Category: Crime

Crime, Racial Profiling, Racially motivated, Racism in America

$35,000 Reward Offered for Information On 7-Year-old Girl’s Killer

The ReadyWriter

A manhunt is underway in Houston, Texas, for a gunman who shot and killed a 7-year-old girl during a possible road rage incident. ABC reports Jazmine Barnes was with her mother and 3 sisters in the family vehicle when she was shot around 7 a.m. Sunday morning.

LaPorsha Washington, 30, told police she was taking her four daughters, ages 6 to 16, to Joe V’s to pick up coffee on Sunday morning when they passed the Walmart off the 15400 block of Wallisville, when a man in a red pickup truck drove by and opened fire into the car. Washington, who was shot in the arm during the incident, described the shooter as a white male in his 40s with a beard and wearing a red hoodie.

Washington said she didn’t realize Jazmine was hit until another daughter alerted her.

“She said, ‘Momma, Jazmine’s not moving. She’s not talking” I turned around and my 7-year-old was shot in the head.“

Washington pulled over and called 911. She was hospitalized with a gunshot wound and is expected to recover. Her 6-year-old daughter suffered a minor injury.

Jazmine was pronounced dead at the scene.

Activist Shaun King and civil rights attorney Lee Merritt offered a $35,000 cash reward to anyone with information leading to the arrest of the suspect.

The activists say a similar unprovoked incident happened at that same Walmart in 2017. According to ABC News, a man named A’Vonta Williams was shot multiple times by a white male driving a pickup truck. That shooting remains unsolved.

The activists say they believe the two shootings are related. But the Harris County Sheriff’s Office said the weapon ballistics, vehicle, and description of the suspect don’t match Sunday’s shooting incident.

According to CrimeOnline, the suspect fled in a red, 4-door pickup truck with no license plate.

Police said they will use all resources to catch the suspect. A grainy image of a red pickup truck was released to the public on Tuesday.

“We’re going to use all resources available to bring this killer to justice,” Major Jesse Razo told reporters. “I urge you, whoever did this, you know who you are. Please turn yourself in now — because we will be looking for you, we will locate you, we will find you.”

Arrest Warrant, Crime, Police brutality, Police Shooting

Dallas Cop Charged with Manslaughter in Death of Accountant

The ReadyWriter

A Dallas police officer has been charged with manslaughter in the shooting death of a 26-year-old accountant. An independent investigation by the Texas Rangers determined there was enough evidence to charge Officer Amber Guyger, who shot Botham Shem Jean at his own apartment door on Friday, Sept. 7.

Jail records show Guyger was arrested on Sunday, Sept. 9., and released on $300,000 bond.

Guyger, 30, who is also known by an alias Amy Gyger, was a member of the Dallas police force for four years. She was the only female member of an “elite critical response team of about 10 officers who make high-risk arrests in the division’s crime hot spots.”

After working a 15-hour shift (including overtime) on Friday, Guyger arrived home around 7:30 p.m. (CST) at the upscale South Side Flats apartments located several blocks from police headquarters.

She reportedly parked her car on the wrong floor of the parking deck, and walked to Mr. Jean’s apartment, which was one floor up from hers and the only apartment in the hallway with a red doormat.

When her key didn’t work in the lock, Mr. Jean opened the door, startling her.

According to the Dallas Police, Guyger, who was described as “tired,” was “confronted” by Mr. Jean when he opened his door.

No words were exchanged before Guyger unholstered her service weapon and shot Jean, who was pronounced dead at a local hospital on Friday.

Guyger’s key was still in Jean’s door lock when police and paramedics arrived.

Building management said the doors can be unlocked by a key, an electronic keypad and a key fob which is uniquely programmed for each door.

When Guyger tried to turn her key, the electronic keypad flashed red — indicating she was at the wrong door. But she continued turning the key until Jean opened the door.

A neighbor several doors down from Jean’s apartment claims she heard a cop yelling “Open up! Open up!” prior to the gunshot.

Jean was an accountant who worked as a risk assessment associate for the consulting firm PriceWaterhouseCoopers in Dallas.

He hailed from a prominent St. Lucian family of politicians and government ministers. He graduated from Harding University and he also studied accounting and mathematics at St. Mary’s College. Jean was a Young Leaders president, a member of the debate team and he sang in the choir.

He also mentored youth at the College Church of Christ in Searcy, Arkansas.

Hundreds of mourners turned out on Saturday for a “celebratory prayer vigil” at Dallas West Church of Christ on Sunday. Mourners included his mother, Allison Jean, who arrived on Saturday from her native St. Lucia.

“Botham loved God. Botham loved you. Botham loved mankind,” Allison Jean said. “Botham is singing with the angels, and I want to be in that choir. I want to see my son again.”

Crime, Shooting death

Waffle House Suspect Arrested… A Hero Acknowledged with 4 Dead, 4 Wounded

The ReadyWriter

After a massive manhunt, the FBI announced the arrest of Travis Reinking, 29, the suspected gunman who went on a shooting rampage inside a Waffle House restaurant wearing only a coat and no bottoms. He was captured yesterday hiding out in a wooded area near his home.

The manhunt involving 160 FBI, federal marshals and law enforcement officers, concluded after Reinking was taken into custody alive with no resistance according to police.

In the wee hours on Sunday, Reinking walked into the Waffle House restaurant with an AR-15 assault rifle and opened fire, killing four and wounding 4. Waffle House hero James Shaw, Jr. (pictured top center) charged Reinking and disarmed him before any more patrons were killed.

Shaw Jr. attended a press conference in Nashville on Sunday with FBI Special Agent In Charge, Matthew Espenshade (L) and Metro Nashville Mayor David Briley (right). Shaw, Jr., 29, took action disarming the gunman and ultimately forcing him out of the Waffle House restaurant.

Shaw, Jr. broke down and cried during the emotional press conference on Sunday. He embraced Waffle House President and CEO, Walt Ehmer who called him a hero. “I’m not a hero. I’m just a regular person,” Shaw said.

On Sunday, Shaw visited with the wounded people in a hospital.

“Have you met James? James saved a lot of lives,” one of Vanderbilt University Medical Center’s surgeons told the father of one of the victims.

The two men embraced, crying. “Thank you,” the older man whispered to Mr. Shaw.

Crime, News, Politics

Secret Service investigates Madonna for threatening to blow up the White House

The ReadyWriter

madonna-549x317With Trump in it.

The U.S. Secret Service has opened up an active investigation into terroristic threats made by pop singer Madonna against President Donald Trump at the Women’s protest march on Saturday.

Madonna reportedly told demonstrators at the Women’s March On Washington that she has “often” thought of “blowing up the White House”.

“I’m angry. Yes, I’m outraged. Yes, I have thought an awful lot about blowing up the White House,” Madonna said. “But I know that this won’t change anything. We cannot fall into despair.”

The 58-year-old mother-of-4, graced the stage dressed like a young hipster as she dropped several “F” bombs, before CNN gutted her speech with commentary.

A spokesman for the Secret Service reportedly told media outlets that the agency was “aware” of the singer’s comments and would open an investigation, though the final decision on whether to prosecute would be made by the U.S. Attorney’s office.

Other stars attending Saturday’s demonstrations in DC and other cities included Alicia Keys, Barbra Streisand, Rihanna, Brandy Norwood, Janelle Monáe, Kerry Washington, Tracee Ellis Ross, Debbie Allen, Miley Cyrus, Katy Perry, and more.

Crime, President Obama, Violence

President Obama Denies High Murder Rate During His Presidency

The ReadyWriter

obama-days-550x377“There is no growing crime wave” is what he said.

But the president appears to be in denial over the unprecedented spike in violent crimes during his two terms as president. In an op-ed published in the Harvard Law Review, Obama refused to take credit for a 10.8 percent increase in murders from 2014 to 2015 — the largest increase in a single year since 1971.

In his Harvard Law Review op-ed, Obama claimed crime “remains near historic lows,” and he was adamant that there “is no growing crime wave”.

The president, who has 11 days left in office, took pride in using his “clemency power” to pardon hundreds of hardened criminals back onto the streets — more than any president in history.

Obama bragged that he will be “the first President in decades to leave office with a federal prison population lower than when I took office.”

In an interview with a Chicago CBS News affiliate, the president blamed social media for providing a platform to broadcast high profile crimes, such as the one involving a white man who was tortured for hours by 4 young black people.

Obama called the senseless hate crime in Chicago “terrible” and “despicable”.

A Gofundme page set up for the victim, who is autistic, has collected over $129,000.