Latest news with #KING5
Yahoo
4 hours ago
- Yahoo
Mother Of Girls Allegedly Kidnapped, Killed By Father, Says The System Failed Them
Whitney Decker, the mother of three young girls that were found dead in Washington, is urging reforms to the Amber Alert system after state authorities declined to issue one when her daughters went missing. Wenatchee Police in Chelan County, Washington, had requested an Amber Alert after she reported that her daughters hadn't returned from a scheduled visit with their father, Travis Decker, on May 30. Washington State Patrol, however, denied this request, telling HuffPost there wasn't sufficient evidence that an abduction was taking place, or that Travis would harm his daughters. 'They did not see him as an immediate physical danger to his children despite the fact that he had a well-established history of mental health issues and had they…seen it that way, those children might still be alive,' Whitney's attorney Arianna Cozart told local NBC affiliate KING 5 News. 'That's the thing that is so brutal, and the one thing that she's really hoping can be changed in this tragedy.' Amber Alerts are designed specifically to respond to child abductions and allow law enforcement to send a text alert to cell phones in the area about a missing child. The Washington State Patrol eventually issued an Endangered Missing Persons Advisory on June 1, though that does not immediately include a text alert. Cozart, who didn't immediately respond to HuffPost's request for comment, told KING 5 that an Amber Alert might have enabled people to keep a look out for Travis Decker and the white GMC truck he was driving when he was with his girls. Whitney's daughters ― Paityn, 9; Evelyn, 8; and Olivia Decker, 5 ― were found dead on June 2 near their father's car, which was parked at a campground in western Washington. Police believe they died from asphyxiation after finding plastic bags over their heads and zip ties around their wrists. Travis Decker is still missing, however, and police are currently engaged in a manhunt as they continue to search for him. Officers have asked the public for information, though they caution against approaching Travis because he might be dangerous. Cozart emphasized that Whitney and her daughters were failed numerous times by government systems including difficult-to-access veteran support services along with authorities' decision to pass on an Amber Alert. She cited Travis Decker's past mental health struggles after he voluntarily left the U.S. Army, and the challenges he faced in obtaining help. Last fall, Whitney had requested changes to the couple's parenting plan, noting that Travis was unstable and had 'borderline personality disorder.' Cozart also told the court that he was homeless and living out of his car. Under a revised parenting plan, Travis Decker was able to see his daughters every other weekend, though he was not able to have them overnight. 'She really feels the system let her children down,' Cozart told KING 5. 'It was the inadequacies in the services for our veterans that killed those children.'
Axios
24-05-2025
- Axios
Seattle parks aim to crack down on late-night parties
Seattle will have more police patrols and new gates installed at some of its busiest parks this summer, as city officials seek to crack down on overnight partying and noise complaints. The big picture: The changes are part of a summer safety plan the mayor's office announced this week, which will also include shorter summer hours at two of Seattle's most popular waterfront parks, Alki Beach and Golden Gardens. What's happening: New gates will go up at Magnuson Park and Gas Works Park by the Fourth of July, blocking vehicle access and closing off the parking lots once the parks shut down at night, Callie Craighead, a spokesperson for Seattle Mayor Bruce Harrell, told Axios. The city will also have dedicated Seattle police patrols that will help clear out popular parks at closing time, a change from past years that is designed to prevent overnight trespassing, Craighead said. Zoom in: Starting Friday and continuing through Labor Day, Alki Beach and Golden Gardens will close at 10:30pm instead of 11:30pm. That means slightly less time to enjoy those stunning Puget Sound beaches (a perk of living here that helps get us through Seattle's dark, gray winters). The city piloted those earlier summer closure times in past years, but has now decided to make them permanent, Craighead said. Some city boat ramps will also close from 10:30pm to 4am, instead of being open 24 hours per day. What they're saying: The changes aren't designed to prevent overnight camping as much as late-night partying, vandalism, illegal fires and noise, Craighead said. "We still want people to enjoy our parks, but once they close, they are closed — and people are then trespassing," Craighead said. The city also is trying to reduce the potential for violent incidents in and around parks at night, she said. Last June, a fatal shooting occurred near Alki Beach, while last month a man was arrested after police said he brandished a knife in the area. Yes, but: Not everyone thinks reducing hours will help. told KING 5. "But they really prevent people from actually enjoying the experience at the beach." What's next: City officials are also installing concrete barriers in some park parking lots to prevent reckless driving.
Yahoo
20-05-2025
- Yahoo
Woman was killed in random Puyallup robbery. Now 2 teens have been sentenced
Two teenagers accused of being involved in the fatal shooting of a 22-year-old woman in Puyallup during an apparently random robbery have pleaded guilty and were sentenced to about seven years and nine years in state custody. Ethan Quinn Byron Nordgren and Noah Maurice Loyd-Branch, both 19, each pleaded guilty May 15 to first-degree manslaughter for the Feb. 25, 2024 killing of Gianna Stone. Loyd-Branch additionally pleaded guilty to second-degree unlawful possession of a firearm. Nordgren was suspected of driving Loyd-Branch and a third defendant, Dae'Meion Carmello Purdy, to and from Sam Peach Park where Stone was killed. Stone was with other people in a BMW at the park when the defendants walked up to the vehicle and pulled out handguns, according to charging documents. They demanded the group's property, and as the driver drove off, shots were fired. Court documents described Loyd-Branch and Purdy as the ones who fired the gunshots. One bullet went through the back of the BMW and struck Stone in the head. Purdy's case remains pending with a next court date in July. Stone's mother spoke during the defendants' sentencing hearing May 15 in Pierce County Superior Court. KING 5 reported that the mother said the defendants were her definition of 'pure evil.' Judge Joseph Evans handed down the defendants' punishments. Nordgren received a mid-range sentence of 7 years, eight months. Loyd-Branch's sentence was at the high end of the standard sentencing range, nine years, six months. According to court records, neither had prior criminal convictions. According to court records, the defendants will serve their time in juvenile rehabilitation in the custody of the Department of Children, Youth and Families. If they remain there at age 25, they would transfer to the Department of Corrections. Man accused of killing friend in car in Pierce County sentenced to prison A 21-year man suspected of fatally shooting his friend in a vehicle in Parkland pleaded guilty to second-degree manslaughter and was sentenced Friday to five years in prison. Julian Lafayette Hart Padilla pleaded guilty to the May 21, 2022 homicide of An'Jai Whitted, 21. According to court records, the victim was shot while in a vehicle outside an apartment complex in the 11300 block of 10th Avenue Court East. In a victim-impact statement submitted to the court, Whitted's mother said Hart Padilla taking her son's life was the beginning of the darkest time of her life. 'In one senseless moment, you shattered everything,' the mother wrote. 'His absence is a daily ache that no words can fully express. I wake up every day to a world that no longer feels whole, haunted by the silence where his laughter and smile used to be.' Whitted was driven to St. Clare's Hospital in a private vehicle after the shooting. According to court documents, he underwent surgery there and died from his injuries. The Pierce County Medical Examiner's Office determined he died of a gunshot wound to the back. At the hospital, deputies spoke to a friend of Whitted who reported he, Whitted and their friends were hanging out in an apartment when Whitted decided to leave. The friend said he fell asleep and woke up to someone saying Whitted had been shot. Detectives found a single expended shell casing in a Chevy Camaro in which the victim was shot. They determined Whitted was sitting in the front passenger seat. A Glock and a Tokarev semiautomatic pistol were found in the car, and detectives alleged the Tokarev belonged to Hart Padilla after finding photos of him with the gun on social media. Judge Susan Adams sentenced Hart Padilla, giving him a punishment at the middle of the standard sentencing range. According to court records, the defendant had no prior criminal convictions.
Time of India
30-04-2025
- Politics
- Time of India
Indian techie Harsha Kikkeri's younger son only surviving member of family after murder-suicide tragedy in US
Harshavardhana Kikkeri was a celebrated techie who once met Prime Minister Narendra Modi at a Digital India summit. The younger son of Indian techie Harshavardhana S Kikkeri was not at home when he reportedly shot and killed his wife and his elder son and then shot himself in a tragedy that took place in Seattle's King County Monday. Shwetha Panyam, 41, and Dhruva Kikkeri, 14, died from gunshot wounds. Panyam's and Dhruva's deaths were classified as homicides. Harshavardhana Kikkeri , 44, died by suicide, according to the medical examiner's office, the Seattle Times reported. Alex Gumina, the homeowner association president, said a family of four — a husband, wife and their two sons — lived in the home and mostly kept to themselves. The younger son, seven years old, escaped the tragedy as he was not at home at that time. What happened to Harsha Kikkeri, a celebrated techie? Many questions remain unanswered as Harsha Kikkeri , the CEO of HoloWorld, a robotics company which is headquartered in Myrsuru town, was known as a bright and promising mind who accomplished a lot. Cricketer Yuvraj Singh funded his organization and was also the brand ambassador. A 2017 selfie that he took with Bollywood actor Aishwarya Rai surfaced on social media showing the prominence that he enjoyed in India. Harsha met Prime Minister Narendra Modi at a Digital India summit. On the night of the shooting, authorities were called to the townhouse on 129th Street after receiving a 911 call. The KING 5 television station said its crew saw a child -- the younger son of the Kikkeri family -- being escorted from the home and comforted by investigators. The detectives found blood on the front window and a lone hollow point bullet in the street. Kikkeri who belonged to the Kikkeri village in Madya, graduated from Sri Jayachamarajendra College of Engineering in Mysuru, and worked with Microsoft in the US, focusing on robotics. He also had a Master of Science degree from Syracuse University, US. Kikkeri held 44 international patents and worked in Infosys as a software engineer before moving to the US. According to reports, he returned to India in 2017 along with his wife and co-founded HoloWorld. Then he invented HoloSuit, an AI-powered full-body motion capture suit functioning as a virtual trainer.
The Hindu
30-04-2025
- The Hindu
Indian-origin family of three found dead after shooting at Washington home
Three Indian-origin people were found dead after a shooting at a home in the U.S. State of Washington, according to local media reports. The incident took place on April 24 in Newcastle city. The dead were identified as Harshavardhana Kikkeri, 44, Shwetha Panyam, 41, and Dhruva Kikkeri, 14, The Seattle Times newspaper reported on Tuesday (April 29, 2025). While the deaths of Shwetha and Dhruva were ruled as homicide by the police, Harshavardhana died by suicide, the report quoted the King County medical examiner's office as saying. Neighbours told the KOMO News that a young family lived in the home where the shooting took place. On the night of the shooting, authorities were called to the townhouse on 129th Street after receiving a 911 call. The KING 5 television station said its crew saw a child being escorted from the home and comforted by investigators. Owners of Holoworld Reports said Harshavardhana, alongside Shwetha, was the owner of an India-based AI tech company Holoworld. According to the company's website, it was founded in 2018 by the two, with Harshavardhana serving as the CEO and CTO, and Shwetha as president. King County sheriff's spokesperson Brandyn Hull said she could not comment on whether the case was believed to be a murder-suicide. "We understand many questions remain about the events that took place in Newcastle on April 24,' Hull was quoted as saying by Renton Reporter newspaper. 'An investigation such as this takes time, and our detectives are working diligently to try and piece together what led to this incident. Until this work concludes, the Sheriff's Office won't have any further updates.' No sign of the deaths' motive or relationships among the deceased was released by the sheriff's office, according to the report.
