Authorities responded to an "active shooter incident" Saturday afternoon at the Allen Premium Outlets in Allen, Texas. Video posted to social media captured the sound of gunfire and panic among people in the mall's parking lot. The FBI and other agencies are investigating the incident, and the ATF is asking anyone with information or who was at the mall to contact them.
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Carlos Dominguez, a 21-year-old former UC Davis student, pleaded not guilty to two counts of murder and one count of attempted murder in Yolo County Superior Court on Friday. Judge Daniel Wolk denied bail due to the risk to public safety and the defendant's flight risk. Dominguez is eligible for a life prison term or the death penalty, and the investigation is ongoing. He is currently being held in the Yolo County Jail without bail.
Peter Schwartz, a Kentucky man with 38 prior convictions, was sentenced to 14 years and two months in prison for his role in the Jan. 6 attack on the U.S. Capitol, the longest sentence yet for a Capitol rioter. Schwartz pleaded guilty to five counts, including assaulting police officers and obstruction of an official proceeding, and expressed regret for the damage caused by the riot. His sentence surpasses the previous longest sentence of 10 years given to a retired NYPD officer for assaulting a police officer outside the Capitol.
The US is facing an unprecedented default as it reaches its legal borrowing limit, leading to a standoff between Congress and the White House. The recent influx of cash to the IRS has allowed it to process new and backlogged tax returns, giving policymakers a more precise picture of when the Treasury could run out of money. Republicans have proposed extending the deadline, though the White House has not made any commitments.
Fulton County District Attorney Fani Willis is investigating whether any crimes were committed by Donald Trump and his allies in their attempt to overturn the 2020 election results. As part of her investigation, Willis has granted immunity deals to at least eight of the sixteen people who signed a false elector certificate falsely claiming that Trump had won the Georgia. Defense attorney Kimberly Debrow revealed the existence of the immunity deals in a court filing on Friday, and the investigation is being closely watched by both sides of the political aisle. It remains to be seen what the ultimate outcome of the investigation will be.
Three former Sharon Hill police officers have been sentenced to five years of probation, including 11 months of house arrest, after pleading guilty to misdemeanor charges in the death of 8-year-old Fanta Bility. The officers had negligently fired 25 shots at a car they mistakenly thought was involved in a shooting, leading to the girl's death. The family of Fanta Bility has expressed their disappointment with the sentence, calling for changes to police training and protocols to prevent similar tragedies in the future.
The Supreme Court has temporarily blocked the execution of Richard Glossip, who was convicted of murder-for-hire in 1997 based on the testimony of a single witness. Oklahoma Attorney General Gentner Drummond has since released evidence indicating the witness was not entirely truthful, leading to reasonable doubt of Glossip's guilt. Despite this, Glossip was still scheduled to be put to death on May 18, leading to public outcry from his supporters and celebrities. The Supreme Court's decision is a temporary reprieve, and it is possible that Oklahoma could still seek to execute Glossip in the future.
Dr. Rochelle Walensky, the director of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), has announced her resignation, effective June 30. President Biden praised her work, saying she has saved lives with her focus on the health of every American. Walensky has been a key figure in the administration's pandemic response, helping to reduce the number of COVID-19 cases and deaths in the United States. It is unclear who will take over the role and what the future of the agency will be.