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New York Post
3 days ago
- New York Post
Fort Stewart soldier credits Army training for heroically grabbing gun from accused shooter Quornelius Radford
A heroic Fort Stewart soldier who stopped accused mass shooter Quornelius Radford said his Army training took over in the moments he confronted the suspect on Wednesday. Sgt. Aaron Turner, who knows the alleged Army base shooter, initially tried to calm the 28-year-old down and distract him from targeting 'leadership' — but had to make a courageous grasp for the weapon before any more people got hurt. 'I ended up taking charge by grabbing the barrel and the extended magazine at that point,' Turner told the Associated Press. Advertisement Sgt. Aaron Turner knew accused gunman Sgt. Radford and attempted to talk him down before snatching the weapon. ASSOCIATED PRESS 'Pretty much training just ended up kicking in at that point. It wasn't about my life at that point, it was about the soldiers and the personnel. Making sure they get out safely.' Prior to the heroic disarming, Turner revealed that he tried to talk Radford down during the incident which had Fort Stewart on lockdown for over 40 minutes. Advertisement 'I was pretty much asking him 'what was going on' and pretty much why he was getting to the point of doing that,' Turner told the outlet. 'He just pretty much got to the point of telling me 'Get out of here.' Pretty much that he's not going to end up hurting soldiers, just leadership.' Turner was one of six soldiers at Fort Stewart to receive the Meritorious Service Medal for stopping the shooting spree which injured five people. Army Secretary Dan Driscoll comforts Sergeant Aaron Turner after Turner received the Meritorious Service Medal. AP Advertisement Officials have not announced a motive for the shooting. Radford sent a cryptic text message to his aunt before Wednesday's shooting, writing, 'he loved everybody and that he'll be in a better place because he was about to go do something,' The New York Times reported. Two soldiers who knew Radford in 2018 while in training at Fort Lee said he was relentlessly mocked for having a speech impediment. Advertisement Back in January, Radford posted on Facebook that he lost a loved one in a wrong-way crash and that he was drinking alcohol to 'make that pain feeling go away,' NBC reported citing friends. In May, Radford was arrested for driving under the influence in Hinesville, Ga., a small town near Fort Stewart.
New York Post
26-07-2025
- New York Post
‘Happy Face Killer' wants Bryan Kohberger as potential cellmate to solve ‘security issues'
Keith Jesperson, the Happy Face serial killer, wants Bryan Kohberger to spend the rest of his life in the same Oregon prison he's stuck in, claiming it will be safer for the Idaho student murderer. 'His best hope is to be transfered (sic) to here, the max prison in Oregon to be away from those who want to make a name for themselves by killing him,' Jesperson wrote in a note to Keith Rovere, a former prison minister and podcaster who shared it with Fox News Digital. Advertisement 'This prison gets inmates from other states in order to protect them from the drama.' Jesperson, a former truck driver, killed at least eight women in the 1990s and picked up the nickname for his habit of drawing smiley faces on letters to the media and investigators. He's also known to trade letters with other high-profile killers and has claimed to have committed dozens more murders, although authorities don't believe him. 'I will write to the Idaho Department of Corrections to tell them to consider sending Kohberger here to save them the high-risk security issues in protecting him in Idaho,' Jesperson wrote in another note. 5 Keith Jesperson (above), the Happy Face serial killer, wants Bryan Kohberger to spend the rest of his life in the same Oregon prison he's stuck in, claiming it will be safer for the Idaho student murderer. ASSOCIATED PRESS Advertisement Rovere, host of 'The Lighter Side of True Crime,' told Fox News Digital that Kohberger may have a hard time fitting in at any prison because he lacks two key qualities, 'street smarts and prison smarts.' Kohberger's social awkwardness came up repeatedly in his court battles and in the media before a surprise plea deal earlier this month. He avoided the death penalty and will serve life in prison with no chance of parole for the murders of Madison Mogen, 21, Kaylee Goncalves, 21, Xana Kernodle, 20, and Ethan Chapin, 20. The Idaho students' killer is expected to spend at least a few weeks in isolation before details of his long-term housing at the Idaho Maximum Security Institution in Kuna are finalized. 5 'His best hope is to be transfered (sic) to here, the max prison in Oregon to be away from those who want to make a name for themselves by killing him,' Jesperson (pictured) wrote in a note to Keith Rovere, a former prison minister and podcaster. ASSOCIATED PRESS Advertisement Jesperson is serving multiple life sentences at the Oregon State Penitentiary in Salem, about 475 miles from Kuna. And there's a precedent for his claim. Oregon is part of a group of western states that have an agreement to house prisoners across state lines if there are concerns about safety, special housing needs or overcrowding. Idaho, however, is not part of the pact. Authorities in the state have given no public indication they were even considering such a move. 'The safety and security of staff and the population are a priority in everything IDOC does, including placement,' said Blake Lopez, public information officer for the Idaho Department of Correction. 5 Bryan Kohberger appears at the Ada County Courthouse for his sentencing hearing on July 23, 2025 in Boise, Idaho. Getty Images Advertisement Leading up to the trial, a doctor for the defense diagnosed Kohberger with autism, and his lawyers described quirky personality traits, a staring problem, 'atypical eye contact, including an intense gaze' and his difficulty carrying on normal conversations. He sat rigidly in court for most of his hearings and stared at the victims' relatives as they delivered impact statements this week, occasionally raising a smirk, a half nod or swiveling in his seat only slightly. While asserting that Kohberger has a 'high baseline intelligence,' his lawyers wrote to the court that he 'exhibits slow verbal processing and weaknesses in certain areas of executive functioning, including cognitive flexibility and organizational approach.' Here's the latest coverage on Bryan Kohberger: 'In the general population, he will be singled out right away to be made a target for those who see him as weak for the crimes of that kind of murder,' Jesperson wrote. 'Most likely, Idaho will put him in protective custody like [Jeffrey] Dahmer. But we all know how that ended.' Dahmer was a cannibalistic serial killer and rapist who targeted men and boys between 1978 and 1991. In 1994, a fellow inmate named Christopher Scarver beat him to death in a Wisconsin prison. Dahmer was 34 years old when he died. Kohberger is 30. 5 Dahmer was a cannibalistic serial killer and rapist who targeted men and boys between 1978 and 1991. ASSOCIATED PRESS Scarver told the New York Post in 2015 that he was disgusted by the serial killer and believes guards left them unattended together just to give him an opportunity to kill Dahmer with a metal bar from a weight room. The IDOC said earlier this week that Kohberger would be screened and evaluated before authorities would determine appropriate housing and security measures. Advertisement 'Once in IDOC custody, the person goes through a Reception and Diagnostic Unit (RDU) process to evaluate their needs and determine appropriate housing placement; this process takes 7-14 days,' a spokesperson told Fox News Digital. 'We wait until a person completes RDU to determine their classification, housing placement and privileges.' 5 Kohberger avoided the death penalty and will serve life in prison with no chance of parole for the murders of Madison Mogen, 21, Kaylee Goncalves, 21, Xana Kernodle, 20, and Ethan Chapin, 20. KYLE GREEN/POOL/EPA/Shutterstock Kohberger has a high profile. His crime shocked the country and much of the world due to the brutality and randomness and the weeks-long search for a suspect who primarily got caught because he left only one piece of evidence, a knife sheath with his DNA on alongside Mogen's body. Advertisement He had no known connection to the victims, a group of young friends who had done him no wrong. And he's shown no remorse — or any emotion whatsoever — in 2½ years of court appearances. Inmates who have killed women and children are often singled out behind bars, insiders tell Fox News Digital. Three of the four Idaho victims were also asleep during the attack, making it even more cowardly. And Kohberger's social awkwardness is expected to rub other prisoners the wrong way.
Winnipeg Free Press
17-06-2025
- Sport
- Winnipeg Free Press
Winnipeg Jets' Nikolaj Ehlers hot commodity as NHL free agency day looms
The clock is ticking and decision day is looming for pending unrestricted free agent Nikolaj Ehlers. The speculation surrounding the future of the Winnipeg Jets dynamic winger has been virtually non-stop on social media since the season ended and it won't take that much longer before we figure out if Ehlers is going to stay or if he's going to go. Should he get to market, Ehlers is going to be one of the most highly sought-after players available on July 1 and a strong playoff — after returning from an unlucky lower-body injury — only enhanced his value. PAUL VERNON / THE ASSOCIATED PRESS FILES Winnipeg Jets forward Nikolaj Ehlers is an unrestricted free agent and will be one of the most highly sought-after players if he makes it to market on July 1, the NHL's free agency day. PAUL VERNON / THE ASSOCIATED PRESS FILES Winnipeg Jets forward Nikolaj Ehlers is an unrestricted free agent and will be one of the most highly sought-after players if he makes it to market on July 1, the NHL's free agency day. Because he went directly to suit up for Denmark in the 2025 IIHF men's hockey championship, Ehlers hasn't shed much light on how he's viewing his first crack at unrestricted free agency. But in all likelihood, Ehlers probably wasn't going to leave many bread crumbs after his exit interview was complete either. In the world of negotiations — especially when you don't want them to occur publicly — some things are better left unsaid. Here are six teams that could/should pursue Nikolaj Ehlers if he makes it to free agency on July 1: Here are six teams that could/should pursue Nikolaj Ehlers if he makes it to free agency on July 1: Carolina Hurricanes: They're a perennial playoff team that hasn't scored enough when it's mattered most. Yes, they'll be in on the Mitch Marner sweepstakes, but Ehlers could be the type of dynamic forward that would mesh well with top-line centre Sebastian Aho. With more than US$26 million of cap space available, dollar and term won't be a concern here. Toronto Maple Leafs: When general manager Brad Treliving mentioned changing the DNA at his year-end press conference, it's easy to envision Ehlers being a target along with the likes of Sam Bennett and Brad Marchand of the Florida Panthers. By delivering the best post-season of his NHL career, adding Ehlers could make up for some of the offence lost with Marner expected to depart as a free agent. Montreal Canadiens: Since Ehlers was a star in the Quebec Major Junior Hockey League with the Halifax Mooseheads, he often draws a crowd with the media during trips to la belle province. He's also the type of electrifying player with experience that could help the Canadiens as they look to take the next step in their development path. Reuniting with his close friend Patrik Laine (who has one more season left on his contract) would be a bonus. Columbus Blue Jackets: Another team on the rise, adding someone as explosive as Ehlers to a forward group could help push the Blue Jackets to a playoff berth after finishing one point shy this season. Top-line centre Sean Monahan is someone Ehlers showed good chemistry with after he was acquired from the Montreal Canadiens. They've got more than US$40 million in cap space available, so they could make a significant offer. Utah Mammoth: Speaking of significant offers, the team formerly known as Utah HC is set to make a splash — whether that's another big trade at the NHL draft at the end of the month and/or in free agency — and Ehlers is the kind of player that would bring star power and immediately be a fan favourite. Utah wants to be a playoff team next season and Ehlers could help them achieve that goal. Vancouver Canucks: There's still a segment of the Canucks fan base that can't believe Vancouver chose Jake Virtanen sixth overall in 2014 instead of Ehlers (who went ninth to the Jets). With the expected departure of Brock Boeser in free agency, the Canucks need help on the wings and his skating ability could pair well with Elias Pettersson. With just over US$12 million in cap space available, a corresponding move might have to be made, especially since the Canucks are likely going to need a second-line centre if they don't re-up Pius Suter. While he's spoken openly about loving his time in Winnipeg, Ehlers has kept his priorities for free agency close to the vest over the course of the last season and that's why the level of intrigue regarding his future is only on the rise. You can be sure that playing for a team with a chance to win ranks high for Ehlers, who was named as one of Denmark's first six players for the 2026 men's Olympic team on Monday. Nino Niederreiter, chosen by Switzerland, was the other Jets player to receive that honour. The two-hour meeting with agent Andre Rufener that Jets general manager Kevin Cheveldayoff referenced was obviously a good sign, but you can't ignore the fact that Winnipeg remains the only team that can negotiate with Ehlers' camp until free agency officially opens. The point remains the same: you don't spend two hours chatting at this point of the proceedings unless you're genuinely considering sticking around. However, when you're two weeks away from having 31 other teams make their best pitch, it's easy to understand why you would at least listen to what else is out there. The projections on Ehlers' next contract remain somewhere between US$8 million and slightly north of US$9 million on a deal that's going to be at least six years long. As an eight-time 20-goal scorer, Ehlers is someone that all teams looking for scoring will have on their wish list. Barring a sign and trade (which is unlikely), the Jets are the only team that can offer that eighth year and we'll see if that bonus year could be one of the reasons Ehlers decides to remain in the organization. Should the Jets get to the point where they offer Ehlers eight years for somewhere around US$8.5 million, it would be nearly impossible for any other team to meet or exceed the total amount of the contract. After turning 29 in February, this is going to be the biggest ticket Ehlers signs and he's guaranteed to be getting a raise from the US$6 million he made on the seven-year deal that's set to expire. As an eight-time 20-goal scorer, Ehlers is someone that all teams looking for scoring will have on their wish list. That he's yet to hit 30 goals or exceed 64 points in a single season is surprising when you consider his skill, will and ability. Yet, that probably has more to do with the injuries he's dealt with and that he's only truly had one season of regular time with the top power-play unit (last season) as he moved to the pop position in the slot. Ehlers attacked that promotion with vigour and connected for six power-play goals and 16 assists for 22 points with the man advantage. No matter how things get resolved, Ehlers is someone that was incredibly productive and accountable. As a point of reference, Ehlers had no goals and seven helpers on the power play the previous season. Knowing Jets head coach Scott Arniel has that role in mind for him is surely something Ehlers would see as a positive and while there isn't a clear path to top-line minutes alongside Mark Scheifele and Kyle Connor, the Danish forward is likely in line for a bump in ice time — whether that's in Winnipeg or somewhere else. There are going to be teams that could offer a higher AAV (average annual value) or entice him with chatter of moving to the top line while remaining on the top power-play unit. That might end up being the deciding factor, only Ehlers knows for sure. No matter how things get resolved, Ehlers is someone that was incredibly productive and accountable. FRED GREENSLADE / THE CANADIAN PRESS FILES Winnipeg Jets' Nikolaj Ehlers (left) had the pivotal dying-seconds pass that set up teammate Cole Perfetti's 'Manitoba Miracle' Game 7 equalizer against the St. Louis Blues in May. FRED GREENSLADE / THE CANADIAN PRESS FILES Winnipeg Jets' Nikolaj Ehlers (left) had the pivotal dying-seconds pass that set up teammate Cole Perfetti's 'Manitoba Miracle' Game 7 equalizer against the St. Louis Blues in May. He plays the game with unbridled passion and when you couple that with his explosiveness and ability to provide highlight-reel moments, Ehlers quickly became a fan favourite. The ninth overall pick in the 2014 NHL draft made the team as a 19-year-old and matured both on and off the ice during the past decade. The one narrative he wanted to erase was the one that involved his uneven playoff performance and that mission was accomplished this spring. Although Ehlers would have gladly sacrificed a few goals or points for an opportunity to move onto the third round and beyond, his ability to deliver five goals and seven points in eight games after returning from injury was another example of why he'll be in demand on July 1. If Ehlers ultimately decides to move on, the asset management crowd will turn up the volume on the belief that the Jets should have traded him before the deadline to not 'lose him for nothing.' What happens with Ehlers over the course of the next two weeks is one of the decisions that is going to shape how the off-season goes for Cheveldayoff and the Jets. When you're leading the NHL (and ultimately win the Presidents' Trophy as the top team during the regular season), you don't trade one of your most impactful players — unless the return includes someone along the lines of Mikko Rantanen, who was moved twice in blockbuster deals before the deadline in March. There's no question that hanging onto Ehlers was the right decision, even if the Jets ended up 10 wins shy of the 16 required to capture the Stanley Cup. What happens with Ehlers over the course of the next two weeks is one of the decisions that is going to shape how the off-season goes for Cheveldayoff and the Jets. If the Jets can't convince Ehlers to stick around, finding a reasonable facsimile — as difficult as that may be — will be a top priority for a team that is already going to be looking for some subtle upgrades for them to ensure they remain a legitimate Stanley Cup contender. X and Bluesky: @WiebesWorld Ken WiebeReporter Ken Wiebe is a sports reporter for the Free Press, with an emphasis on the Winnipeg Jets. He has covered hockey and provided analysis in this market since 2000 for the Winnipeg Sun, The Athletic, and TSN. Ken was a summer intern at the Free Press in 1999 and returned to the Free Press in a full-time capacity in September of 2023. Read more about Ken. Every piece of reporting Ken produces is reviewed by an editing team before it is posted online or published in print — part of the Free Press's tradition, since 1872, of producing reliable independent journalism. Read more about Free Press's history and mandate, and learn how our newsroom operates. Our newsroom depends on a growing audience of readers to power our journalism. If you are not a paid reader, please consider becoming a subscriber. Our newsroom depends on its audience of readers to power our journalism. Thank you for your support.
DW
28-05-2025
- Business
- DW
EU plans new 'maritime security hub' in Black Sea region – DW – 05/28/2025
The war in Ukraine has raised geopolitical stakes in the Black Sea region. Now the EU wants a maritime security hub to guard critical infrastructure and shipping there. But details remain vague. The European Commission wants to increase EU clout in the strategically important Black Sea region, countering Russian influence through closer collaboration with Ukraine, Moldova, Georgia, Turkey, Azerbaijan and Armenia. "Against a backdrop of Russia breaching airspace, attacking ports and shipping routes, ... front and center of this work is improving security in the region," EU foreign affairs chief Kaja Kallas told reporters in Brussels on Wednesday, unveiling a new strategy for the region. The Black Sea is a body of water bordering seven countries with its coast spanning two EU member states — Bulgaria and Romania— as well as EU accession candidates Georgia, Turkey and Ukraine, plus Russia. Moldova, another aspiring EU state, also has access via the Danube River. The EU says the Black Sea is 'an area of significant geostrategic importance, bridging Europe to Asia' Image: ASSOCIATED PRESS/picture alliance Since the start of Russia's full-scale invasion of Ukraine in 2022, the Black Sea has been both a theatre of combat and the site of Russian blockades of Ukrainian grain exports, which are key to world food security. More recently, the EU has grown concerned about potential Russian attacks on critical undersea infrastructure like cables needed for Internet and communications as well as so-called "shadow fleet" shipping that helps Russia skirt EU sanctions on its oil exports, Kallas said. What is the EU proposing? In general the plan is to further build on trade, energy and transport cooperation. The most concrete aspect of the new proposal is to set up a "maritime security hub" to enhance "situational awareness and information sharing on the Black Sea, real-time monitoring from space to seabed, and early warning of potential threats and malicious activities," according to the strategy document. Kallas said it could also help monitor a potential future ceasefire between Russia and Ukraine. Another goal is to support the buildup of regional transport infrastructure, in part "to improve military mobility so troops and equipment can be where they are needed, when they are needed," Kallas said. However where the hub would be based and which countries would be involved is not clear, nor is there any clarity on which financial resources would be allocated to it. How might Black Sea countries respond? While most Black Sea countries apart from Russia are on cooperative terms with the EU, some are more more closely aligned with the 27-country bloc's agenda than others. The governments of Ukraine and Moldova are striving to join the EU. Georgia and Turkey are also EU candidate countries although their bids to join are currently frozen. Armenia has drawn closer to the EU in recent years while Azerbaijan has a complex relationship with Russia and the EU. Turkey is a close partner of the EU and member of the miltary alliance NATO but as a strong regional player, it also has its own interests to consider. Black Sea truce effort fails to stop Russian drone attacks To view this video please enable JavaScript, and consider upgrading to a web browser that supports HTML5 video Like Russia, Turkey also has an interest in keeping the US and other NATO countries out of the Black Sea region, Stefan Meister, head of the center for order and governance in Eastern Europe, Russia, and Central Asia at the German Council on Foreign Relations, or DGAP, said. Ankara is hedging its bets, fulfilling its obligations to NATO while trying not to provoke Moscow, he notes. Ankara "understands Russia as a security threat, supports Ukraine in the war and does not agree with Russian annexation of Crimea," Meister told DW. "But it benefits from the Western sanctions, still buys Russian resources and benefits from the trade with Ukraine." EU relationship with Black Sea region has changed The EU first started taking a keener interest in the Black Sea region, which was traditionally dominated by Russia and Turkey, after Bulgaria and Romania joined the bloc in 2007. It is not alone: China has also increased its footprint there. Last year the Georgian government awarded the tender to construct a deep sea port at Anaklia to a Chinese conglomerate that includes entities under US sanctions. "Ten years ago EU engagement was less strategic and China's footprint was smaller," Tinatin Akhvlediani, a foreign policy research fellow at the Brussels-based Center for European Policy Studies, explained. "Today failing to deepen ties here would come at a real cost to Europe's security and economic weight," the expert told DW. According to DGAP expert Meister, the Black Sea is now "at the center of European security and crucial for connectivity with other regions like the South Caucasus, the Caspian Sea, Central Asia and the Middle East." Macron has been pushing plans for a 'reassurance force' to keep a future peace between Russia and Ukraine Image:Meister says it is a good thing that the EU is looking to take a more active role in security in the Black Sea with a monitoring hub. But much was still unclear, he stressed, referring to the lack of further details on participation, financing and resources for the new secuirty hub. On Wednesday the European Commission said the next step would be to gather ministers from EU member states and Black Sea countries to discuss how to take the proposal forward.
New York Post
10-05-2025
- New York Post
Advanced forensic methods used to ID Gilgo Beach vics could resolve lingering Lindbergh baby mystery
The same forensic science recently used to ID victims of the Gilgo Beach serial killer could now determine whether German immigrant Bruno Hauptmann notoriously murdered the Lindbergh baby nearly more than 90 years ago. This month, three people — a history professor, retired teacher and developmental psychologist — filed a lawsuit against the New Jersey State Police, seeking access to ransom notes the Lindberghs received in 1932, Newsday reported. The lawsuit cites a genetic genealogist, who said 'it has only been recently that DNA testing and analysis have evolved with the potential of testing those envelopes to produce definitive investigative leads that could resolve lingering uncertainties.' The same technique the plaintiffs hope will finally decide who licked the Lindbergh stamps was recently used to identify the remains of Valerie Mack, Karen Vergata and Tanya Denise Jackson and her young daughter, Tatiana. The four bodies were among the 11 found along Ocean Parkway near Gilgo Beach in Suffolk County with between December 2010 and April 2011. 4 The toddler was kidnapped from his crib inside the Lindbergh's home. ASSOCIATED PRESS Architect Rex Heuermann has been charged with the murders of seven of the 11 Gilgo Beach victims. Over the years, historians have argued someone close to Charles Lindbergh — a household name after completing the first solo flight across the Atlantic Ocean in 1927 from Long Island's Roosevelt Field — had to have been involved in his son's March 1, 1932 kidnapping. Even after the famous aviator paid $70,000 in ransom, the 20-month-old wasn't returned — in a mystery that captivated the nation. 4 Charles A. Lindbergh Jr. was found in a shallow grave in the woods of Hopewell, N.J. ASSOCIATED PRESS Eleven days later, the boy's bludgeoned remains were found dumped in woods not far from Lindbergh's home. Hauptmann, who lived in the Bronx, was convicted for the crime in 1935 and electrocuted on April 3, 1936. But some have long-maintained Hauptmann's innocence. 4 Rex Heuermann was linked to the Gilgo Beach killings using advanced genealogy techniques. Newsday If provided with the envelopes, the trio will look to lift DNA from the undersides of the stamps, in hopes of identifying the sender using advanced genetic genealogy research, according to Newsday. 4 Heuermann has been charged with seven of the Gilgo Beach murders. Suffolk County Police Department Heuermann has not been criminally charged with killing Vergata or Jackson and her child. During a press conference last month, Nassau Country Homicide Det. Lt. Stephen Fitzpatrick was asked if investigators believe Heuermann was involved in their murders. 'We're not saying it's him, but we're not saying it's not him,' Fitzpatrick said. 'We are proceeding as if it's not related.'
