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Newsweek
20 hours ago
- Newsweek
Reward Offered as Suspects Remain At Large in North Carolina Mass Shooting
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. The Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) is offering a $15,000 reward for anyone with information that could lead to the arrest of the suspects involved in a mass shooting in Catawba County, North Carolina, over the weekend. Newsweek hasreached out to the Catawba County sheriff's office for comment via email. Why It Matters Catawba County is the latest community struck by gun violence this year. The incident was the fifth mass shooting in North Carolina, and the 133rd mass shooting in the United States, so far in 2025, according to data from the Gun Violence Archive. Gun violence remains a critical concern for communities across the country that continue to face a high number of shootings. What to Know The FBI, which is joining local law enforcement to investigate the fatal shooting, announced the reward Monday morning. A person may be eligible for it if they are able to offer up information that leads to the "identity, arrest, and successful prosecution of those involved in the mass shooting." Anybody with information or footage can send it directly to the FBI. Police responded to a home near Hickory earlier Sunday morning after receiving 911 calls reporting the shooting during a party, according to the Catawba County sheriff's office. They found 12 victims, one of whom was pronounced deceased at the scene. One other was taken to a Charlotte hospital in critical condition. In total, seven victims were hospitalized, and there had been no updates on their condition as of Monday afternoon. Police identified the deceased victim as 58-year-old Shawn Patrick Hood. Major Aaron Turk with the Catawba County Sheriff's Office told reporters during a Sunday press conference that police believe more than one shooter was involved in the incident but were still working on determining the motive. He said it has been "difficult" to find victims in the aftermath of the shooting. He said it is a "complicated scene" that spans several pieces of property. There were multiple weapons used, but police were not releasing that information at this point, Turk said, adding that more than 80 shots were fired. Prior to the shooting, police had received a noise compliant about the party. A stock image shows police in Wilmington, North Carolina, ride motorcycles on April 6, 2019. A stock image shows police in Wilmington, North Carolina, ride motorcycles on April 6, 2019. Roberto Galan /iStock via Getty Images What People Are Saying Major Aaron Turk with the Catawba County Sheriff's Office said during the press conference: "We are certainly hopeful to find those that are responsible and bring them here to justice." Sheriff Don Brown said during the press conference: "First, I want to share my deepest and sincerest condolences to the family and friends of the deceased. Second, I want to say I'm sorry. I'm sorry to everyone who has been affected by this senseless act of violence, to include the families in this neighborhood. I've talked to some of the families in this neighborhood, and they are horrified by what has happened this morning." One witness told news station WBTV: "I was outside in the yard and I heard a lot of shots going off and people running to the front." What Happens Next? The investigation remains active as law enforcement continues to seek information from the public.
Newsweek
2 days ago
- Newsweek
Witness Describes Deadly North Carolina Mass Shooting: 'Like a Movie'
Based on facts, either observed and verified firsthand by the reporter, or reported and verified from knowledgeable sources. Newsweek AI is in beta. Translations may contain inaccuracies—please refer to the original content. A witness at a North Carolina house party that erupted into a mass shooting, leaving 12 people shot and one dead, told local news station WBTV that the scene was unlike anything they'd ever seen, describing it "like a movie." Several agencies, including the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI), Catawba County Sheriff's Office, Hickory Police Department, and North Carolina State Bureau of Investigation are working on the open investigation, and as of Sunday afternoon there is no suspect in custody. Newsweek has reached out to the Catawba County Sheriff's Office and the FBI's Charlotte field office for comment via email on Sunday. The Context Law enforcement responded to reports of people being shot at a residence in Catawba County around 12:45 a.m. on Sunday morning. Twelve victims have been reported, one of whom has been pronounced dead and sixothers are in the local hospital. One is in critical condition in a hospital in Charlotte. The party involved adults and teenagers, Major Aaron Turk of the Catawba County Sheriff's Office said in a second press release, writing, "the victims range in age from 16 to 58." "The investigation indicates more than one shooter was involved in the incident," Turk said, later noting that "more than 80 shots were fired." An estimated 130 to 160 mass shootings have occurred in the U.S. so far this year, according to data from the Mass Shooting Tracker and the Gun Violence Archive. What To Know An anonymous witness who was at the house party told WBTV: "I was outside in the yard and I heard a lot of shots going off and people running to the front." The crime scene, which was described as "complicated" by Turk, spans around 2 acres, with indoor and outside aspects. It took place on Walnut Acres Drive in the Mountain View community. The deceased victim has been identified as 58-year-old Shawn Patrick Hood of Lenoi, North Carolina, according to Turk. "[I] heard a lot of people got shot. I ain't ever seen anything like this, it was like a movie," the witness told the station. The shots, of which there were dozens of, occurred at a "variety of distances," Turk said. The agencies are not yet providing details on the weapons used in the shooting, noting that there were multiple. The motive is still unknown, but Turk noted that "we don't believe that this was random in a circumstance that might endanger the community." Law enforcement has interviewed about 70 or so people, Turk confirmed at the press conference. Police have identified the victim who is dead but have not yet released the information as of Sunday afternoon. Prior to the shooting, police had received a noise compliant about the party. Members of the FBI Evidence Response Team use measuring devices to document a crime scene on June 12, 2023, in Annapolis, Maryland. Members of the FBI Evidence Response Team use measuring devices to document a crime scene on June 12, 2023, in Annapolis, Maryland. Karl Merton Ferron/The Baltimore Sun via AP What People Are Saying James Barnacle, Special Agent in Charge in North Carolina FBI office, said during the Sunday press conference: "In this particular situation is we are supporting this investigation. We are bringing resources. We have Victim Services specialists meeting with victims of the shooting last night. They are at the hospitals, meeting with victims. We have FBI special agents helping with leads investigations and processing the crime scene. We have evidence response teams. They are here on site as well, and they are taking pictures. They are looking at trajectories of bullets, and they are helping to collect the evidence that's on scene." Special Agent Angie Key with the North Carolina State Bureau of Investigation said during the Sunday press conference: "We're providing crime scene assistance, investigative assistance, support interviews we've had our intel folks step up and provide assistance with that as well. We're continuing to help with this case, as far as assisting local, state, federal agencies." Scott Riley, district attorney for Burke Holwell and Catawba County, during the Sunday press conference: "I'd also like to offer my deepest condolences to the families of all the victims involved. They have all had their lives just drastically altered and changed forever by this senseless act of violence." Anderson Clayton, chair of the North Carolina Democratic Party, wrote in an X, formerly Twitter, post on Sunday: "And yet republicans in our state legislature are trying to make permit-less carry legal in this state. The answer to gun violence being the #1 killer of young people in communities across our state is not to make it easier for young people to buy one." What Happens Next The FBI is setting up a tips line for anyone who was at the party or witness to any related activity. The investigation is ongoing, with law enforcement expected to continue providing press releases.
Miami Herald
26-05-2025
- Miami Herald
Man Killed in Apartment by Stray Bullet in Memorial Day Weekend Shooting
A man was killed by a stray bullet while inside his apartment in the Northwest quadrant of Washington D.C. on Sunday evening, police said. The victim was found with a gunshot wound around 6:20 p.m. He died at the scene, despite emergency efforts to save him. The incident was one of four homicides that occurred in the District over a three-day span. Among the others were the fatal shootings of 16-year-old Royell Walker and 19-year-old Jamar Jackson in Southeast Washington on Friday night, as well as another man who was killed early Sunday on Georgia Avenue NW. These killings came on the heels of a violent stretch in which nine people were killed over nine days-including two Israeli Embassy employees shot on Wednesday-bringing the total number of homicides to 13 in just 13 days, an unusually high rate for the city. Officers with the Metropolitan Police Department (MPD) rushed to a home after receiving reports of gunfire. When they arrived, they discovered an adult man inside the apartment suffering from a gunshot wound. Paramedics worked quickly to try to save him, but despite their efforts, he was pronounced dead at the scene. "This does not appear to be a targeted shooting," MPD Executive Assistant Chief Andre Wright said during a media briefing. "It appears, preliminarily, that this was a stray round that struck his residence and subsequently struck him." Authorities believe the bullet was fired from behind the apartment building, hitting the structure only once. The incident is being investigated as a homicide. No suspects had been identified as of Monday morning. The violence in the nation's capital mirrored a broader pattern of Memorial Day weekend shootings nationwide. In South Carolina, at least 11 people were hospitalized after gunfire erupted near a boat dock in the town of Little River, about 20 miles north of Myrtle Beach. A North Myrtle Beach police officer accidentally shot himself in the leg while responding to the scene and was hospitalized in stable condition. Authorities have not yet disclosed the number of shooters involved in the South Carolina incident or any motive, but said it appeared to be an isolated event. MPD Executive Assistant Chief Andre Wright said during a media briefing on Sunday: "This is a great city, a free city, and the vast majority of the people in [the] community feel safe and they walk in love and in partnership with each other and with this agency." Demetrius B., a longtime D.C. resident, reacted to the news on social media: "Summer's almost here! Wild how the city council just sits on its hands while this is happening. I wonder what the magic number of murders is that will finally get them to act." Nationwide, more than 5,700 people have died from gun-related incidents so far in 2025, according to the Gun Violence Archive. The figure includes accidental discharges and defensive uses of firearms. Gun violence continues to spur heated debate over gun control, though federal responses remain gridlocked. Related Articles South Carolina Shooting: Eleven Hurt Over Memorial Day WeekendNew Videos Show Alleged Israeli Settler Attacks in West BankMelania Trump Reacts to Israeli Embassy Staffer KillingsIsraeli Embassy Couple 'About to Get Engaged' Killed in DC Shooting 2025 NEWSWEEK DIGITAL LLC.
USA Today
22-05-2025
- Politics
- USA Today
2 Israeli embassy staff members fatally shot near Jewish museum in DC
2 Israeli embassy staff members fatally shot near Jewish museum in DC Show Caption Hide Caption What to know about the growing threat of gun violence Find out about the growing problem of gun violence and mass killings in the USA and learn how the Gun Violence Archive (GVA) categorizes different types of gun violence. Two Israeli embassy staff members in Washington were fatally shot on May 21 as they exited the Capital Jewish Museum, authorities and officials said. Police received calls reporting a shooting shortly after 9 p.m. ET, Metropolitan Police Department Chief Pamela Smith said at a news conference. Responding officers discovered one man and one woman unconscious and not breathing at the scene. "D.C. fire and EMS responded, and despite all life-saving efforts, both victims succumbed to their injuries," Smith said. A preliminary investigation indicates that the victims were exiting an event at the Capitol Jewish Museum located in Washington when the shooting occurred, according to Smith. Investigators believe one shooter was behind the attack. The suspect, identified as Elias Rodriguez, 30, of Chicago, was observed pacing back and forth outside the museum before the shooting, Smith said. Rodriguez then approached a group of four people and opened fire, striking the two victims. Rodriguez later entered the museum and was detained by event security, according to Smith. When taken into custody, Rodriguez shouted "Free, free Palestine," Smith added. Washington Mayor Muriel Bowser decried the shooting, noting the incident will instill fear among the community and people across the country. "I want to be clear that we will not tolerate this violence or hate in our city," Bowser said during the news conference. "We will not tolerate any acts of terrorism, and we're going to stand together as a community in the coming days and weeks to send a clear message that we will not tolerate antisemitism." Israeli embassy spokesperson: Staff members were shot at 'close range' When asked if authorities were aware of any threats, Smith said police did not receive "any intelligence with respect to any type of terrorist act or hate crime in our city." The FBI field office in Washington said it was at the scene with the Metropolitan Police Department. The agency noted that there is no ongoing threat to public safety. Tal Naim Cohen, a spokesperson for the Israeli embassy, said on X that two staff members were shot at "close range" while attending a Jewish event at the Capital Jewish Museum, a historical society and museum that focuses on the history of the Jewish experience in Washington D.C. and the surrounding metropolitan areas. "We have full faith in law enforcement authorities on both the local and federal levels to apprehend the shooter and protect Israel's representatives and Jewish communities throughout the United States," Cohen said. Yechiel Leiter, Israeli ambassador to the United States, said the two victims killed were a "young couple about to be engaged." "The young man purchased a ring this week with the intention of proposing to his girlfriend next week in Jerusalem," Leiter said at the news conference. "They were a beautiful couple who came to enjoy an evening in Washington's cultural center." 'Hell to pay': Trump issues 'last warning' to Hamas. Here is what may be next for Israel and Gaza Trump: 'Hatred and Radicalism have no place in the USA' President Donald Trump took to social media and suggested the killings were driven by antisemitism. "These horrible D.C. killings, based obviously on antisemitism, must end, NOW!" Trump said on Truth Social. "Hatred and Radicalism have no place in the USA. Condolences to the families of the victims. So sad that such things as this can happen! God Bless You ALL!" Israeli President Isaac Herzog said on social media that he was 'devastated' by the scenes in Washington. 'This is a despicable act of hatred, of antisemitism, which has claimed the lives of two young employees of the Israeli embassy,' Herzog said. "Our hearts are with the loved ones of those murdered and our immediate prayers are with the injured. I send my full support to the Ambassador and all the embassy staff.' Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem said on X that federal authorities are investigating the incident. "Two Israeli Embassy staff were senselessly killed tonight near the Jewish Museum in Washington DC," Noem. "Please pray for the families of the victims. We will bring this depraved perpetrator to justice." Danny Danon, Israeli ambassador to the United Nations, condemned the shooting. "Harming diplomats and the Jewish community is crossing a red line,' Danon said on X. 'We are confident that the US authorities will take strong action against those responsible for this criminal act. Israel will continue to act resolutely to protect its citizens and representatives – everywhere in the world.' The Jewish Federation of Greater Washington said in a statement that the organization is horrified by the shooting and "mourn the loss of the two individuals killed in the attack." "Our hearts are with their families and loved ones, and with all of those who are impacted by this tragic act of antisemitic violence," the federation said, adding that it was working with law enforcement and other Jewish organizations to "gain a fuller picture of what transpired." Shooting comes amid ongoing conflict between Israel and Hamas The shooting comes amid growing criticism against Israel after it announced plans to intensify its military campaign against Hamas and to control Gaza, which has been devastated by air and ground operations. More than 53,000 people have been killed and nearly all residents in Gaza have been displaced since the start of the war, according to local health authorities. The war has increased tensions between Israel and much of the international community. Incidents of antisemitism and Islamophobia have also surged across the United States, putting law enforcement agencies on high alert. (This story was updated to add new information.)
USA Today
22-05-2025
- Politics
- USA Today
2 Israeli embassy staff members killed near Jewish museum in DC, Noem says
2 Israeli embassy staff members killed near Jewish museum in DC, Noem says Show Caption Hide Caption What to know about the growing threat of gun violence Find out about the growing problem of gun violence and mass killings in the USA and learn how the Gun Violence Archive (GVA) categorizes different types of gun violence. Two Israeli embassy staff members in Washington were killed on May 21 near a Jewish museum, Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem said. "Two Israeli Embassy staff were senselessly killed tonight near the Jewish Museum in Washington DC," Noem said on X. "We are actively investigating and working to get more information to share. Please pray for the families of the victims." The deaths occurred near the Lillian and Albert Small Capital Jewish Museum, known as the Capital Jewish Museum, according to Noem. The FBI field office in Washington said it was at the scene with the Metropolitan Police Department. The agency noted that there is no ongoing threat to public safety. Attorney General Pam Bondi also said she was at the scene of the incident with Jeanine Pirro, interim U.S. Attorney for the District of Washington. "Praying for the victims of this violence as we work to learn more," Bondi said on X. Danny Danon, Israeli ambassador to the United Nations, said on X that the shooting happened outside an event at the Lillian and Albert Small Capital Jewish Museum. Danon said two Israeli Embassy employees were also injured in the incident, but this has not been confirmed by authorities. 'Harming diplomats and the Jewish community is crossing a red line,' Danon said. 'We are confident that the US authorities will take strong action against those responsible for this criminal act. Israel will continue to act resolutely to protect its citizens and representatives – everywhere in the world.' The Capital Jewish Museum is a historical society and museum in Washington, D.C. The museum is focused on the history of the Jewish experience in the nation's capital city and the surrounding Washington metropolitan area. This is a developing story. Follow @USATODAY for additional updates.
