Latest news with #gunViolence
CBC
3 days ago
- General
- CBC
Calgary boy who bought gun to impress Snapchat group executed teen, judge finds in murder conviction
Social Sharing A 15-year-old who bought a gun to impress his Snapchat group and then executed another teenager by shooting him point-blank in the back of the head is guilty of second-degree murder, a Calgary judge ruled Monday. Jal Acor Jal, 16, was fatally shot on March 31, 2022. His killer can't be named because he was a youth at the time of the shooting; CBC News will call him TK. On Monday, Court of King's Bench Justice Paul Jeffrey rejected TK's version of events, finding his story that the firearm accidentally discharged "impossible." On the day of the shooting, the two teens, who had recently met on Snapchat, planned to meet up at the Crowfoot LRT station. In a previous interview with CBC News, Jal's aunt said that he left his northwest home that night, asking his grandmother what she was cooking for dinner before telling her he would be back by 8:30 p.m., as he had school the next day. Jal was known as a talented athlete who played on both the basketball and football teams at St. Francis High School. When testifying in his own defence, TK told the court that he was an outcast at school, bullied and picked on, never invited anywhere or befriended by anyone, which led to him being home-schooled online. TK also worked for his father, installing vinyl siding. The Snapchat group In 2022, he'd joined a Snapchat group where some members discussed guns. "TK wanted badly to be accepted in the group and so set about getting his own gun," reads part of Jeffrey's conviction decision. TK tracked down a man who sold guns for cash online and one night, the two met and TK paid the seller $3,000 for a rifle he'd become "quite taken" with. That same night, TK showed off his new purchase to his Snapchat group. He got the reaction he'd been seeking. The gun was admired by the group, most of whom had handguns. Jeffrey noted that TK's rifle was "a hit." The meet-up TK told the group he'd get "whooped" and "beat" if his parents discovered the gun. He tore open the bottom fabric in his mattress's boxspring and shoved it into the wooden frame. In his testimony, TK told the court that Jal became interested in the gun and wanted to see it in person. There was some hearsay evidence, which the judge ruled he couldn't consider, that the purpose of the meet-up was for Jal to buy a pair of sneakers from TK, who had a collection. This is the narrative Jal's family believes to be true. The two boys met near the Crowfoot LRT station and walked to a grassy field behind a city electrical sub station building, hidden from sight. The victim carried an empty backpack. The killer carried a long, black shoulder bag with his semi-automatic rifle inside, along with a double magazine full of ammunition. The contradiction TK testified that, once at the substation, he handed Jal the gun as well as the loaded magazine. He said Jal loaded the gun and chambered a bullet and turned toward him. TK testified he "charged forward," grabbing the barrel of the gun from Jal. There was a struggle, according to TK, who testified he stumbled backwards. He said Jal tripped over his own feet. The gun "just went off," said TK. But the evidence showed Jal was shot in the back of the head and a firearms expert testified that more than eight pounds of force was required to pull the trigger. 'In a pool of blood, alone' Other tests were conducted on the weapon, showing that the gun would not discharge on its own or accidentally. The evidence also showed a lack of gunshot residue and melted fabric from the hood of Jal's sweatshirt. When the fatal bullet was fired, the gun was pressed up against the back of Jal's head, Jeffrey ruled. Within a couple of minutes after the 8:07 p.m. gunshot, security camera footage showed TK running across Crowchild Trail with the black bag across his shoulder. By 8:20 p.m., a nearby resident spotted Jal's body in the field. The judge noted the victim was "motionless, in a pool of blood, alone." Back at his house, TK hid the clothing he'd been wearing and returned the rifle to his boxspring hiding spot. Justice Jeffrey will hear sentencing arguments from defence lawyer Andrea Urquhart and prosecutor Todd Buziak at a later date.
Yahoo
3 days ago
- General
- Yahoo
Man pleads guilty in murder of half-brother in 2024 Concord shooting
A Pittsfield man pleaded guilty to second-degree murder in the shooting death of his half-brother in Concord in January 2024. Jesse Sullivan, 33, also pleaded guilty to felon in possession of a weapon, falsifying physical evidence and reckless conduct charges. Sullivan faced the second-degree murder for recklessly causing the death on 19-year-old Zackary Sullivan on Jan. 16, 2024. He was also indicted on a first-degree murder, which will not be prosecuted as part of the agreement. The reckless conduct charge stems from Sullivan allegedly shooting into an occupied home on Airport Road on the night of the murder, officials said. First responders were called to the area of Manchester Street and Garvins Falls Road on the evening of the murder for a report of a man suffering from a gunshot wound to the neck. Zackary Sullivan, died later that night, and an autopsy ruled the manner of death a homicide, according to the attorney general. The plea agreement calls for 53 years to life in prison for second degree murder charges. The other three charges call for 3 ½ to 7 years, but will be served concurrent with the second-degree murder charge. Sentencing is scheduled for June 18, according to court documents.
CBS News
27-05-2025
- CBS News
Driver wounded in car-to-car shooting on 710 Freeway in Compton
A man was wounded during a car-to-car shooting on the 710 Freeway in Compton on Monday. It happened at around 5:20 p.m. on northbound lanes, according to the Los Angeles County Sheriff's Department. Circumstances surrounding the incident remain under investigation, but deputies say that the driver of a silver Jeep pulled into the Arco gas station at the intersection of Alondra Boulevard and Atlantic Avenue where he called 911. The victim, only identified as a man, suffered multiple gunshot wounds to the lower body, according to LASD. He was taken to a nearby hospital with wounds that were not considered to be life-threatening. Investigators have only identified the suspect as a man. They did not know what vehicle he was driving.
Yahoo
24-05-2025
- Yahoo
Man with permit to carry arrested after fatal double shooting inside West Philly store
The Brief Philadelphia police have made an arrest in a deadly double shooting this week in West Philadelphia. Two teens were shot inside a store Wednesday afternoon. One of the teens died from his injuries. WEST PHILADELPHIA - A man has been arrested in connection with the fatal double shooting of two teens inside a West Philadelphia grocery store, killing one of the two. What we know Philadelphia police announced the arrest of 22-year-old Jaquan Higgs, a West Philadelphia resident, in connection with the fatal double shooting of two teens inside a grocery store Wednesday afternoon. Higgs is charged with murder, attempt of murder and other related offenses. Philly police sources tell FOX 29's Steve Keeley that Higgs remained at the scene after the shooting, adding he has a permit to legally carry a concealed weapon. The backstory Police were called to the 5400 block of Race Street Wednesday afternoon, around 2:15, on the reports of gunfire inside a grocery store on the block. Officers found two teens suffering with multiple gunshot wounds. A 16-year-old was rushed to Lankenau Medical Center and listed in critical condition. A 15-year-old, identified as Seth Marshall, died at the scene. Timeline Police sources tell Keeley that the teens were armed. They further explained Higgs shot in self-defense. Sources say surveillance shows neither teen pulling their guns out before they were shot. The store video shows Marshall's gun visibly sticking out of his waistband as he was near the front door and raised his phone, not his gun and began typing a text when he was shot. Sources explained the surveillance shows the 16-year-old paying for his food order at the front counter when he was shot. Dig deeper Sources say both teens have extensive criminal records, despite their young ages and many of their crimes in Montgomery County. Law enforcement sources say Marshall was wanted on weapons charges in Montgomery County. Higgs had no criminal record at all, allowing him to legally get a permit to carry.
Daily Mail
22-05-2025
- Daily Mail
Road raging police chief's terrifying move as he confronts motorcyclist over traffic violation
The head of a Pennsylvania police department was caught on camera pulling a gun on an unsuspecting motorcyclist in a jarring instance of road rage. Manheim Township Police Chief Duane Fisher was off-duty on April 30 when he hopped out of an unmarked vehicle in plainclothes and violently confronted biker Benny Pena-Rivera, 24. Pena-Rivera stopped his bike behind a Wingstop when the enraged police chief pulled up behind him in an unmarked department SUV. The police chief, wearing grey shorts, a dark blue t-shirt and sneakers, then stepped out of his car and immediately wielded the deadly weapon. 'All I heard was, "On the ground. On the ground, or I will shoot you." If you're a cop or something, you're supposed to identify yourself and not come up the way you came up to me,' Pena-Rivera told Local12. Fisher rushed over to the helmet-wearing biker and shoved him into an electric panel. The officer allegedly kept his gun pointed at Pena-Rivera the whole time. 'I'm telling him, "Don't shoot me. What's the reason you're going to shoot me for?" Pena-Rivera recalled the horrifying moment he saw his life flash before his eyes. The pair started wrestling and the baffled motorcyclist finally found a moment to sprint off to his house. Only then, according to the surveillance footage, did Fisher turn on his SUV's police lights. Pena-Rivera is particularly confused about why Fisher's sirens were off, saying 'he should have had his lights on instead of just withdrawing his gun the way he was doing it.' The next day - before the troubling video was brought to light - Pena-Rivera was arrested while picking up cigarettes from a gas station. Fisher claimed he noticed Pena-Rivera on an unregistered motorcycle, driving erratically. According to his May 1 arrest record, he was hit with a slew of accusations related to the incident. He was charged with one count each of aggravated assault, evading arrest or detention on foot, resisting arrest and DUS - DUI. Pena-Rivera was also charged with five counts of summary vehicle code violations. Fisher documented that he 'was in an unmarked police vehicle and identified himself as Manheim Township Police,' which contradicts Pena-Rivera's statement. The police report alleges the biker refused orders to shut of his motorcycle's engine and shoved Fisher before running off. He was taken into custody with bail set a $5,000. Pena-Rivera pleaded guilty to traffic violation charges, but all the criminal offenses were dropped. 'The Manheim Township Police Department and the parties agreed with the resolution of the charges in this manner based on the facts and circumstances of the case,' Lancaster County District Attorney Heather Adams said in a May 14 statement. The next day, Fisher was placed on paid leave and the department launched an internal investigation into the incident. However, Adams announced her office will not be probing the altercation between Fisher and Pena-Rivera, claiming Fisher's 'actions did not rise to the level of a potential criminal act,' in a Friday press release. 'The Lancaster County District Attorney's Office does not investigate use of force or internal policy violations of police departments that do not rise to the level of a potential criminal act,' she explained. 'After a review of all reports in this matter, including relevant surveillance video, official police reports and the affidavit of probable cause, it is clear that Chief Fisher was acting in his capacity as a police officer trying to gain compliance of the driver to further investigate and not with any intent necessary to establish criminal conduct.' Adams deferred to the police department to determine if Fisher's actions where inappropriate or against policy. Pena-Rivera told Fox 43 he wants Fisher to own up to his actions. 'If it wasn't for that video, nobody would actually believe what I was saying because it was my word against his,' he told the outlet. Fisher became Manheim Township's chief in 2023 after moving from the Allegheny Township Police Department, where he also served as chief.
