Latest news with #RobertG.Luna
Mint
4 days ago
- Mint
Shootings in Virginia, California, and North Carolina leave 3 dead, over 15 injured
A deadly weekend of gun violence across three U.S. states left at least three people dead and over 15 injured. In Danville, Virginia, a gunfight at an outdoor gathering killed one and wounded four. In Baldwin Park, California, a police officer was fatally shot in an ambush, while another officer and a civilian were wounded. Meanwhile, in Hickory, North Carolina, a house party turned violent as more than 80 shots were fired, killing one and injuring 11. Investigations are underway in all three incidents. At least five people were shot early Sunday during a gunfight between two groups at a large outdoor gathering in Danville, Virginia, police said. The incident occurred around 1:30 a.m. on private property near the North Carolina border, according to the Danville Police Department. Upon arrival, officers found a man suffering from a gunshot wound to the upper body inside a Chrysler sedan parked in the middle of the roadway. The man was identified as 22-year-old Jay'Shaun Tiejae White of Hurt, Virginia, and was pronounced dead at the scene. Another man believed to be the driver of the Chrysler was found nearby with gunshot injuries and was transported to SOVAH Health hospital. Three other victims, including two adult men and a 19-year-old woman, later arrived at the hospital for treatment. 'The initial investigation into this incident revealed that there was a large outdoor gathering... and that gunshots were exchanged between the Chrysler and other individuals at the gathering,' the police statement said. No arrests have been made so far. Police urge anyone with information to contact detectives immediately. In Southern California, two police officers were shot—one fatally—after an ambush and gunfight with a suspect in Baldwin Park on Saturday night. The officers responded to reports of a man firing a rifle in a residential neighborhood at approximately 7:12 p.m. Pacific time, according to Los Angeles County Sheriff Robert G. Luna. 'As the officers arrived, the suspect opened fire on them without warning,' Sheriff Luna said during a midnight press conference. 'This was a double homicide.' The deceased officer, identified as Officer Samuel Riveros, was pronounced dead at Los Angeles General Medical Center. The surviving officer, Anthony Pimentel, was also treated at the hospital and is expected to recover. Baldwin Park Mayor Alejandra Avila expressed condolences, stating, 'Last night was a night of tragedy for our community... I ask that you embrace your officers and neighbors and show one another the best of Baldwin Park.' Following a gunfight involving SWAT, the suspect was wounded and taken into custody. Investigators also found a man dead from gunshot wounds on a sidewalk nearby, believed to be the suspect's earlier victim. Police Chief Robert Lopez praised the fallen officer: 'Our officer was an amazing man... It's extremely tragic. I ask for your prayers.' A violent shooting early Sunday morning at a house party in a quiet Hickory neighborhood left one person dead and 11 others injured, authorities said. The gunfire erupted around 12:45 a.m. at a home where an estimated 100 people were gathered, according to the Catawba County Sheriff's Office. Officials confirmed that more than 80 shots were fired and that there was more than one shooter involved. One victim remains in critical condition, while 10 others were hospitalized with serious injuries. No arrests have been made so far as the investigation continues. 'The normally peaceful residential area was shattered by this horrific event,' said Major Aaron Turk of the sheriff's office during a news conference. Eyewitnesses told local reporters that many attendees appeared to be local high school students. When the shooting started, people scattered, ducked for cover, and ran for safety. The North Carolina State Bureau of Investigation and the Hickory Police Department are leading the investigation with support from the FBI. The victims' names and ages have not been released.
Yahoo
27-03-2025
- Yahoo
LA County has been using potentially faulty DNA test kits for months
Los Angeles County has been using potentially faulty DNA test kits in criminal investigations for months. According to the L.A. County Sheriff's Department, on Wednesday, a supervisor became aware on Monday of a notice from a DNA testing kit manufacturer indicating that a specific lot of kits was prone to poor performance with the potential to cause incomplete results. The maker of those kits recommended that the department stop using the kits. That letter was sent to the L.A. Sheriff's Department on Aug.28, 2024, but apparently went to an employee who was no longer employed there. Because nobody knew about the letter, the affected kits remained in use for eight months: from July of 2024 until February of 2025. "We take the integrity of our criminal investigations and the reliability of our forensic testing very seriously," said Los Angeles County Sheriff Robert G. Luna in a statement. "We are committed to thoroughly addressing this important issue, ensuring transparency, and taking immediate corrective action to protect the accuracy of ongoing and future cases," Luna continued in the statement. "The Sheriff's Department is working diligently to assess the impact and to prevent such situations from occurring again." MORE: 23andMe has filed for bankruptcy. What could happen to users' genetic data? The L.A. Sheriff's Scientific Services Bureau is now assessing how many criminal cases may have been impacted by faulty DNA tests -- and to what degree. The discovery not only impacts the L.A. Sheriff's cases, but other law enforcement agencies that use the lab -- as well as the L.A. County District Attorney's Office. "The District Attorney's Office has immediately started working with the Sheriff's Department to assess the scope of the situation in order to ensure that those involved in criminal justice process — defendants, defense counsel, victims, prosecutors, law enforcement, the courts and the public — are kept abreast of developments and in a position to make informed decisions on any actions that may need to take place," L.A. District Attorney Nathan Hochman said. "Ensuring the integrity of the criminal justice process to build and maintain trust in its outcomes is paramount as we go forward," he continued. MORE: Underwater remains could crack 1983 cold case of missing Chicago-area woman: Police The Sheriff's Department said the use of the kits may have led to "incomplete or suboptimal results but is not likely to have falsely identified any individual." Around 4,000 samples will be retested. In some cases, samples may not be able to be retested because of their limited sample size -- which could potentially impact prosecutions. The L.A. Sheriff's Department has launched an internal administrative investigation to understand the oversight. It says it will examine protocols, identify potential gaps and implement corrective procedures. LA County has been using potentially faulty DNA test kits for months originally appeared on
