Latest news with #Haggard
Yahoo
3 days ago
- General
- Yahoo
Families of men killed in Halloween shooting to sue City of Orlando, OPD
On Oct. 31, Tyrek Hill was preparing to discuss with his mother the possibility of buying a truck to start his own towing company. Timothy Schmidt Jr. was showing a friend around Orlando, where Hill was a student at the University of Central Florida. That night, both men decided to hit downtown for its annual Halloween block party. Neither made it out alive after being gunned down by 17-year-old Jaylen Edgar, who inexplicably was carrying a weapon as he strolled among the partygoers. Now, the families of both men are suing, accusing the city and the Orlando Police Department of wrongful death by failing to provide adequate security. On Tuesday, two of their parents — Timothy Schmidt Sr. and Teresa Clinton, Hill's mother — met in person for the first time to announce the lawsuit, joined by attorneys Michael Haggard and Douglas McCarron. 'We're in an awful club that you don't want to be in,' Schmidt Sr. said. Hill added, 'Our sons left here somewhat the same. … We're trauma-bonded.' Several businesses that make up the city's Entertainment District are also set to be named in the lawsuit, but the attorneys declined to name them. Haggard said the city and OPD have been notified of the coming lawsuit, which is expected to be filed later this month. This month also marks the ninth anniversary of the Pulse Nightclub shooting, which resulted in the deaths of 49 people before the shooter was killed by law enforcement. 'Everybody in the community should be asking: has anything changed?' Haggard said. 'Has anything changed in society? Has anything changed in how businesses deal with this, the government deals with this, or anything along those lines?' About 75,000 people were partying downtown Halloween night when gunfire erupted on two separate occasions. The first happened on the corner of North Orange Avenue and Central Boulevard, where city surveillance video showed Edgar shot Hill in the head from close range while walking past him. He then shot Schmidt Jr. shortly after, striking him in the heart in front of Sly Fox Bar following an altercation in which Schmidt Jr. wasn't involved. Edgar, who turns 18 in September, was arrested as he tried to flee amid a panicked, scattering crowd. He was charged as an adult on two counts of first-degree murder and seven counts of attempted murder, with his next court appearance expected to take place Aug. 25. While a City of Orlando spokesperson declined to comment on the pending litigation, officials at the time of the shooting pointed to a state law allowing gun owners to carry in public places without a permit. They said that prevented the city from conducting its own weapons checks in the downtown area, as it had previously. Still, Haggard said, city authorities should have been prepared for that. In 2024 there were about 500 mass shootings throughout the U.S. including 32 in Florida, according to the Gun Violence Archive, which tracks shootings nationwide. This year, six of the 133 mass shootings so far were in the state. 'Our laws in the State of Florida are awful regarding gun safety, there's no question about that,' Haggard said. 'But the City of Orlando knows that, the police department knows that, the entertainment district knows that. … So businesses have to step up in the environment they're in.' As for the families, they intend to carry on their sons' legacies. Since the shooting, Schmidt Sr. founded a nonprofit seeking to help others in similar situations. Clinton, Hill's mother, seeks to do the same. While they both seek justice for their children's deaths, Schmidt Sr. and Hill say they share a common aim: reform. 'We can point the blame at anybody, but who will step up and make a change?' Hill said. 'Let's make a difference. It doesn't have to just be us, it can be all — or is it just another person dead in the streets and another suspect in jail?'
Daily Mail
30-04-2025
- Sport
- Daily Mail
Chaotic moment horses crash through the railings at Punchestown - and one jockey gets hit in the face in dangerous scenes
A dislodged railing at Punchestown caused chaos for riders and jockeys taking part in the Festival's cross country chase on Tuesday afternoon. Pre-race favourite Fralimonti Bilbery was seeking to gain an advantage on the inside as the horses were making their way around the circuit, but appeared to make contact with the safety railings as the pack jostled for position. The railing had dislodged as horses attempted to cross the track to complete the course, with dramatic consequences. Fralimonti Bilbery was one of the first horses to be impeded by the flying railing, with jockey Jack Hendrick hit in the face with the unwieldy pole. The railing then continued to cause trouble as the horses continued at pace, with Rob James aboard Haggard also hit. Both James and Hendrick managed to stay on their mounts, as riders behind them had to think fast to avoid being similarly struck. 👀 — Racing TV (@RacingTV) April 29, 2025 There was chaos in the Kildare Hunt Club Cross County Chase for the Ladies Perpetual Cup The first race of this year's Punchestown Festival was mired by a dangerous dislodged railing The flying railing impeded a number of horses but luckily there appear to be no injuries 'It's Fralimonti Bilbery who looks like he's trying to get up the inside of Haggard here,' a commentator on Racing TV explained as the shocking footage was reviewed. 'They're crossing a road, and the rail gets dislodged - I don't know if it's by one of the runners up ahead? It's very difficult to tell by the angle. 'But look at that,' he added with some shock as the footage replayed. Fralimonti Bilbery and Haggard were pulled up after the fracas, but it appears that both horses and jockeys were fortunately unharmed. Fans on social media were quick to share their shock at the footage as it circulated online, with one dubbing the scenes 'carnage'. 'Amazed everyone stayed on,' another admitted. 'Jesus, that's horrible to see,' a third added. 'Lucky someone wasn't seriously hurt'. In the absence of the favourite, 22/1 contender Transprint claimed first place, with Turnedupdevolume placing second, and third place for Knockiel Synge.
Scottish Sun
30-04-2025
- Entertainment
- Scottish Sun
Shocking moment jockey is hit in the head after horse crashes into railings in chaotic race at Punchestown Festival
THIS is the shocking moment a jockey hit his head after his horse crashed into the railings at Punchestown Festival. Haggard was forced into the railings during the chaotic 2.30pm on Tuesday. 4 A jockey was struck by a railing Credit: Racing TV 4 The incident occurred at the 2.30pm at Punchestown Festival Credit: Racing TV 4 The rail first hit Jack Hendrick Credit: Racing TV 4 It then continued to fly and it jockey Rob James on Haggard Credit: Racing TV The horse was forced off the track as Fralmonti Bilbery was trying to gain ground. However, it collided with the railings and dislodged three sections, which caused it to interfere with the racers. Haggard's jockey Rob James tried to dodge the obstacles but was hit on the head. Jones managed to stay on the horse while other jockeys had to take evasive action to avoid the railings. Following the incident both Haggard and Fralimonti Bilbery were pulled up. Commentators on Racing TV tried to explain the chaos with one saying: "It's Fralimonti Bilbery who looks like he's trying to get a run up the inside of Haggard here. "They're crossing a road, the rail gets dislodged. I don't know, is it by one of the runners up ahead? "It's very, very hard to tell from this angle. But would you look at that?" JOIN SUN VEGAS: GET £50 BONUS It appeared that both horses were unharmed in the moment. This could have been helped by the Punchestown railings being made of white plastic. America's oldest horse racing track lays abandoned after closing down following 170 years of history They are slotted into each other instead of glued, which means they can be safer in case of these incidents. Fans reacted to the shocking moment on social media. One posted: "Amazed everyone stayed on!" A second wrote: "Jesus that's horrible to see lucky someone wasn't seriously hurt." A third commented: "Carnage." A fourth said: "That could of been alot worse than what it was, thankfully looks as though all jockeys and horses walked away unscathed." Another added: "That was very eventful, lucky no one got hurt." 22/1 favourite Transprint went on to win the race with Turnedupdevolume finishing second and Kockiel Synge in third. Meanwhile, Punchestown has already has some surprising moments. This includes 18-1 shot Irancy winning the KPMG Champion Novice Hurdle.
The Sun
30-04-2025
- Entertainment
- The Sun
Shocking moment jockey is hit in the head after horse crashes into railings in chaotic race at Punchestown Festival
THIS is the shocking moment a jockey hit his head after his horse crashed into the railings at Punchestown Festival. Haggard was forced into the railings during the chaotic 2.30pm on Tuesday. 2 2 The horse was forced off the track as Fralmonti Bilbery was trying to gain ground. However, it collided with the railings and dislodged three sections, which caused it to interfere with the racers. Haggard's jockey Rob James tried to dodge the obstacles but was hit on the head. Jones managed to stay on the horse while other jockeys had to take evasive action to avoid the railings. Following the incident both Haggard and Fralimonti Bilbery were pulled up. Commentators on Racing TV tried to explain the chaos with one saying: "It's Fralimonti Bilbery who looks like he's trying to get a run up the inside of Haggard here. "They're crossing a road, the rail gets dislodged. I don't know, is it by one of the runners up ahead? "It's very, very hard to tell from this angle. But would you look at that?" JOIN SUN VEGAS: GET £50 BONUS It appeared that both horses were unharmed in the moment. This could have been helped by the Punchestown railings being made of white plastic. America's oldest horse racing track lays abandoned after closing down following 170 years of history They are slotted into each other instead of glued, which means they can be safer in case of these incidents. Fans reacted to the shocking moment on social media. One posted: "Amazed everyone stayed on!" A second wrote: "Jesus that's horrible to see lucky someone wasn't seriously hurt." A third commented: "Carnage." A fourth said: "That could of been alot worse than what it was, thankfully looks as though all jockeys and horses walked away unscathed." Another added: "That was very eventful, lucky no one got hurt." 22/1 favourite Transprint went on to win the race with Turnedupdevolume finishing second and Kockiel Synge in third. Meanwhile, Punchestown has already has some surprising moments. This includes 18-1 shot Irancy winning the KPMG Champion Novice Hurdle.
The Irish Sun
30-04-2025
- Entertainment
- The Irish Sun
Shocking moment jockey is hit in the head after horse crashes into railings in chaotic race at Punchestown Festival
THIS is the shocking moment a jockey hit his head after his horse crashed into the railings at Punchestown Festival. Haggard was forced into the railings during the chaotic 2.30pm on Tuesday. Advertisement 2 A jockey was struck by a railing Credit: Racing TV 2 The incident occured at the 2.30pm at Punchestown Festival Credit: Racing TV The horse was forced off the track as Fralmonti Bilbery was trying to gain ground. However, it collided with the railings and dislodged three sections, which caused it to interfere with the racers. Haggard's jockey Rob James tried to dodge the obstacles but was hit on the head. Jones managed to stay on the horse while other jockeys had to take evasive action to avoid the railings. Advertisement READ MORE ON HORSE RACING Following the incident both Haggard and Fralimonti Bilbery were pulled up. Commentators on Racing TV tried to explain the chaos with one saying: "It's Fralimonti Bilbery who looks like he's trying to get a run up the inside of Haggard here. "They're crossing a road, the rail gets dislodged. I don't know, is it by one of the runners up ahead? "It's very, very hard to tell from this angle. But would you look at that?" Advertisement Most read in Horse Racing JOIN SUN VEGAS: GET £50 BONUS It appeared that both horses were unharmed in the moment. This could have been helped by the Punchestown railings being made of white plastic. America's oldest horse racing track lays abandoned after closing down following 170 years of history They are slotted into each other instead of glued, which means they can be safer in case of these incidents. Advertisement Fans reacted to the shocking moment on social media. One posted: "Amazed everyone stayed on!" A second wrote: "Jesus that's horrible to see lucky someone wasn't seriously hurt." A third commented: "Carnage." Advertisement A fourth said: "That could of been alot worse than what it was, thankfully looks as though all jockeys and horses walked away unscathed." Another added: "That was very eventful, lucky no one got hurt." 22/1 favourite Transprint went on to win the race with Turnedupdevolume finishing second and Kockiel Synge in third. Meanwhile, Punchestown has already has some surprising moments. Advertisement This includes 18-1 shot Irancy winning the KPMG Champion Novice Hurdle.
