state of Idaho after two firefighters were shot dead in an ambush while attending a blaze.
The Kootenai County Sheriff's department said a tactical response team found the dead man late on Sunday.
Officials did not release his name, nor did they say what kind of firearm was found.
Though the shelter-in-place order was lifted, the sheriff's office cautioned residents to be prepared because the fire was still burning.
Sheriff Bob Norris had earlier said law enforcement officers and firefighters were taking sniper fire and urged people to stay clear of the area around Canfield Mountain, a nature zone popular with hikers near Coeur d'Alene, about 420km east of Seattle.
"This evening, members of the SWAT team located a deceased male on Canfield Mountain. A firearm was found nearby," the sheriff's office said in a statement.
"At this time, the shelter in place is being lifted, however there is still an active wildfire on Canfield Mountain. Residents in the area are advised to be prepared and ready should further action need to be taken."
The sheriff said the shooter had used high-powered sporting rifles to fire rapidly at first responders, with law enforcement initially unsure of the number of perpetrators involved.
They were in a spot "with heavy brush and they are well prepared and blending in with their surroundings," Norris added.
Law enforcement is investigating whether the fire could have been intentionally set in order to lure first responders to the scene.
"FBI technical teams and tactical assets are currently on the scene providing support," FBI deputy director Dan Bongino wrote on X.
"It remains an active, and very dangerous scene."
Firefighters received the first call of a fire around 1:21pm on Sunday, Norris said, and about 40 minutes later, reports emerged that they were being shot at.
"We don't know how many suspects are up there, and we don't know how many casualties there are," Norris said.
"We are actively taking fire sniper as we speak."
Governor Brad Little said "multiple" firefighters were attacked.
"This is a heinous direct assault on our brave firefighters," Little said.
"I ask all Idahoans to pray for them and their families as we wait to learn more."
Norris said it appeared the sniper or snipers were hiding in the rugged terrain and using a high-powered rifle. He said he instructed deputies to fire back.
They were in a spot "with heavy brush and they are well prepared and blending in with their surroundings", he said.
Gun ownership is widespread in the US, where the country's constitution protects the rights of Americans to "keep and bear arms".
Deaths related to gun violence are common - 17,927 people were murdered by a gun in 2023 in the US, according to the most recent available data from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.
with reuters
A man has been found dead near a firearm on a mountain in the US state of Idaho after two firefighters were shot dead in an ambush while attending a blaze.
The Kootenai County Sheriff's department said a tactical response team found the dead man late on Sunday.
Officials did not release his name, nor did they say what kind of firearm was found.
Though the shelter-in-place order was lifted, the sheriff's office cautioned residents to be prepared because the fire was still burning.
Sheriff Bob Norris had earlier said law enforcement officers and firefighters were taking sniper fire and urged people to stay clear of the area around Canfield Mountain, a nature zone popular with hikers near Coeur d'Alene, about 420km east of Seattle.
"This evening, members of the SWAT team located a deceased male on Canfield Mountain. A firearm was found nearby," the sheriff's office said in a statement.
"At this time, the shelter in place is being lifted, however there is still an active wildfire on Canfield Mountain. Residents in the area are advised to be prepared and ready should further action need to be taken."
The sheriff said the shooter had used high-powered sporting rifles to fire rapidly at first responders, with law enforcement initially unsure of the number of perpetrators involved.
They were in a spot "with heavy brush and they are well prepared and blending in with their surroundings," Norris added.
Law enforcement is investigating whether the fire could have been intentionally set in order to lure first responders to the scene.
"FBI technical teams and tactical assets are currently on the scene providing support," FBI deputy director Dan Bongino wrote on X.
"It remains an active, and very dangerous scene."
Firefighters received the first call of a fire around 1:21pm on Sunday, Norris said, and about 40 minutes later, reports emerged that they were being shot at.
"We don't know how many suspects are up there, and we don't know how many casualties there are," Norris said.
"We are actively taking fire sniper as we speak."
Governor Brad Little said "multiple" firefighters were attacked.
"This is a heinous direct assault on our brave firefighters," Little said.
"I ask all Idahoans to pray for them and their families as we wait to learn more."
Norris said it appeared the sniper or snipers were hiding in the rugged terrain and using a high-powered rifle. He said he instructed deputies to fire back.
They were in a spot "with heavy brush and they are well prepared and blending in with their surroundings", he said.
Gun ownership is widespread in the US, where the country's constitution protects the rights of Americans to "keep and bear arms".
Deaths related to gun violence are common - 17,927 people were murdered by a gun in 2023 in the US, according to the most recent available data from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.
with reuters
A man has been found dead near a firearm on a mountain in the US state of Idaho after two firefighters were shot dead in an ambush while attending a blaze.
The Kootenai County Sheriff's department said a tactical response team found the dead man late on Sunday.
Officials did not release his name, nor did they say what kind of firearm was found.
Though the shelter-in-place order was lifted, the sheriff's office cautioned residents to be prepared because the fire was still burning.
Sheriff Bob Norris had earlier said law enforcement officers and firefighters were taking sniper fire and urged people to stay clear of the area around Canfield Mountain, a nature zone popular with hikers near Coeur d'Alene, about 420km east of Seattle.
"This evening, members of the SWAT team located a deceased male on Canfield Mountain. A firearm was found nearby," the sheriff's office said in a statement.
"At this time, the shelter in place is being lifted, however there is still an active wildfire on Canfield Mountain. Residents in the area are advised to be prepared and ready should further action need to be taken."
The sheriff said the shooter had used high-powered sporting rifles to fire rapidly at first responders, with law enforcement initially unsure of the number of perpetrators involved.
They were in a spot "with heavy brush and they are well prepared and blending in with their surroundings," Norris added.
Law enforcement is investigating whether the fire could have been intentionally set in order to lure first responders to the scene.
"FBI technical teams and tactical assets are currently on the scene providing support," FBI deputy director Dan Bongino wrote on X.
"It remains an active, and very dangerous scene."
Firefighters received the first call of a fire around 1:21pm on Sunday, Norris said, and about 40 minutes later, reports emerged that they were being shot at.
"We don't know how many suspects are up there, and we don't know how many casualties there are," Norris said.
"We are actively taking fire sniper as we speak."
Governor Brad Little said "multiple" firefighters were attacked.
"This is a heinous direct assault on our brave firefighters," Little said.
"I ask all Idahoans to pray for them and their families as we wait to learn more."
Norris said it appeared the sniper or snipers were hiding in the rugged terrain and using a high-powered rifle. He said he instructed deputies to fire back.
They were in a spot "with heavy brush and they are well prepared and blending in with their surroundings", he said.
Gun ownership is widespread in the US, where the country's constitution protects the rights of Americans to "keep and bear arms".
Deaths related to gun violence are common - 17,927 people were murdered by a gun in 2023 in the US, according to the most recent available data from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.
with reuters
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The Advertiser
9 hours ago
- The Advertiser
Suspected sniper's body found after firefighters killed
A man has been found dead near a firearm on a mountain in the US state of Idaho after two firefighters were shot dead in an ambush while attending a blaze. The Kootenai County Sheriff's department said a tactical response team found the dead man late on Sunday. Officials did not release his name, nor did they say what kind of firearm was found. Though the shelter-in-place order was lifted, the sheriff's office cautioned residents to be prepared because the fire was still burning. Sheriff Bob Norris had earlier said law enforcement officers and firefighters were taking sniper fire and urged people to stay clear of the area around Canfield Mountain, a nature zone popular with hikers near Coeur d'Alene, about 420km east of Seattle. "This evening, members of the SWAT team located a deceased male on Canfield Mountain. A firearm was found nearby," the sheriff's office said in a statement. "At this time, the shelter in place is being lifted, however there is still an active wildfire on Canfield Mountain. Residents in the area are advised to be prepared and ready should further action need to be taken." The sheriff said the shooter had used high-powered sporting rifles to fire rapidly at first responders, with law enforcement initially unsure of the number of perpetrators involved. They were in a spot "with heavy brush and they are well prepared and blending in with their surroundings," Norris added. Law enforcement is investigating whether the fire could have been intentionally set in order to lure first responders to the scene. "FBI technical teams and tactical assets are currently on the scene providing support," FBI deputy director Dan Bongino wrote on X. "It remains an active, and very dangerous scene." Firefighters received the first call of a fire around 1:21pm on Sunday, Norris said, and about 40 minutes later, reports emerged that they were being shot at. "We don't know how many suspects are up there, and we don't know how many casualties there are," Norris said. "We are actively taking fire sniper as we speak." Governor Brad Little said "multiple" firefighters were attacked. "This is a heinous direct assault on our brave firefighters," Little said. "I ask all Idahoans to pray for them and their families as we wait to learn more." Norris said it appeared the sniper or snipers were hiding in the rugged terrain and using a high-powered rifle. He said he instructed deputies to fire back. They were in a spot "with heavy brush and they are well prepared and blending in with their surroundings", he said. Gun ownership is widespread in the US, where the country's constitution protects the rights of Americans to "keep and bear arms". Deaths related to gun violence are common - 17,927 people were murdered by a gun in 2023 in the US, according to the most recent available data from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. with reuters A man has been found dead near a firearm on a mountain in the US state of Idaho after two firefighters were shot dead in an ambush while attending a blaze. The Kootenai County Sheriff's department said a tactical response team found the dead man late on Sunday. Officials did not release his name, nor did they say what kind of firearm was found. Though the shelter-in-place order was lifted, the sheriff's office cautioned residents to be prepared because the fire was still burning. Sheriff Bob Norris had earlier said law enforcement officers and firefighters were taking sniper fire and urged people to stay clear of the area around Canfield Mountain, a nature zone popular with hikers near Coeur d'Alene, about 420km east of Seattle. "This evening, members of the SWAT team located a deceased male on Canfield Mountain. A firearm was found nearby," the sheriff's office said in a statement. "At this time, the shelter in place is being lifted, however there is still an active wildfire on Canfield Mountain. Residents in the area are advised to be prepared and ready should further action need to be taken." The sheriff said the shooter had used high-powered sporting rifles to fire rapidly at first responders, with law enforcement initially unsure of the number of perpetrators involved. They were in a spot "with heavy brush and they are well prepared and blending in with their surroundings," Norris added. Law enforcement is investigating whether the fire could have been intentionally set in order to lure first responders to the scene. "FBI technical teams and tactical assets are currently on the scene providing support," FBI deputy director Dan Bongino wrote on X. "It remains an active, and very dangerous scene." Firefighters received the first call of a fire around 1:21pm on Sunday, Norris said, and about 40 minutes later, reports emerged that they were being shot at. "We don't know how many suspects are up there, and we don't know how many casualties there are," Norris said. "We are actively taking fire sniper as we speak." Governor Brad Little said "multiple" firefighters were attacked. "This is a heinous direct assault on our brave firefighters," Little said. "I ask all Idahoans to pray for them and their families as we wait to learn more." Norris said it appeared the sniper or snipers were hiding in the rugged terrain and using a high-powered rifle. He said he instructed deputies to fire back. They were in a spot "with heavy brush and they are well prepared and blending in with their surroundings", he said. Gun ownership is widespread in the US, where the country's constitution protects the rights of Americans to "keep and bear arms". Deaths related to gun violence are common - 17,927 people were murdered by a gun in 2023 in the US, according to the most recent available data from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. with reuters A man has been found dead near a firearm on a mountain in the US state of Idaho after two firefighters were shot dead in an ambush while attending a blaze. The Kootenai County Sheriff's department said a tactical response team found the dead man late on Sunday. Officials did not release his name, nor did they say what kind of firearm was found. Though the shelter-in-place order was lifted, the sheriff's office cautioned residents to be prepared because the fire was still burning. Sheriff Bob Norris had earlier said law enforcement officers and firefighters were taking sniper fire and urged people to stay clear of the area around Canfield Mountain, a nature zone popular with hikers near Coeur d'Alene, about 420km east of Seattle. "This evening, members of the SWAT team located a deceased male on Canfield Mountain. A firearm was found nearby," the sheriff's office said in a statement. "At this time, the shelter in place is being lifted, however there is still an active wildfire on Canfield Mountain. Residents in the area are advised to be prepared and ready should further action need to be taken." The sheriff said the shooter had used high-powered sporting rifles to fire rapidly at first responders, with law enforcement initially unsure of the number of perpetrators involved. They were in a spot "with heavy brush and they are well prepared and blending in with their surroundings," Norris added. Law enforcement is investigating whether the fire could have been intentionally set in order to lure first responders to the scene. "FBI technical teams and tactical assets are currently on the scene providing support," FBI deputy director Dan Bongino wrote on X. "It remains an active, and very dangerous scene." Firefighters received the first call of a fire around 1:21pm on Sunday, Norris said, and about 40 minutes later, reports emerged that they were being shot at. "We don't know how many suspects are up there, and we don't know how many casualties there are," Norris said. "We are actively taking fire sniper as we speak." Governor Brad Little said "multiple" firefighters were attacked. "This is a heinous direct assault on our brave firefighters," Little said. "I ask all Idahoans to pray for them and their families as we wait to learn more." Norris said it appeared the sniper or snipers were hiding in the rugged terrain and using a high-powered rifle. He said he instructed deputies to fire back. They were in a spot "with heavy brush and they are well prepared and blending in with their surroundings", he said. Gun ownership is widespread in the US, where the country's constitution protects the rights of Americans to "keep and bear arms". Deaths related to gun violence are common - 17,927 people were murdered by a gun in 2023 in the US, according to the most recent available data from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. with reuters A man has been found dead near a firearm on a mountain in the US state of Idaho after two firefighters were shot dead in an ambush while attending a blaze. The Kootenai County Sheriff's department said a tactical response team found the dead man late on Sunday. Officials did not release his name, nor did they say what kind of firearm was found. Though the shelter-in-place order was lifted, the sheriff's office cautioned residents to be prepared because the fire was still burning. Sheriff Bob Norris had earlier said law enforcement officers and firefighters were taking sniper fire and urged people to stay clear of the area around Canfield Mountain, a nature zone popular with hikers near Coeur d'Alene, about 420km east of Seattle. "This evening, members of the SWAT team located a deceased male on Canfield Mountain. A firearm was found nearby," the sheriff's office said in a statement. "At this time, the shelter in place is being lifted, however there is still an active wildfire on Canfield Mountain. Residents in the area are advised to be prepared and ready should further action need to be taken." The sheriff said the shooter had used high-powered sporting rifles to fire rapidly at first responders, with law enforcement initially unsure of the number of perpetrators involved. They were in a spot "with heavy brush and they are well prepared and blending in with their surroundings," Norris added. Law enforcement is investigating whether the fire could have been intentionally set in order to lure first responders to the scene. "FBI technical teams and tactical assets are currently on the scene providing support," FBI deputy director Dan Bongino wrote on X. "It remains an active, and very dangerous scene." Firefighters received the first call of a fire around 1:21pm on Sunday, Norris said, and about 40 minutes later, reports emerged that they were being shot at. "We don't know how many suspects are up there, and we don't know how many casualties there are," Norris said. "We are actively taking fire sniper as we speak." Governor Brad Little said "multiple" firefighters were attacked. "This is a heinous direct assault on our brave firefighters," Little said. "I ask all Idahoans to pray for them and their families as we wait to learn more." Norris said it appeared the sniper or snipers were hiding in the rugged terrain and using a high-powered rifle. He said he instructed deputies to fire back. They were in a spot "with heavy brush and they are well prepared and blending in with their surroundings", he said. Gun ownership is widespread in the US, where the country's constitution protects the rights of Americans to "keep and bear arms". Deaths related to gun violence are common - 17,927 people were murdered by a gun in 2023 in the US, according to the most recent available data from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. with reuters
The Advertiser
9 hours ago
- The Advertiser
Jury prepares to decide fate of Sean 'Diddy' Combs
A jury will begin deliberations over the fate of Sean "Diddy" Combs after hearing wildly differing views from prosecutors and a defence lawyer over whether he engaged in sex trafficking for two decades. Combs, 55, the founder of Bad Boy Entertainment, has pleaded not guilty to sex trafficking and racketeering conspiracy charges in the trial, which continues on Monday when the judge will read instructions to jurors before they begin deliberations. Two prosecutors insisted that he had coerced, threatened and sometimes viciously forced two ex-girlfriends to have sex with male sex workers to satisfy his sexual urges. They cited multiple acts of violence he carried out against them as proof that they had no say. A defence lawyer mocked the government's closing argument and warned that prosecutors were employing a novel approach to sex crimes that risked turning the swinger lifestyle that Combs and his girlfriends enjoyed into potential crimes for all Americans. When Assistant US Attorney Christy Slavik launched closings on Thursday, she gave the allegations of arson and kidnapping a starring role in her first sentences, naming them before any others. "Over the last several weeks, you've learned a lot about Sean Combs," she said. "He's the leader of a criminal enterprise. He doesn't take no for an answer. "And now you know about many crimes the defendant committed with members of his enterprise: Kidnapping of one of the defendant's employees; arson by trying to blow up a car; forced labour, including of an employee the defendant repeatedly sexually assaulted; bribery of a security officer to keep damning evidence against the defendant buried; and of course, the brutal crimes at the heart of this case - sex trafficking," she said. Defence lawyer Marc Agnifilo spared few theatrics in mocking the government's case against Combs as overreach, saying hundreds of agents poured into Combs' residences in Miami and Los Angeles to seize hundreds of bottles of baby oil and Astroglide lubricant. "The streets of America are safe from the Astroglide," he said Agnifilo portrayed prosecutors as unjustly targeting Combs after a former girlfriend of nearly 11 years - Casandra "Cassie" Ventura - sued him in November 2023. She testified for four days in the trial's first week. The lawsuit was settled for $US20 million ($A31 million) the next day but she touched off a criminal probe with her allegations of being subjected to hundreds of drug-fuelled "freak-offs" in which she alleged she was forced to perform sexually for days with male sex workers while Combs watched, filmed and directed the action. A woman who testified under the pseudonym "Jane" also testified during the trial that she experienced "hotel nights" similar to "freak-offs" in a relationship with Combs from 2021 until his arrest. Agnifilo maintained the prosecution was an unjust attack on a prominent and wildly successful black entrepreneur. Agnifilo tried to cast the case for the jury as an attack on everyone's bedroom and the secrets of one's sex life. "They go into the man's bedroom. They go into the man's most private life. Where is the crime scene? The crime scene is your private sex life. That's the crime scene," he said. "I don't think by any stretch of the imagination this is the only man in America making homemade porn," he said. "I think that the evidence shows, and you can conclude, that the government targeted Sean Combs," he said. Assistant US Attorney Maurene Comey got the final word with a rebuttal presentation to jurors, telling them: "The defendant is not a god". She said that Combs in his mind "was untouchable". "For 20 years, the defendant got away with his crimes. That ends in this courtroom," she said. "He is a person. And in this courtroom, he stands equal before the law. "Overwhelming evidence proves his guilt. It is time to hold him accountable. Find him guilty." A jury will begin deliberations over the fate of Sean "Diddy" Combs after hearing wildly differing views from prosecutors and a defence lawyer over whether he engaged in sex trafficking for two decades. Combs, 55, the founder of Bad Boy Entertainment, has pleaded not guilty to sex trafficking and racketeering conspiracy charges in the trial, which continues on Monday when the judge will read instructions to jurors before they begin deliberations. Two prosecutors insisted that he had coerced, threatened and sometimes viciously forced two ex-girlfriends to have sex with male sex workers to satisfy his sexual urges. They cited multiple acts of violence he carried out against them as proof that they had no say. A defence lawyer mocked the government's closing argument and warned that prosecutors were employing a novel approach to sex crimes that risked turning the swinger lifestyle that Combs and his girlfriends enjoyed into potential crimes for all Americans. When Assistant US Attorney Christy Slavik launched closings on Thursday, she gave the allegations of arson and kidnapping a starring role in her first sentences, naming them before any others. "Over the last several weeks, you've learned a lot about Sean Combs," she said. "He's the leader of a criminal enterprise. He doesn't take no for an answer. "And now you know about many crimes the defendant committed with members of his enterprise: Kidnapping of one of the defendant's employees; arson by trying to blow up a car; forced labour, including of an employee the defendant repeatedly sexually assaulted; bribery of a security officer to keep damning evidence against the defendant buried; and of course, the brutal crimes at the heart of this case - sex trafficking," she said. Defence lawyer Marc Agnifilo spared few theatrics in mocking the government's case against Combs as overreach, saying hundreds of agents poured into Combs' residences in Miami and Los Angeles to seize hundreds of bottles of baby oil and Astroglide lubricant. "The streets of America are safe from the Astroglide," he said Agnifilo portrayed prosecutors as unjustly targeting Combs after a former girlfriend of nearly 11 years - Casandra "Cassie" Ventura - sued him in November 2023. She testified for four days in the trial's first week. The lawsuit was settled for $US20 million ($A31 million) the next day but she touched off a criminal probe with her allegations of being subjected to hundreds of drug-fuelled "freak-offs" in which she alleged she was forced to perform sexually for days with male sex workers while Combs watched, filmed and directed the action. A woman who testified under the pseudonym "Jane" also testified during the trial that she experienced "hotel nights" similar to "freak-offs" in a relationship with Combs from 2021 until his arrest. Agnifilo maintained the prosecution was an unjust attack on a prominent and wildly successful black entrepreneur. Agnifilo tried to cast the case for the jury as an attack on everyone's bedroom and the secrets of one's sex life. "They go into the man's bedroom. They go into the man's most private life. Where is the crime scene? The crime scene is your private sex life. That's the crime scene," he said. "I don't think by any stretch of the imagination this is the only man in America making homemade porn," he said. "I think that the evidence shows, and you can conclude, that the government targeted Sean Combs," he said. Assistant US Attorney Maurene Comey got the final word with a rebuttal presentation to jurors, telling them: "The defendant is not a god". She said that Combs in his mind "was untouchable". "For 20 years, the defendant got away with his crimes. That ends in this courtroom," she said. "He is a person. And in this courtroom, he stands equal before the law. "Overwhelming evidence proves his guilt. It is time to hold him accountable. Find him guilty." A jury will begin deliberations over the fate of Sean "Diddy" Combs after hearing wildly differing views from prosecutors and a defence lawyer over whether he engaged in sex trafficking for two decades. Combs, 55, the founder of Bad Boy Entertainment, has pleaded not guilty to sex trafficking and racketeering conspiracy charges in the trial, which continues on Monday when the judge will read instructions to jurors before they begin deliberations. Two prosecutors insisted that he had coerced, threatened and sometimes viciously forced two ex-girlfriends to have sex with male sex workers to satisfy his sexual urges. They cited multiple acts of violence he carried out against them as proof that they had no say. A defence lawyer mocked the government's closing argument and warned that prosecutors were employing a novel approach to sex crimes that risked turning the swinger lifestyle that Combs and his girlfriends enjoyed into potential crimes for all Americans. When Assistant US Attorney Christy Slavik launched closings on Thursday, she gave the allegations of arson and kidnapping a starring role in her first sentences, naming them before any others. "Over the last several weeks, you've learned a lot about Sean Combs," she said. "He's the leader of a criminal enterprise. He doesn't take no for an answer. "And now you know about many crimes the defendant committed with members of his enterprise: Kidnapping of one of the defendant's employees; arson by trying to blow up a car; forced labour, including of an employee the defendant repeatedly sexually assaulted; bribery of a security officer to keep damning evidence against the defendant buried; and of course, the brutal crimes at the heart of this case - sex trafficking," she said. Defence lawyer Marc Agnifilo spared few theatrics in mocking the government's case against Combs as overreach, saying hundreds of agents poured into Combs' residences in Miami and Los Angeles to seize hundreds of bottles of baby oil and Astroglide lubricant. "The streets of America are safe from the Astroglide," he said Agnifilo portrayed prosecutors as unjustly targeting Combs after a former girlfriend of nearly 11 years - Casandra "Cassie" Ventura - sued him in November 2023. She testified for four days in the trial's first week. The lawsuit was settled for $US20 million ($A31 million) the next day but she touched off a criminal probe with her allegations of being subjected to hundreds of drug-fuelled "freak-offs" in which she alleged she was forced to perform sexually for days with male sex workers while Combs watched, filmed and directed the action. A woman who testified under the pseudonym "Jane" also testified during the trial that she experienced "hotel nights" similar to "freak-offs" in a relationship with Combs from 2021 until his arrest. Agnifilo maintained the prosecution was an unjust attack on a prominent and wildly successful black entrepreneur. Agnifilo tried to cast the case for the jury as an attack on everyone's bedroom and the secrets of one's sex life. "They go into the man's bedroom. They go into the man's most private life. Where is the crime scene? The crime scene is your private sex life. That's the crime scene," he said. "I don't think by any stretch of the imagination this is the only man in America making homemade porn," he said. "I think that the evidence shows, and you can conclude, that the government targeted Sean Combs," he said. Assistant US Attorney Maurene Comey got the final word with a rebuttal presentation to jurors, telling them: "The defendant is not a god". She said that Combs in his mind "was untouchable". "For 20 years, the defendant got away with his crimes. That ends in this courtroom," she said. "He is a person. And in this courtroom, he stands equal before the law. "Overwhelming evidence proves his guilt. It is time to hold him accountable. Find him guilty." A jury will begin deliberations over the fate of Sean "Diddy" Combs after hearing wildly differing views from prosecutors and a defence lawyer over whether he engaged in sex trafficking for two decades. Combs, 55, the founder of Bad Boy Entertainment, has pleaded not guilty to sex trafficking and racketeering conspiracy charges in the trial, which continues on Monday when the judge will read instructions to jurors before they begin deliberations. Two prosecutors insisted that he had coerced, threatened and sometimes viciously forced two ex-girlfriends to have sex with male sex workers to satisfy his sexual urges. They cited multiple acts of violence he carried out against them as proof that they had no say. A defence lawyer mocked the government's closing argument and warned that prosecutors were employing a novel approach to sex crimes that risked turning the swinger lifestyle that Combs and his girlfriends enjoyed into potential crimes for all Americans. When Assistant US Attorney Christy Slavik launched closings on Thursday, she gave the allegations of arson and kidnapping a starring role in her first sentences, naming them before any others. "Over the last several weeks, you've learned a lot about Sean Combs," she said. "He's the leader of a criminal enterprise. He doesn't take no for an answer. "And now you know about many crimes the defendant committed with members of his enterprise: Kidnapping of one of the defendant's employees; arson by trying to blow up a car; forced labour, including of an employee the defendant repeatedly sexually assaulted; bribery of a security officer to keep damning evidence against the defendant buried; and of course, the brutal crimes at the heart of this case - sex trafficking," she said. Defence lawyer Marc Agnifilo spared few theatrics in mocking the government's case against Combs as overreach, saying hundreds of agents poured into Combs' residences in Miami and Los Angeles to seize hundreds of bottles of baby oil and Astroglide lubricant. "The streets of America are safe from the Astroglide," he said Agnifilo portrayed prosecutors as unjustly targeting Combs after a former girlfriend of nearly 11 years - Casandra "Cassie" Ventura - sued him in November 2023. She testified for four days in the trial's first week. The lawsuit was settled for $US20 million ($A31 million) the next day but she touched off a criminal probe with her allegations of being subjected to hundreds of drug-fuelled "freak-offs" in which she alleged she was forced to perform sexually for days with male sex workers while Combs watched, filmed and directed the action. A woman who testified under the pseudonym "Jane" also testified during the trial that she experienced "hotel nights" similar to "freak-offs" in a relationship with Combs from 2021 until his arrest. Agnifilo maintained the prosecution was an unjust attack on a prominent and wildly successful black entrepreneur. Agnifilo tried to cast the case for the jury as an attack on everyone's bedroom and the secrets of one's sex life. "They go into the man's bedroom. They go into the man's most private life. Where is the crime scene? The crime scene is your private sex life. That's the crime scene," he said. "I don't think by any stretch of the imagination this is the only man in America making homemade porn," he said. "I think that the evidence shows, and you can conclude, that the government targeted Sean Combs," he said. Assistant US Attorney Maurene Comey got the final word with a rebuttal presentation to jurors, telling them: "The defendant is not a god". She said that Combs in his mind "was untouchable". "For 20 years, the defendant got away with his crimes. That ends in this courtroom," she said. "He is a person. And in this courtroom, he stands equal before the law. "Overwhelming evidence proves his guilt. It is time to hold him accountable. Find him guilty."
Sky News AU
9 hours ago
- Sky News AU
Calculated terror: Authorities find man dead with firearm in Idaho after firefighters ambushed in deadly incident
A SWAT team has located a deceased man and a nearby firearm hours after a sniper shot and killed two firefighters and injured another while they were battling a wildfire in Idaho, authorities confirmed late Sunday. The Kootenai County Sheriff's office said the deceased male was located on Canfield Mountain. A shelter in place was lifted, but an active wildfire remained, the sheriff's office said. Authorities are expected to provide more information at a 12:30 a.m. ET press conference. The update came hours after the International Association of Fire Fighters confirmed that the two victims who were killed were firefighters. "While responding to a fire earlier today in Coeur d'Alene, Idaho, IAFF members were ambushed in a heinous act of violence. Two of our brothers were killed by a sniper, and a third brother remains in surgery," the association said. "Please keep them, their families, and law enforcement in your prayers." FBI Deputy Director Dan Bongino said the agency is on scene and that it is still very active and dangerous. "FBI technical teams and tactical assets are currently on the scene providing support. It remains an active, and very dangerous scene," Bongino said. During a news conference, Kootenai County Sheriff Robert Norris said that at least two people were killed, possibly firefighters. Norris added that they are still "actively taking sniper fire" as he spoke. "We now have two deaths. We have an unknown amount of casualties," Norris said. "We still have civilians that are coming off of that mountain. We have we might have civilians that are stuck or in shock on that mountain. So this is a very, very fresh situation." "We don't know who [the] suspect or suspects are, and we don't know how many suspects there may be," Norris said. A spokesperson for the Northern Lakes Fire Protection confirmed the situation to Fox News Digital, saying "the active shooter situation and very active wildfire scene were related." The Kootenai County Sheriff's Office issued an alert earlier Sunday afternoon stating: "Active shooter at Canfield Mountain. Injuries have been reported, though the severity remains unknown. Please avoid the area." Norris said that they are developing a plan to move people out of the mountains as soon as they get the fire under control. Officials confirmed that the firefighters were responding to a brush fire near East Nettleton Gulch Road when the shooting started. Norris said the suspect(s) used what appeared to be "modern-day, high-powered, sporting rifles." "We're taking rapid fire," Norris said. Due to the danger, fire crews had to retreat, and the brush fire continues to pose a threat. Authorities are urging residents in the vicinity to stay vigilant and exercise caution as the situation develops. "I would encourage all of you to tell people to stay away from the area, do not come to the area. Stay away from the area, Norris urged. "This is going to be if these, individuals are not neutralized quickly, this is going to be a likely a multi-day operation." Norris added that he is "hoping that, somebody has a clear shot and is able to neutralize" the threat because it did not seem like the suspect(s) are going to surrender anytime soon. "So as soon as somebody has a clear shot, I encourage them to take that shot and neutralize the threat," Norris said. Attorney General Pam Bondi shared a statement and said more support was heading to Idaho. "Thank you to our incredible @FBI agents on the ground assisting local authorities in Idaho. We are praying for all," Bondi wrote. Department of Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem also said their department is actively monitoring the situation and that "justice will be served." Idaho Governor Brad Little reacted to the incident in a post on X. "Multiple heroic firefighters were attacked today while responding to a fire in North Idaho. This is a heinous direct assault on our brave firefighters. I ask all Idahoans to pray for them and their families as we wait to learn more. Teresa and I are heartbroken," Little wrote. "As this situation is still developing, please stay clear from the area to allow law enforcement and firefighters to do their jobs." Idaho Attorney General Raul Labrador also reacted to the situation, stating that this should never happen. "Deeply saddened by reports that firefighters were shot while bravely responding to a fire in North Idaho. These heroes put their lives on the line for us every day; they should never be targets," Labrador said. "Please keep our first responders and their families in your prayers." Originally published as Calculated terror: Authorities find man dead with firearm in Idaho after firefighters ambushed in deadly incident
