Federal prosecutors have charged a third man in the 2002 shooting death of Run-DMC star Jam Master Jay. Ronald Washington and Karl Jordan Jr. had previously been indicted in August 2020, and now Jay Bryant, 49, has been charged in the death of Jason “Jay” Mizell. The case has been open for nearly two decades, but the recent indictments have given renewed hope to the investigation and the hip-hop community.
Posts published in “Crime”
The California Court of Appeals has ruled that Leslie Van Houten, convicted of two killings in 1969 at the direction of Charles Manson, should be released on parole. This overturns the decision made by Governor Gavin Newsom in 2020 to deny Van Houten parole, which was the fifth recommendation for parole since 2016. Governor Newsom's office has referred requests for comment to the California Attorney General Rob Bonta, who could petition the California Supreme Court to stop Van Houten's release.
On Sunday night, 14-year-old Cyrus Carmack-Belton was fatally shot in the back by 58-year-old Rick Chow, a convenience store owner who had mistaken him for shoplifting. Chow has been arrested and charged with murder, and the incident has sparked outrage in the community. An investigation is ongoing and authorities are asking anyone with information to come forward.
An 11-year-old boy in Mississippi has been shot by a police officer while trying to call the police for help in a domestic disturbance situation. The family has filed a $5 million lawsuit against the city of Indianola and the police officer, alleging excessive force and negligence. The lawsuit is meant to send a message that this type of behavior will not be tolerated.
Middlesex County officials have arrested Rashid Ali Bynum, 28, of Portsmouth, Virginia, in connection with the murder of Sayreville Borough Councilwoman Eunice Dwumfour, who was shot multiple times in her car on February 1. Bynum has been charged with first-degree murder, second-degree unlawful possession of a handgun, and second-degree possession of a handgun for unlawful purpose. The Sayreville community is mourning the loss of Dwumfour, who was remembered by her colleagues as a passionate advocate for her constituents.
On Saturday, a landlord-tenant dispute in Hamilton, Ontario, Canada resulted in the deaths of two tenants, Carissa MacDonald and Aaron Stone. After the suspect barricaded himself in the home with firearms, officers attempted to negotiate, but a shootout ensued and the suspect was killed. The police are still investigating the incident and have expressed their condolences to the victims' families.
Elizabeth Holmes, founder of the now-defunct Theranos, has begun her 11-year sentence for defrauding investors of millions of dollars. Holmes was able to raise more than $700 million in venture capital funding for the company, but its technology was never able to live up to its promise and was eventually exposed as a fraud. Her conviction serves as a reminder of the consequences of fraud and the importance of due diligence when investing.
Robert Bowers is on trial for the 2018 Tree of Life synagogue shooting in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, which resulted in the death of 11 worshippers. The federal jury trial began Tuesday with 12 jurors and six alternates, and Bowers faces 63 counts, including 11 counts each of obstruction of free exercise of religion and hate crime resulting in death. Prosecutors allege Bowers had "malice and hate" for Jewish people, while the defense argues he was mentally ill and consumed by hatred and rage. The trial is expected to last several weeks and could have a lasting impact on the victims' families and the Pittsburgh community.