Letecia Stauch was found guilty of murdering her 11-year-old stepson Gannon Stauch in Colorado on Monday. The jury rejected her claim of insanity and prosecutors argued that she had researched how to commit murder and purchased a gun and ammunition in the days leading up to Gannon's death. Gannon's family released a statement expressing relief that justice had been served and thanking the jury for their hard work. Stauch will be sentenced at a later date.
News Mash
On Sunday afternoon, a mass shooting at a Texas outlet mall left eight people dead and six more injured, including two elementary school-aged sisters and a couple and their 3-year-old son. The victims represented a multicultural cross-section of the area's increasingly diverse suburbs, leaving the community in shock. The 33-year-old gunman was later killed by police, and the investigation into the shooting is ongoing with the motive of the gunman still unknown.
The White House has issued a veto threat against the Secure the Border Act of 2023, a bill proposed by House Republicans to address immigration at the U.S.-Mexico border. The Office of Management and Budget said the bill would make elements of the immigration system worse, not better, and does very little to increase border security. The White House has urged Congress to reject the bill and instead focus on finding solutions that will actually increase border security and uphold the nation’s core values and international obligations.
Texas Representative Bryan Slaton resigned from office after an investigation found that he had engaged in sexual harassment and retaliation against a 19-year-old intern, as well as providing her with alcohol and demanding her silence. The House General Investigative Committee concluded that Slaton had violated House rules and the Republican Party of Texas chair Matt Rinaldi said Slaton resigned one day before the House was set to vote on expelling him. Slaton did not mention the investigation in his letter of resignation to Texas Governor Greg Abbott.
A woman wearing a pink beret at the U.S Capitol on Jan. 6, 2021 was identified by an ex-romantic partner and charged with four federal counts on Monday. Jennifer Inzunza Vargas Geller of California now faces four misdemeanor counts related to the Capitol riots, and the FBI has asked for the public's help in identifying those involved. The FBI has made it clear that they are committed to holding those responsible for the Jan. 6 insurrection accountable.
On Sunday, 8 people were killed in a shooting at a Dallas-area outlet mall. The shooter, Mauricio Garcia, had an interest in white supremacist ideology, evidenced by a patch on his chest and posts on social media accounts. Federal agents are currently investigating the possibility of a connection to white supremacist ideology as the motive for the shooting.
The Cleveland Cavaliers have announced the death of Nicolas “Nick” Gilbert, the son of owner Dan Gilbert, due to complications related to neurofibromatosis 1. Nick was diagnosed with NF1 as a child and was best known for his role as the Cavs’ good luck charm during several NBA Draft Lotteries. The Cavaliers organization expressed their condolences to the Gilbert family and thanked Nick for his “unrelenting spirit” that was a “driving force” behind the team.
A 17-year-old boy from Chesapeake, Virginia, died on Saturday after being trapped under a collapsing dune at the Cape Hatteras National Seashore in Frisco, North Carolina. Seashore law enforcement rangers responded to a 911 call and attempted to free the teen from the sand, but were unsuccessful. The National Park Service is currently investigating the incident and Superintendent David Hallac expressed his condolences to the family.