Month: May 2022

Erie County Sheriff John Garcia said during a news conference Sunday that the man arrested in the homicide of 10 people at a supermarket in Buffalo, N.Y.,, has been placed on suicide watch. The suspect, 18-year-old Payton Gendron, was placed on suicide watch because he made an apparent threat to kill himself after carrying out the attack at the Tops grocery store.  Said Garcia: “Because of his actions yesterday taking the assault rifle and putting it under his chin, he’s on suicide watch. So he’s on direct observation by our deputies, video surveillance, and he’s in a unit separated from all other incarcerated individuals. His travels throughout the facility will be by himself, along with two deputies and a sergeant. He will be treated as everyone else is treated in the Erie County Holding Center, humanely and with respect and will receive correctional health and mental health help as needed.”

Buffalo Police Commissioner Joseph Gramaglia said during a news conference Saturday that 11 of the 13 total victims were Black and officials have called it a “racially motivated” attack.  Said Gramaglia: “The evidence we have uncovered so far makes no mistake that this was an absolute racist hate crime. It will be prosecuted as a hate crime. This is someone who has hate in their heart, soul and mind and there is no mistake that this is the direction it is going in.”  Gramaglia said that warrants are being obtained to search his home, social media platforms, a computer, telephone and “any other digital footprints that might come along.”

Gramaglia also confirmed that Gendron had contact with state police last year after he made “generalized threats” at his high school, saying in part:  “State police had brought this individual in for a mental health evaluation. He went to the local hospital, he was there for, the information we have, is about a day and a half. He was evaluated and released at that point.”

Gendron was arrested and charged with first-degree murder for fatally shooting 10 people, including a retired police officer working as a security guard who confronted the shooter, as well as injuring three others at the grocery store Saturday afternoon.

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Authorities on Sunday confirm that one person was killed and five more were critically injured in a shooting at a California church. The Orange County Sheriff’s office said that a suspect was detained at the scene of the shooting, which took place at Geneva Presbyterian Church at 1:26 p.m. PDT. Deputies said a gun that may have been used in the fatal incident has been recovered. However, a motive for the shooting is still unclear.  Federal agents from the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives were also involved in the investigation of the shooting.

The Orange County Fire Authority said it was on the scene treating victims and transporting patients to hospitals. California Gov. Gavin Newsom said the state was actively monitoring the situation and working closely with law enforcement, adding: “No one should have to fear going to their place of worship. Our thoughts are with the victims, community, and all those impacted by this tragic event.”

Tom Cramer, Presbytery head of staff, said in a statement Sunday: “The Presbytery of Los Ranchos is deeply saddened by a fatal shooting that occurred at a lunch reception honoring a former pastor of the Taiwanese congregation that nests at Geneva Presbyterian Church in Laguna Woods. Please keep the leadership of the Taiwanese congregation and Geneva in your prayers as they care for those traumatized by this shooting.”

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The committee investigating the Jan. 6, 2021, attack at the U.S. Capitol issued five subpoenas to House Republicans on Thursday, including one to House Minority Leader Kevin McCarthy. The panel also subpoenaed representatives Jim Jordan of Ohio, Mo Brooks of Alabama, Andy Biggs of Arizona and Pennsylvania’s Scott Perry. The five will now be required to testify in front of the committee about the events “on or leading up to January 6th and activities related to the transfer of power” from former President Donald Trump to Joe Biden.  All five have previously declined invitations to voluntarily sit for a deposition.

The committee said in a statement that it “has reason to believe that they have relevant knowledge” of the events, adding, “these members include those who participated in meetings at the White House, those who had direct conversations with President Trump leading up to and during the attack on the Capitol, and those who were involved in the planning and coordination of certain activities on and before January 6th.”

McCarthy told reporters Thursday, “My view on the committee has not changed. They’re not conducting a legitimate investigation. They just want to go after their political opponents.” Previously, the committee said it was interested in speaking to McCarthy after he acknowledged speaking directly with Trump while the riots were underway; they believe he may have information about Trump’s “state of mind and decisions” in the aftermath of the riot.

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At least 20 homes were destroyed between Laguna Niguel and Laguna Beach, California due to a brush fire that spread rapidly amid strong winds.

Crews continued to fight the flames of the blaze on Thursday, called the Coastal Fire, which broke out Wednesday afternoon near a water treatment plant and quickly grew in size. At a Thursday morning press conference, fire officials said the fire had burned approximately 200 acres.

While the cause of the fire remains under investigation, Southern California Edison said it sent a letter to the California Public Utilities Commission to inform them of “circuit activity” around the time the fire was reported. Some 900 homes remained under mandatory evacuation orders. Assistant Fire Chief TJ McGovern said: “We did have wind, which is a normal wind condition for this area. Since it started at the bottom of the drainage, it started running up-canyon and upslope. Throwing some wind on that, and the terrain — the steepness of it, was a bad recipe.” McGovern said one firefighter was injured Wednesday and was taken to the hospital. All of the details on their condition were not released, but the firefighter is listed in stable condition.

The Federal Emergency Management Agency is providing a grant to California that will secure additional resources and financial assistance for battling the fire, according to the governor’s office.

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