U.S. News Today on Fox News

Outrage builds over illegal immigrant ‘invasion’ after suspect allegedly executes teen who begged for life

Sun, 12 Apr 2026 08:00:37 -0400

The killing of a 15-year-old Missouri boy who begged for his life during a deadly ambush is fueling a wave of outrage, with Republican leaders pointing to the suspect’s illegal immigration status and demanding government officials support tougher border enforcement.

"Unfortunately, this is just the latest example of a Missourian killed by an illegal alien," Sen. Eric Schmitt, R-Mo., said, calling for sweeping deportation efforts.

Rep. Eric Burlison, R-Mo., said the killing underscores concerns about public safety, adding that "dangerous individuals who should not be here remain in our communities."

"Miles Young should still be alive. This is tragic," he wrote in a post on X. "Justice must be swift."

ICE DETAINER LODGED FOR ILLEGAL MIGRANT ACCUSED OF MURDERING 15-YEAR-OLD MISSOURI BOY WHO BEGGED FOR HIS LIFE

The backlash follows the arrest of Yefry Archaga-Elvir, 18, who is accused of luring Miles Young, 15, into a planned ambush before chasing him down and shooting him, according to court documents. The Honduran national is charged with first-degree murder and armed criminal action and is being held without bond on a federal immigration detainer.

A second suspect, Praize King, 18, is also charged with first-degree murder and armed criminal action in connection with the killing. At least one additional suspect, believed to be a juvenile, has not been publicly identified.

Missouri State Treasurer Vivek Malek called the killing "another Missouri family destroyed," saying the teen was "executed while begging for his life" and warning the case shows "exactly why we must cut off the incentives that keep illegals here."

He added that Missourians are "outraged" the suspect was in the state, arguing the crime "never would’ve happened" if he had not been in the country.

TRUMP SPEAKS WITH THE FAMILY OF SHERIDAN GORMAN, COLLEGE STUDENT ALLEGEDLY SLAIN BY ILLEGAL IMMIGRANT

Rep. Mark Alford, R-Mo., said, "A Missouri teen begged for his life. He was killed by an ILLEGAL alien," adding, "Our children should NEVER fear murder on our streets."

Schmitt also questioned the broader response, asking, "Where are the protests for Miles Young? Where is the outrage when American sons and daughters are murdered by illegal aliens who have no business in our country?"

He added that "the Democrats ushered in an invasion and will never apologize for the destruction and the ruined and lost lives left in the wake."

The Republican Party of New Mexico said the tragedy "transcends politics" and that "the lives of this boy’s parents and loved ones will forever be destroyed," adding that if Democrats "cannot condemn these demonic acts of violence," they "should not be in public office."

ANGEL PARENTS SLAM ILLINOIS SANCTUARY LAWS AFTER 'PREVENTABLE' TRAGEDY IN STUDENT'S DEATH

In another statement, Schmitt pointed to the teen’s final moments — "I just don’t wanna die" — arguing the country is "done sacrificing our children at the altar of mass migration" and calling for mass deportations.

Prosecutors allege the killing of Young was deliberate.

A felony complaint says Archaga-Elvir "knowingly caused the death" of the teen by shooting him, while the probable cause statement outlines what investigators describe as a coordinated setup involving multiple individuals.

According to investigators, a juvenile suspect contacted Young and convinced him to leave his home under the belief he was meeting a girl. Instead, authorities say, Young was led into a trap.

CHICAGO MAYOR DOUBLES DOWN ON ILLEGAL ALIEN 'ASSAULT' COMMENT AFTER SHERIDAN GORMAN'S DEATH

ILLEGAL MIGRANT CHARGED IN DEADLY 124 MPH CHASE THAT KILLED PREGNANT TEEN, UNBORN CHILD

Investigators allege the group had been driving around beforehand discussing how to "set up" the teen before tracking his movements and blocking the road.

Witnesses told investigators they warned Young not to go, fearing it was a setup tied to tensions from a prior homicide case in which he was expected to testify.

Authorities say when the vehicle stopped, Young realized what was happening and ran.

Investigators say Archaga-Elvir, wearing a black ski mask and armed with a handgun, chased the teen on foot before opening fire.

GOT A TIP?

"Defendant ambushed victim, chased victim on foot, and shot victim as victim was stating he wanted to live," the probable cause statement says.

Another witness reported hearing Young cry out, "I just don’t wanna die," before gunshots rang out.

FOLLOW US ON X

Young was pronounced dead after suffering a gunshot wound to the chest.

GET BREAKING NEWS BY EMAIL

Court records show Archaga-Elvir has pleaded not guilty and remains jailed ahead of a scheduled April 13 hearing.

"Miles Young was lured to his death believing he was going to meet a girl. Instead, he was ambushed and killed in cold blood by this illegal alien who went on to brag about the murder," Department of Homeland Security Acting Assistant Secretary Lauren Bis.

"This animal was released into our country by the Obama administration," she added. "ICE lodged an arrest detainer requesting Missouri not release this depraved killer from jail into American neighborhoods."

DHS said Archaga-Elvir was arrested in Texas as an accompanied minor in 2015, but he was released by the Obama administration.

CLICK HERE FOR MORE US NEWS

Young’s family said the loss has been devastating.

"Miles was a compassionate, loving, and kind 15-year-old who brought light to everyone around him," his family wrote.

In a message shared online, his mother described him as "bright, kind, and unforgettable," adding, "we are grieving a loss that words cannot fully express."

The investigation remains ongoing.

Fox News Digital's Preston Mizell contributed to this report.

Boatyard employee found 'exhausted' missing American's husband when he washed ashore after night adrift

Sun, 12 Apr 2026 07:00:52 -0400

EXCLUSIVE: An overnight security guard at a boatyard on a Bahamian island encountered American man Brian Hooker when he washed ashore about eight hours after his wife disappeared into a dark and stormy sea last weekend.

Edward Smith works at Marsh Harbour Boatyards, a boat storage and repair facility in the tourist destination, and was alerted by another employee that a man had stumbled onto the property talking about a key and a woman.

That man was Hooker, 58, who is currently being held in a Freeport, Bahamas, jail, after he said his wife, Lynette Hooker, fell off their dinghy while motoring back to their yacht from a bar in Hope Town.

DAUGHTER OF MISSING AMERICAN WOMAN IN BAHAMAS SAYS THERE WERE 'PRIOR ISSUES,' CALLS FOR FULL INVESTIGATION

On Saturday, April 4, Hooker and his wife had been dining and drinking at the Abaco Inn – a restaurant in Hope Town, known to locals as "Elbow Cay" – several miles by sea from the small beach covered by jagged rocks where he landed in Marsh Harbour.

"He said he was on a cay, like at a bar, having something to eat or drink, and they came out to go to another place or back to their boat, but somehow they got out in the rough weather, and they had that incident, the lady [went] overboard, or whatever," Smith told Fox News Digital on Saturday.

Smith declined to be video recorded or photographed.

Hooker was arrested for questioning while police investigate Lynette’s disappearance. He told police that seas were rough just after sundown when the pair attempted to return to their yacht, and that Lynette fell overboard with the dinghy’s key in her pocket, cutting off the engine. Hooker drifted and paddled on the dinghy for the next several hours, eventually arriving on the boatyard’s shore around 4 a.m. the next day.

"He drifted from that time until the time he hit here," said Smith.

HUSBAND OF AMERICAN WOMAN MISSING IN THE BAHAMAS SPEAKS OUT FOR FIRST TIME, SAYS HE IS 'HEARTBROKEN'

Police have not charged Hooker with a crime, and he maintains that Lynette fell overboard by accident. He was arrested and transported to Freeport, a separate Bahamian island, on Wednesday. Bahamian law calls for a 48-hour limit to hold someone without charging them with a crime.

Under special circumstances, that time can be extended. In this case, it was, as Hooker’s attorney, Terrel Butler, said Friday night that officials decided to keep Hooker in custody for up to another 72 hours. The deadline for his release is now Monday at around 7:30 p.m., but he could be released at any time if authorities decide not to charge him.

He is being questioned in relation to the Bahamian crime "causing harm resulting in death."

Smith said Hooker did not appear suspicious when the pair met.

"He was more exhausted than anything else," said Smith. "He was asking for water. He wanted water to drink."

"I asked him, ‘so where is the lady?’" Smith recalled. "He says, ‘she’s in the water.’"

Smith said he asked Hooker what time Lynette fell in the water, to which he replied 7 p.m., which shocked him.

MISSING AMERICAN WOMAN'S HUSBAND HAD ‘SPOTTY' CELL SERVICE DURING 8-HOUR TREK TO REPORT DISAPPEARANCE: TELECOM BOSS

"So I say, ‘from seven? And you’re just reaching [the shore] now?’" Smith said. "He said the wind was blowing so strong, so when that happened, the boat blew away from him and he couldn’t really see in the dark."

According to Smith, BHooker told him that when he last saw Lynette, she was swimming back toward Hope Town with a yellow bag on her person. He said Hooker was wearing a yellow bag when he washed ashore, too.

Hooker told Smith he tried to signal for help from the small vessel.

"He said he sent up two flares," said Smith. "The first flare he sent up, there was a boat that passed and they didn’t respond to it. He said another boat passed, he sent up another flare, and they didn’t respond to it."

Smith called the police to assist Hooker. He said the police arrived at about 5 a.m., and Hooker was still talking to them when Smith’s shift ended at 7 a.m.

Bahamian authorities have been tight-lipped about the process, but the investigation into Lynette’s disappearance remains ongoing.

A second employee of the boatyard told Fox News Digital that police returned there Saturday, but did not elaborate on their activities.

A source with knowledge of the investigation told Fox News Digital on Saturday that authorities are searching for Lynette’s body near Hope Town.

Artemis II crew reflects emotionally on lunar mission after safe return: 'Bonded forever'

Sat, 11 Apr 2026 17:50:13 -0400

A day after splashing down in the Pacific Ocean off the San Diego coast following a historic 10-day mission around the moon, the Artemis II crew took the stage at Ellington Air Force Base in Houston, Texas, emotionally reflecting on their time in space and safe return.

"It’s a special thing to be human, and it’s a special thing to be on planet Earth," commander Reid Wiseman said, adding he and his three crew mates are now "bonded forever" before they all hugged.

"Welcome home Artemis II," NASA Administrator Jared Isaacman said before introducing crew members Wiseman, pilot Victor Glover, mission specialist Christina Koch and mission specialist Jeremy Hansen.

FORMER NASA ASTRONAUT SAYS ARTEMIS II MISSION WAS ‘INCREDIBLE’

"There is no doubt there is a price to pay when it comes to exploring the cosmos, but there is also a return, a return in the jobs that creates the technologies that improve life here on earth and the inspiration that sparks all those who choose to follow and to people all around the world who look up and dream about what is possible. The long wait is over," Isaacman said.

"After a brief 53-year intermission, the show goes on, and NASA is back in the business of sending astronauts to the moon and bringing them home safely."

Wiseman, who spoke first, joked he had "absolutely no idea what to say."

"Twenty-four hours ago, the Earth was that big out the window, and we were doing Mach 39, and here we are back at Ellington at home," he said.

Glover said he still hadn’t processed everything, thanking God "because, even bigger than my challenge trying to describe what we went through, the gratitude of seeing what we saw doing what we did and being with who I was with, it's too big to just be in one body."

Koch reflected that the "start and the end" of the mission were "human moments on Earth."

"Ten days ago, this journey started with our mission manager, Sean Duvall, knocking on my door in crew quarters and whispering, ‘Christina, We're go for launch. Get up!’ And it ended last night when my nurse on the ship put me to bed and said, ‘Ma'am, can I get a hug?’"

FIRST-EVER PHOTO OF EARTH FROM MOON'S FAR SIDE UNVEILED AS ARTEMIS II BEGINS JOURNEY HOME, TRUMP WEIGHS IN

She also said she had a new understanding of the meaning of the word "crew" since their mission.

"A crew is people or, you know, a group that is in it all the time, no matter what that is, stroking together every minute with the same purpose that is willing to sacrifice silently for each other," she said.

"That gives grace, that holds accountable. A crew has the same cares and the same needs, and a crew is inescapably, beautifully, dutifully linked. So, when we saw tiny Earth, people asked our crew what impressions we had, and, honestly, what struck me wasn't necessarily just Earth. It was all the blackness around it."

She also now thinks of Earth as a "lifeboat" in a universe of blackness.

"Planet Earth, you are a crew," she added.

Hansen expressed his gratitude to all the people who supported the crew and its mission.

"And I don't think people will really ever fully comprehend how well supported and trained we were. It is almost unbelievable," Hanson said.

CLICK HERE TO GET THE FOX NEWS APP

"What you saw was a group of people who loved contributing, having meaningful contribution and extracting joy out of that," Hanson added with his arms around his crew members.

"I would suggest to you that when you look up here, you're not looking at us. We are a mirror reflecting you. And if you like what you see, then just look a little deeper. This is you."

Self-proclaimed ‘prophet’ with underage ‘wives’ exposed after couple he trusted helped uncover abuse ring

Sat, 11 Apr 2026 14:00:39 -0400

A self-proclaimed prophet with more than 20 "spiritual wives," including underage girls, was exposed after a couple gained his trust and secretly documented his world for investigators.

The harrowing story behind Christine Marie and her husband Tolga Katas’ operation is now being told in the Netflix docuseries "Trust Me: The False Prophet."

It features behind-the-scenes footage of the couple later working with law enforcement as informants. Their efforts helped expose Samuel Bateman’s child sexual abuse ring and contributed to the 2022 raid that led to his arrest, along with several of his followers.

Authorities say Bateman tried to start an offshoot of the FLDS based in the neighboring communities of Colorado City, Arizona, and Hildale, Utah, The Associated Press reported. The fundamentalist group split from the mainstream Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints after Mormons officially abandoned polygamy in 1890.

POLYGAMIST CULT LEADER'S DAUGHTER BREAKS FREE, SAYS FALSE PROPHET ABUSED HER: 'THE WORLD COULD SEE THE SHAME'

Bateman declared himself the successor to self-proclaimed prophet Warren Jeffs, who arranged marriages for followers, including underage girls, and had as many as 80 "spiritual wives." Jeffs was convicted in Texas in 2011 of sexually assaulting underage followers and sentenced to life in prison.

Behind bars, Jeffs ordered his followers to no longer marry or have children and later became increasingly silent, paving the way for Bateman to assert himself as his heir.

"There were so many things that surprised me about Christine and Tolga’s experience," Emmy Award-winning filmmaker Rachel Dretzin told Fox News Digital.

"First of all, the fact that they were able to gain access to the FLDS (Fundamentalist Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints), which is one of the most closed communities in the world, is astonishing and very unusual. The fact that they had managed to gain the trust of Sam Bateman, who allowed them so deeply into the world — the very private world he had created — was very surprising."

Christine Marie, a cult expert, was raised in the Mormon faith. The 65-year-old said she survived an abusive marriage with a man who considered himself a prophet, People magazine reported. She and Katas moved to Short Creek in 2016.

The Nevada couple, who met Bateman in 2017, filmed him and members of his group, including his so-called "wives," from 2019 through his 2022 arrest. Eleven of Bateman’s adult followers have also been convicted of charges related to a child sexual abuse conspiracy.

Bateman was intrigued, eager for recognition. He opened his doors to the couple, granting them access to film his home, gatherings and interactions with his followers.

"Sam is a megalomaniac who really enjoys the attention," Dretzin explained. "He craves it and couldn’t resist the idea that there were these outsiders with cameras who were so interested in what he was doing. I also think Christine has an incredible, uncanny ability to build trust with people, give them the sense that she appreciates what they’re doing, even if she doesn’t.

"She was a very good actress," Dretzin said. "And I think many of Sam’s wives also craved a female presence that was an outsider because, whether they knew it or not, they were in a terrible position."

FOLLOW THE FOX TRUE CRIME TEAM ON X

"People are born into the FLDS," Dretzin explained. "They don’t join it. So, they have no other life experiences. And they’re trained from birth to believe that the prophet speaks directly with God and to obey whatever the prophet tells them to do."

Bateman attended Jeffs’ 2007 trial as a supporter. Dretzin said the connection gave him legitimacy among followers.

"I also think [Bateman] preyed on vulnerable people, women who had been raised from birth to believe that their only value in life was to have children and who had been forbidden to have children," said Dretzin.

"When Sam said that Warren was giving them permission through him, they were hungry and vulnerable. They believed him."

Federal investigators said Bateman coerced underage girls into sexual acts with himself and others and arranged for some victims to be abused by other adult followers. They noted that Bateman and others transported the victims between states to facilitate the sexual abuse, which continued until his arrest.

An affidavit filed in federal court alleged that Bateman conducted video calls in which participants were nude and engaged in sexual acts. According to court filings, Bateman also described a so-called "Binding of Brothers" ritual involving sexual acts with followers’ wives.

SIGN UP TO GET THE TRUE CRIME NEWSLETTER

Julia Johnson, the wife of Moroni Johnson, an early follower of Bateman’s, began secretly meeting with Christine Marie in July 2022, sharing firsthand accounts of Bateman’s crimes.

Christine Marie learned that Moroni urged his wife to give several of their daughters, including two who were underage, to Bateman as wives. Johnson recalled telling her husband, "We’re following a false prophet, and he’s leading us right to hell, and I’m not going to go there anymore."

"[Julia] was questioning from the beginning," said Dretzin. "But, again, these women are taught from birth that they have to obey their husbands and their prophet. And, so, Julia was in a very difficult position. But you see in the footage, Julia finds her voice, which is an incredibly profound experience as a viewer."

Christine Marie and Katas quietly gathered evidence as Bateman grew more comfortable around them and let his guard down. He regularly invited them to dinner at his home, where up to 22 women occupied a single bedroom, People reported.

"Sam truly thought he could get away with anything he wanted, and the sky was the limit," said Dretzin. "And the grandiosity of his imagination is somewhat breathtaking. He honestly believed that the Queen of England would see the footage of him and his wives and want to join his tribe.

"How do I explain it? I think he was a narcissist who was in a closed system in which everybody around him was kowtowing to him and, whether they wanted to or not, making him feel like he was the king. And that goes to your head. And he lost all limits.

GET REAL-TIME UPDATES DIRECTLY ON THE TRUE CRIME HUB

"Sam, behind closed doors, from what I understand, was harsher with his wives than what you see when the cameras are on," she said. "Sam knew enough to exert that and use that to control his women."

Warren Levi, the son of Moroni and Julia Johnson, held a secret meeting with Christine Marie and Katas, as shown in the documentary. He tells them, "Starting in 2019, Sam married seven of my sisters, ranging in age from 20ish, down to 9 years old. ... Every one of them referred to him as the devil.’"

Prosecutors said victims were transported across state lines, including in cramped conditions, to facilitate the abuse. According to an FBI affidavit, Bateman drove two Bentleys while pushing failed business ventures in real estate and coaching services.

Bateman’s grip on power began to unravel after Christine Marie and Katas provided key evidence that contributed to a broader federal investigation.

In 2024, Bateman was sentenced to 50 years in prison for coercing girls as young as 9 years old to submit to criminal sex acts with him and other adults and for scheming to kidnap them from protective custody, The Associated Press reported.

According to the outlet, he had pleaded guilty to a yearslong scheme to transport girls across state lines for his sex crimes and later to kidnap some of them from protective custody.

The documentary also revealed that Moroni pleaded guilty to conspiracy to commit trafficking of a minor for sexual purposes and was later sentenced to 25 years in prison. Moroni and Johnson are no longer together.

Some of Bateman’s wives no longer associate with him, while others remain in touch.

"Being behind bars, in some ways, turns them into martyrs," she said. "There’s a whole religious belief system around the prophet being punished by the law … and it can reinforce their power."

"[But] Warren has, in recent years, been very erratic in his contact with his followers," said Dretzin. "I know he’s in touch with his family, which is an enormous number of people because he had 78 wives and hundreds of children. But sometimes he disappears for long stretches of time. … But many people still believe that what Warren Jeffs says is coming directly from God and must be followed to the letter."

Leaving the FLDS isn’t just difficult, it means going against everything you’ve ever known.

"I can’t think of another situation like a cult that you’re into where you truly believe God knows everything that you’re doing, and the prophet knows everything that you’re doing," she said.

CALIFORNIA CULT LED BY 'MASTER MANIPULATOR' COMMITTED BRUTAL MURDERS, DETECTIVE SAYS: 'ONE BODY AFTER ANOTHER'

"Even if you have negative thoughts, they’re going to know. And leaving that culture, standing up against that culture, going to the media, which is seen as the absolute worst thing you can do, it takes so much strength, so much courage, so much independence of thought."

Machete-wielding suspect claiming to be 'Lucifer' shot by police after allegedly stabbing 3 at transit hub

Sat, 11 Apr 2026 13:48:35 -0400

The New York Police Department (NYPD) said an officer shot and killed a suspect who claimed to be "Lucifer" in Grand Central Terminal and allegedly attacked three people with a machete on a subway platform.

Officers shot and killed 44-year-old Anthony Griffin after he advanced toward them with a machete, ignoring over 20 warnings to stop, NYPD Commissioner Jessica Tisch said Saturday at a news conference.

Officers responded to a 9:40 a.m. 911 call of an assault in progress at the train station. Upon arrival, they found Griffin wielding the machete, police said.

Griffin was "repeatedly stating that he was Lucifer," Tisch said.

KNIFE-WIELDING MAN IN ST. LOUIS AIRPORT SHOT AND KILLED BY POLICE

After Griffin refused orders to drop the knife, one officer discharged his service weapon and shot him twice, she added. Griffin was transported to a hospital and died.

Griffin had three prior unsealed arrests but no history of being an emotionally disturbed person, Tisch told reporters.

The three stabbing victims were an 84-year-old male, a 70-year-old female and a 64-year-old male. All three were transported to hospitals and are all in stable condition.

The 84-year-old sustained face and head lacerations, and the 65-year-old man sustained similar injuries in addition to an open skull fracture. The 70-year-old sustained shoulder lacerations.

Two NYPD officers were also taken to hospitals with minor injuries.

MAN WITH MACHETE SHOT AND KILLED BY POLICE, WHO THEN FIND 3 MORE DEAD INSIDE HOME: OFFICIALS

Tisch lauded her officers for taking action while admonishing the dangers of violent crime.

"Random acts of violence scare everyone. Anyone can be a victim of random violence, and that is why it is so important for New Yorkers to understand that the NYPD has recently upped our presence in the transit system," Tisch said, adding the NYPD added 175 more officers last month.

The 4, 5, 6 and 7 trains are skipping the Grand Central Terminal 42nd St. stop while the NYPD conducts an investigation, the Metro Transit Authority (MTA) told Fox News Digital.

OFFICER-INVOLVED SHOOTING REPORTED INSIDE NYC HOSPITAL FOLLOWING KNIFE INCIDENT

New York Gov. Kathy Hochul weighed in, calling the series of stabbings a "senseless act of violence" in a Saturday morning tweet.

"I'm grateful to our brave officers who acted quickly to stop the suspect," she wrote, adding that Albany would be working closely with the NYPD on the investigation.

Minnesota fraud suspect skips court, forfeits bond, throwing $11M Medicaid case into doubt

Sat, 11 Apr 2026 13:07:00 -0400

A man accused of orchestrating an $11 million Medicaid fraud scheme in Minnesota skipped a scheduled court appearance this week, prompting a warrant for his arrest, authorities said.

Abdirashid Ismail Said, 50, failed to appear for a pretrial hearing in Hennepin County, forfeiting his bond, according FOX 9, citing the Minnesota Attorney General’s Office.

Minnesota Attorney General Keith Ellison said in a statement that his office is working with federal authorities to locate Said.

MINNESOTA FRAUD SCANDAL: SIXTH FAMILY MEMBER WHO MET WITH AG ELLISON SET TO PLEAD GUILTY

"A warrant has been issued for Said's arrest after he failed to appear for a pretrial hearing," Ellison told the outlet. "My Medicaid Fraud Control Unit is working with federal law enforcement to locate Said and ensure he faces justice for the fraud he committed.

"This is a deeply frustrating setback. However, I remain committed to doing everything I can to hold Said and other Medicaid fraudsters accountable."

Said posted a $150,000 unconditional bond to avoid stricter conditions, including surrendering his passport, while a $50,000 conditional bond would have required it, according to FOX 9. Investigators also raised concerns about Said’s potential to flee, citing family ties abroad, according to FOX 9.

Prosecutors charged Said with racketeering and multiple counts of aiding and abetting theft by swindle in an alleged scheme that defrauded Minnesota’s Medicaid program of nearly $11 million, according to a criminal complaint.

The complaint alleges Said carried out the scheme from 2019 through 2023 by secretly operating multiple Medicaid-funded home health care agencies despite being barred from working with such programs after a prior fraud conviction.

TRUMP ADMIN SCORES MINNESOTA COURT WIN IN MEDICAID FRAUD CRACKDOWN

Authorities said Said and his co-conspirators billed Medicaid for services that were never provided, weren’t properly recorded or were backed by fake paperwork. Investigators also allege the group billed for services that weren’t eligible for payment and charged more than they should have.

According to court documents, the scheme involved millions of dollars in fraudulent billing, including more than $4.6 million paid to one agency based on falsified documentation. Investigators also found nearly $1 million was billed for clients who denied receiving services, along with more than $300,000 in overbilling and more than $5.8 million in claims that were not documented or were fraudulently documented.

Court records show Said was convicted of Medicaid fraud in 2022, ordered to pay $77,000 and barred from working with any Medicaid-funded agency, a restriction prosecutors allege he later violated.

The case has raised new concerns about oversight of taxpayer-funded programs, as state leaders, including Gov. Tim Walz and Attorney General Keith Ellison, have faced mounting criticism over their handling of fraud in Minnesota.

The development comes amid broader concerns over fraud in Minnesota, including the sprawling Feeding Our Future case, in which prosecutors allege defendants created fake meal programs and fraudulently claimed more than $250 million in federal funds.

Former acting U.S. Attorney Joe Thompson has suggested fraud across some programs could total billions of dollars, potentially reaching $9 billion.

State officials have faced ongoing questions about oversight of taxpayer-funded programs, with critics pointing to additional fraud cases involving Medicaid and welfare spending.

Ellison, whose office has prosecuted multiple fraud cases, appeared before Congress earlier this year to address concerns about enforcement and oversight.

Fox News Digital has reached out to the Minnesota Attorney General’s Office and the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the District of Minnesota for additional comment.

Photos show Athena Strand kidnapping truck as jurors weigh death penalty for killer FedEx driver

Sat, 11 Apr 2026 10:00:05 -0400

Jurors in Tanner Horner's murder trial viewed photos of his FedEx truck, the grim vessel prosecutors say was used to snatch 7-year-old Athena Strand from her own driveway and end her life.

On Friday, prosecutors showed the jury a series of pictures from inside the truck where Athena was murdered by Horner, 34, in Texas Nov. 30, 2022. Horner pleaded guilty to the murder and is waiting for the jury to decide if he will be sentenced to life in prison or the death penalty.

Jurors were shown images of bungee cords and bands found inside the truck, along with photos of investigators testing the vehicle for biological substances.

Horner initially claimed he had accidentally hit Athena with his delivery truck, but he has since admitted to strangling the girl after abducting her while delivering a Christmas package to her father’s home in Paradise, Texas.

Alise Amey, a former crime scene investigator for the Wise County Sheriff's Office, said it was recommended they remove the floor from the truck because Athena had markings on her face that matched the pattern on the truck's floor.

"There were markings on the victim's face that were consistent with the floor," Amey testified.

Once they were removed, Amey said, they were bagged in brown paper because they were so large.

FOX 4 Dallas reported that as additional crime scene photos were shared with the jury, the court's video feed was blurred.

GOT A TIP?

Throughout the week, prosecutors showed jurors hours of evidence as they used opening statements to paint Horner as calculating, violent and remorseless in the killing of Athena.

"First thing Tanner Horner says to Athena when he picks her up, puts her in that truck, leans down and he says, ‘Don’t scream or I’ll hurt you,’" prosecutor James Stainton told jurors in opening statements Tuesday.

FOLLOW US ON X

"I’m going to tell you right now. One thing you’re going to hear that is something you can’t unhear is the level of fight that a 7-year-old girl has when she’s facing down a certain death."

WATCH: Tanner Horner pleads guilty to killing Texas 7-year-old

On the first day of the trial, Horner pleaded guilty to capital murder and aggravated kidnapping. In the punishment phase, the jury will decide whether Horner will be sentenced to the death penalty or life in prison without parole.

"Mr. Horner, to the charge of capital murder, you may plead guilty or not guilty. What is your plea?" the judge asked.

CLICK HERE FOR MORE US NEWS

"Guilty, your honor," Horner replied.

"Thank you. I will accept your plea," the judge said.

GET BREAKING NEWS BY EMAIL

Authorities said Horner was delivering a package containing Barbie dolls intended as a Christmas gift for the 7-year-old when he abducted and killed her.

Her body was found less than 10 miles from the home after a massive search involving law enforcement officers, volunteers, dogs, horses and off-road vehicles.

WATCH: Eviction standoff turns to war zone as gunman kills deputy in ambush, gets run over by armored vehicle

Sat, 11 Apr 2026 09:00:59 -0400

Gunfire rang out in a cul-de-sac in Central California after an hourslong standoff led to a police officer being shot and killed and the suspect being run down by authorities.

A neighbor's video obtained by Fox News Digital captured the heart-stopping standoff in Porterville, California, unfolding at 10:40 a.m. Thursday.

"Get down, get down," officers are heard yelling in the video as sirens rang out.

SUSPECT WHO KILLED CALIFORNIA DEPUTY RUN OVER BY ARMORED VEHICLE AFTER HOURSLONG FIREFIGHT STANDOFF: SHERIFF

At a news conference after the shooting, Tulare County Sheriff Mike Boudreaux said the suspect, identified as David Eric Morales, was killed when a law enforcement BearCat armored vehicle ran over him after he continued firing and refused to surrender.

GET BREAKING NEWS BY EMAIL

"The suspect was lying prone on the ground in camouflage clothing, continuing to pose a threat," Boudreaux said. "The situation was resolved, and the suspect is now dead. He was not shot. One of the BearCats ran over him and killed him."

Authorities said Morales remained barricaded in his home for hours after the shooting, firing repeatedly as deputies and assisting agencies worked to contain the scene.

The killed officer was identified as Deputy Randy Hoppert.

GOT A TIP?

Boudreaux said Hoppert was struck by gunfire and transported to Sierra View District Hospital, where he died at 11:57 a.m.

Hoppert was a Navy corpsman who served from 2010 to 2015 and joined the Tulare County Sheriff’s Office Jan. 5, 2020, Boudreaux said.

FOLLOW US ON X

"We offer our heartfelt sympathies to the family of our fallen Deputy and to the entire Tulare County Sheriff’s Office," Tulare County Chair Amy Shuklian said. "This profound loss underscores the inherent risks our first responders brave daily to ensure the safety of our community."

Boudreaux said Morales had not paid rent for 35 days, and deputies were serving a final eviction notice when the shooting occurred.

During the standoff, Morales fired at law enforcement vehicles and equipment, including a drone that was shot out of the air, while multiple tactical vehicles took gunfire, according to Boudreaux.

CLICK HERE FOR MORE US NEWS

The sheriff said Morales appeared to have been waiting for deputies and "laid in wait" before opening fire, prompting a call for additional units.

Boudreaux described the outcome in blunt terms.

"Don’t shoot at cops. You shoot at cops, we’re going to run you over. He got run over. He got what he deserved," the sheriff said.

Fox News Digital's Greg Wehner contributed to this report.

Scenic Southern cities tarnished by homeless crime scourge must hold ‘feet to the fire,’ GOP lawmaker warns

Sat, 11 Apr 2026 08:00:44 -0400

One of the South’s most recognizable postcard settings is facing growing concerns over homelessness, encampments and public safety, with critics warning the issues are spreading beyond Savannah’s storybook streets to other scenic Georgia cities.

Now, a Republican lawmaker says it’s time to hold "local governments’ feet to the fire."

State Rep. Houston Gaines, who is running for Congress, is backing legislation aimed at forcing cities like Savannah, Athens and Atlanta to more aggressively enforce laws on illegal camping, loitering and panhandling.

"What we have done with this legislation is we're going to put those local governments' feet to the fire, and we're going to make sure they're enforcing the laws that they are supposed to be enforcing, whether that's on illegal camping or loitering or panhandling," Gaines told Fox News Digital.

ONE OF AMERICA'S PRETTIEST CITIES SCRAMBLES TO RECLAIM STORYBOOK STREETS FROM HOMELESS CAMPS, DRUG DENS

FOLLOW US ON X

Gaines, who lives in Athens, said the issue goes beyond visible homelessness and has become a broader public-order and crime problem affecting business owners, homeowners, students and visitors.

"I've had a constituent who, when she left town for vacation, came back and noticed that a homeless person had been in her pool for the last week," Gaines said.

He also described the kinds of complaints he says he hears from business owners and property owners in Georgia.

"Business owners get [at their storefront] at 5:30 in the morning, and they got someone sleeping on their front porch," he said. "Or they had someone that's defecated right in front of their business."

Savannah Area Chamber of Commerce President and CEO Bert Brantley has also said the impact is felt daily across the business community.

"Our businesses, workers, and downtown residents expect our public safety system to identify those committing crimes and deliver consequences for those illegal activities," Brantley said in November 2024.

Savannah later passed an urban camping ordinance prohibiting camping, storing personal property in public spaces and obstructing sidewalks or traffic.

Since the law took effect, the city says enforcement has led to 179 citations and 15 arrests. Officials also say 135 individuals have engaged with service providers, with roughly 30% entering shelters after contact with authorities.

Gaines argued that local governments in other Georgia cities have not gone far enough and said that has left residents and business owners stuck paying the price.

"There's serious expenses and consequences for property owners, homeowners that are putting up security cameras or fencing, or business owners, gas stations, storefronts," he said. "Some in Atlanta are having to hire full-time security."

GOT A TIP?

He said House Bill 295 is designed to pressure local officials to act by making local governments financially liable when property owners suffer losses because laws against illegal camping, loitering, panhandling and related activity are not being enforced.

Under the bill, property owners can seek compensation for documented mitigation costs or reduced property value tied to a "policy, pattern, or practice" of non-enforcement or the maintenance of a public nuisance.

GET BREAKING NEWS BY EMAIL

"The way to hit these local governments is in their pocketbook," Gaines said. "It's the way to really take on some of these folks, and that's why I think this bill is going to be so effective."

Critics have argued that tougher enforcement can simply move homeless individuals, drug users and loiterers into neighboring areas rather than solve deeper problems. Gaines rejected that argument and said the bill is also intended to force local governments to provide services.

"Our goal here, we're not criminalizing homelessness. We're trying to help individuals who are homeless," Gaines said. "And the way to do that is to force these local governments to clean up the areas of homeowners and business owners, but it's also to ensure these individuals get the help they need."

"When you go to downtown Athens now, when you go to dinner with, you know, your family, you're going to be harassed by homeless people," Gaines said. "And that wasn't the case even five, six, seven, eight years ago. Our downtown has changed tremendously."

CLICK HERE FOR MORE US NEWS

"The number of people who I talk to that don't even feel comfortable going downtown Athens for dinner, you know, it's very unfortunate," Gaines said.

Missing American’s husband had 'spotty' cell service during 8-hour trek to report disappearance: telecom boss

Sat, 11 Apr 2026 06:00:32 -0400

FREEPORT, Bahamas — Brian Hooker spent about 8 hours paddling his way across a 4.5-mile channel in the Bahamas after his wife reportedly fell off their 8-foot dinghy before anyone notified police.

Bahamian officials said Lynette Hooker, 55, and Brian Hooker, 58, departed from Hope Town's Abaco Inn at around 7:30 p.m. on April 4 and went on a smaller boat, referred to as a dinghy, to travel to their yacht. Brian Hooker reportedly told officials that Lynette fell into the water with the ignition key, which caused the engine to cut off. Brian told authorities that the current carried Lynette away, and he paddled the dinghy toward a marina at Marsh Harbour. The couple were originally headed to their yacht in Elbow Cay.

Local authorities said that Brian Hooker arrived at a marina at Marsh Harbour at around 4 a.m. on April 5, roughly 8 hours after Lynette Hooker went overboard.

A staff member at the Marsh Harbour marina told Fox News Digital that the husband walked along the south shoreline before arriving at the dock area, which may have required covering a significant distance on foot. Once at the marina, he went to an office and reported that his wife was missing, prompting staff to call police.

DAUGHTER OF MISSING AMERICAN WOMAN IN BAHAMAS SAYS THERE WERE 'PRIOR ISSUES,' CALLS FOR FULL INVESTIGATION

What remains unclear is whether Brian Hooker had access to his phone, or cell service, during those 8 hours on the water. His attorney didn't respond to requests for comment from Fox News Digital.

Lynette's daughter, Karli Aylesworth, told Fox News Digital that the couple usually carried phones on them while boating.

Dimitry Malinsky, founder and CEO of IntraTEM, a telecommunications company, told Fox News Digital individuals can likely receive cellphone reception, even if it's spotty, over the 4.5-mile channel Brian Hooker paddled his dinghy through.

AMERICAN COUPLE CHASING RETIREMENT DREAM IN BAHAMAS BOATING MYSTERY WERE 'INEXPERIENCED': FRIEND

He said, however, some of the more remote Bahamian keys don't get cell service.

"If it's a remote key, like some of those remote keys in the Bahamas, it would be just as if you're in the ocean and not by land because if there are no cell towers," Malinsky said.

Criminal defense attorney Donna Rotunno told Fox News Digital it would be difficult to prove if Brian Hooker's phone had service, if investigators determine he had access to it.

AMERICAN COUPLE'S BAHAMAS DINGHY WAS ILL-EQUIPPED FOR CONDITIONS NIGHT OF WIFE'S DISAPPEARANCE: FRIEND

WATCH: Daughter of missing American woman in Bahamas says there was 'history of domestic violence'

"They may be able to show whether or not he was trying to conduct an outgoing call and he couldn't. But then again, if you're on some paddle boat trying to, you know, my guess is if he jumped in the water or if he tried to help her in any way, the phone was either left on the boat or the phone is in his pocket and then useless because of the water," Rotunno said. "Is that evidence? Yes. How compelling it is. We don't have that answer yet."

Brian Hooker’s lawyer, Terrel Butler, told Fox News Digital she doesn’t know whether her client had a cellphone on him the night his wife vanished.

Whether or not Brian Hooker had cell service, one local told Fox News Digital that the journey to Marsh Harbour presented a formidable physical challenge.

FOLLOW THE FOX TRUE CRIME TEAM ON X

A man who knew Brian and Lynette Hooker told Fox News Digital that paddling 4.5 miles from near Hope Town to Marsh Harbour without a working engine, which is what officials say Brian Hooker did was a significant achievement.

"To row four miles, the oars suck on the dinghies and they're very difficult to go anywhere. To row four is a Herculean task in these dinghies — we upgraded our oars because we couldn't go anywhere with the stock oars, and it's really a Herculean task, and it says a lot that he was able to even physically row that distance in the conditions," he said.

SIGN UP TO GET TRUE CRIME NEWSLETTER

Butler said on Friday that police were questioning Brian Hooker on a potential charge of causing harm resulting in death. The interview went from 11 a.m. to 1:30 p.m., Butler said.

Police, however, didn't question him about any physical or forensic evidence found, rather focusing on what the couple was doing in the Bahamas and what happened in the hours prior to Lynette falling out of the dinghy. He was also questioned on allegations of violence made by Lynette's daughter.

SEND US A TIP HERE

In a statement to Fox News Digital, Butler said her client denies the allegations made by Aylesworth.

LISTEN TO THE NEW 'CRIME & JUSTICE WITH DONNA ROTUNNO' PODCAST

"Mr. Hooker categorically and unequivocally denies any wrongdoing and in particular the allegations recently made by Karli Aylesworth. He has been cooperating with the relevant authorities as part of an ongoing investigation," Butler said.

Butler on Thursday night said that Hooker voluntarily gave a statement to police believing he was helping them find Lynette.

Brian Hooker hasn't been charged with any crime. Butler told Fox News Digital that police had until 7:20 p.m. on Friday to either file charges, release his client, or request an extension of detainment. When that deadline passed, Butler said police extended it and Brian would remain in custody until 7 p.m. Monday.

LIKE WHAT YOU'RE READING? FIND MORE ON THE TRUE CRIME HUB

The U.S. State Department has issued a level 2 travel advisory for the Bahamas. Americans are urged to "exercise increased caution" due to crime, beach safety, as well as jet ski and boating dangers.

A spokesperson for the State Department previously told Fox News Digital the agency is aware of reports regarding the missing American and is working with Bahamian authorities.

The State Department declined to share any additional details.

Boating in the Bahamas isn't well regulated, and the State Department has said that "injuries and deaths have occurred."

Fox News True Crime Newsletter: Bahamas missing woman mystery, Athena Strand bodycam, Gilgo Beach guilty plea

Fri, 10 Apr 2026 16:37:33 -0400

MYSTERY AT SEA: Here's what police asked the husband of the American boater missing in the Bahamas, attorney says

MINDHUNTERS: Gilgo Beach serial killer joins infamous group of monsters as he opens ghoulish mind to FBI

TRAIL OF EVIDENCE: Hawaii doctor learns fate after prosecutors say jealousy drove him to attack wife on cliffside hike

SEND US A TIP HERE

SICK MIND: Bodycam shows Athena Strand’s killer FedEx driver flip personas, say discarding girl’s clothes was ‘funny’

RUNAWAY REVEALED: Missing teen case flips as ‘kidnapped’ girl found alive, built secret life as mom of 3, investigator: report

SHIFTING STORIES: Realtor's cold case murder suspect accused of fleeing scene, skipping 911 call in new witness account: report

LISTEN TO THE NEW 'CRIME & JUSTICE WITH DONNA ROTUNNO' PODCAST

FROM ASHES: Ex-paramedic accused of drip-feeding wife to death – then faking his own kidnapping when heat turned up

LAB SCANDAL: Judge declares mistrial in decades-old killing of 11-year-old girl over evidence revelation

SIGN UP TO GET TRUE CRIME NEWSLETTER

CALCULATED MOVE: Massachusetts mom offers to admit killing 3 children as prosecutors push back on move that could dodge prison

FAMILY BETRAYAL: Bald-headed killer smiles as prosecutors reveal what she did before dad walked in

LIKE WHAT YOU'RE READING? FIND MORE ON THE TRUE CRIME HUB

SIGNS OF GUILT: Billboard trolling Dale Warner goes viral after his murder conviction in wife Dee's murder case

FOLLOW THE FOX TRUE CRIME TEAM ON X

‘GET PAID’: Man who put up $100K to find Nancy Guthrie says tipsters should skip the sheriff and call Crime Stoppers

LONG HIDDEN: Daughters’ relentless search shatters ‘overdose’ claim, leads to arrest in mom’s 1992 murder

FRESH CLUES: Amy Bradley cruise ship mystery reignited by ‘big’ revelations in disappearance: report

Teens suspected of murdering congressional intern linked by DNA on shell casings, prosecutors say

Fri, 10 Apr 2026 15:04:39 -0400

DNA evidence has linked two of the teenagers charged in the shooting death of a University of Massachusetts student who was working as a congressional intern in Washington, D.C. last summer, prosecutors alleged.

Government attorneys told Washington, D.C. Superior Court Judge Danya Dayson during a Friday status hearing that testing on shell casings recovered at the scene produced an "overwhelming statistical match" to Jailen Lucas, and that DNA also ties Kelvin Thomas to the shooting.

The two suspects, who were both 17 at the time of the shooting, are charged as adults with first-degree murder while armed in the killing of Eric Tarpinian-Jachym, 21, of Granby, Massachusetts.

SUSPECT IN MURDERS OF CONGRESSIONAL INTERN AND 17-YEAR-OLD ARRESTED MONTHS AFTER SHOOTINGS: OFFICIAL

Two rounds of DNA testing have been completed, prosecutors said, and additional expert testimony is expected at trial on DNA analysis, ballistics and fingerprint evidence.

SIGN UP TO GET TRUE CRIME NEWSLETTER

Tarpinian-Jachym, a rising senior at the University of Massachusetts Amherst, was shot June 30, near the intersection of 7th and M Street NW in Washington.

LISTEN TO THE NEW 'CRIME & JUSTICE WITH DONNA ROTUNNO' PODCAST

He was spending the summer in Washington as a congressional intern for Rep. Ron Estes, a Republican from Kansas.

SEND US A TIP HERE

Authorities say three armed suspects exited a stolen vehicle and opened fire at two individuals in the area.

LIKE WHAT YOU'RE READING? FIND MORE ON THE TRUE CRIME HUB

Tarpinian-Jachym, who was not involved, was struck four times. He died the following day.

Lucas and Thomas were arrested Sept. 5. On Oct. 31, a third suspect, identified as 18-year-old Naqwan Antonio Lucas of the District of Columbia, was arrested in Montgomery Village and also charged in Tarpinian-Jachym's murder.

A pretrial hearing is scheduled for May 15. The trial is expected to begin in February. Tarpinian-Jachym's mother declined to comment when contacted by Fox News Digital.

Fox News Digital's Adam Sabes contributed to this report.

FOLLOW THE FOX TRUE CRIME TEAM ON X

NYC judge seeks to make example of officer who threw cooler at fleeing suspect, causing fatal crash

Fri, 10 Apr 2026 14:19:46 -0400

A former New York City police officer accused of killing a fleeing suspect by throwing a picnic cooler packed with ice and drinks at him was sentenced Thursday by a judge to three to nine years in prison.

And critics said the sentence could hinder the future actions of officers in position to make split-second decisions.

Erik Duran, 38, was convicted of manslaughter in the August 2023 death of 30-year-old Eric Duprey. Duran maintained he was trying to protect other officers from Duprey, who was on a motorized scooter when he crashed and died.

NYPD OFFICER JONATHAN DILLER'S WIDOW WEEPS AS SEA OF BLUE FILLS COURTROOM IN ACCUSED COP KILLER’S MURDER TRIAL

The former NYPD officer is the first to be sentenced to prison for an on-duty death in at least two decades.

"I took this job to save lives. I felt terrible once I saw Eric Duprey crash," Duran told Bronx Judge Guy Mitchell.

The judge argued Thursday’s sentence would serve as a "general deterrent" to other officers from acting recklessly. He rejected Duran’s defense that his actions were justified, concluding that the former officer threw the cooler because he was upset that Duprey was fleeing.

"They had enough to investigate and catch him on a different day," Mitchell said of the police. "The distinction is that the deceased will no longer be seen again by his family."

Duran elected to have Mitchell, not a jury, decide the case. Duran’s union, the Sergeants Benevolent Association (SBA), said thousands of officers signed an online petition calling for him to be spared prison.

BOSTON OFFICER CHARGED WITH MANSLAUGHTER AFTER SHOOTING CARJACKING SUSPECT AS VIDEO DISPUTES ACCOUNT

On Aug. 23, 2023, the officer was part of a "buy-and-bust" operation in which Duprey sold drugs to an undercover officer, authorities said. After the sale, Duprey fled on a scooter.

Duran said he was concerned because Duprey was riding the motorized scooter on a sidewalk toward a group of people. As Duprey approached, Duran, who was not in uniform, picked up a bystander’s cooler and threw it.

The container struck Duprey, who lost control of the scooter before slamming into a tree and crashing onto the pavement. He died almost instantly, authorities said. Prosecutors with the office of New York Attorney General Letitia James said Duran had enough time to warn others to move out of the way.

LAWYER FOR BOSTON COP FACING MANSLAUGHTER CHARGE IN ON-DUTY SHOOTING CALLS OUT DA’S ‘UNPRECEDENTED’ MOVE

"The defendant knew or should have known that throwing the cooler at Mr. Duprey would either harm him or cause a collision," a prosecutor said in court. "The defendant was aware of these risks and disregarded them."

James’ office demanded the judge impose a sentence of five to 15 years. During his time on the witness stand, Duran said he was forced to make a quick decision to keep other officers safe as the scooter sped toward them.

"He was gonna crash into us," Duran said. "All I had time for was to try again to stop or to try to get him to change directions."

MAMDANI PROPOSES CUTTING NYPD BUDGET, CANCELING 5K NEW OFFICER HIRES

After his conviction in February, Duran, a 13-year veteran of the force, was fired from the NYPD.

"I never wanted this to happen," Duran told Duprey’s family in Spanish as a court interpreter translated.

Duprey was a delivery driver and had three young children. His mother, Gretchen Soto, wept as Duran spoke.

"There are no words to express what I feel," Soto said. After the sentencing, Soto and Duprey’s partner, Pearl Velez, refused to accept Duran’s apology.

"How you gonna say sorry now?" Velez said.

NYPD COP'S KILLER CONVICTED OF MANSLAUGHTER, NOT GUILTY OF MURDER AFTER SPLIT JURY ORDERED TO DELIBERATE MORE

During the sentencing, the courtroom was lined with police officers in support of Duran, while a few dozen protesters outside demanded justice for Duprey. Duran was immediately taken into custody after sentencing. His legal team said it will ask a court to free him on bail while he appeals.

SBA President Vincent Vallelong called Thursday’s sentencing one of the "darkest days of our profession." Moving forward, he said, law enforcement officers will continue to be vilified for making quick decisions.

"It wasn’t only Sgt. Duran, a great cop, who was on trial," Vallelong said. "Every law enforcement officer who makes a split-second decision in the performance of their duties to protect the public was also on trial.

"And this sentencing ... has now sent a very chilling message to every cop in the nation that the system we have sworn to uphold can single-handedly destroy your career and your life for doing exactly what you are trained to do."

The NYPD could be faced with lower staffing levels as more than half of the NYPD’s Joint Terrorism Task Force is eligible for retirement, the New York Post reported.

Officials are concerned that thousands of veteran NYPD bosses and officers will leave the force if Mayor Zohran Mamdani cuts overtime, which would significantly reduce their pensions, amid a budget crunch, union officials said.

The Associated Press contributed to this report.

Alleged Charlie Kirk assassin Tyler Robinson's fingerprints, palm print found near rooftop: report

Fri, 10 Apr 2026 14:09:44 -0400

Newly released search warrants in the case against Tyler Robinson, the Utah man accused of assassinating conservative icon Charlie Kirk in September, revealed more details about how investigators collected DNA and cellphone data placing him at the scene of the alleged shooting.

Investigators obtained DNA from "fingerprints and a smeared palm print in the vicinity of the northeast corner rooftop edge of the Losee Center building where Robinson dropped off the rooftop to the ground below," along with cellphone data showing Robinson’s location on Sept. 10, 2025, according to East Idaho News.

Additionally, a Google Maps route found on Robinson’s phone allegedly routed to an area near the Utah Valley University campus, the outlet reported.

TYLER ROBINSON PROSECUTORS SAY CHARLIE KIRK SHOOTING TEXTS SHOW CONFUSION, NOT BIAS, TO REBUT CONFLICT CLAIM

The warrants also included a note Robinson allegedly left for his roommate, whom he was romantically involved with, shortly before the alleged assassination. Robinson referred to his partner, Lance Twiggs, as "Luna."

"Luna, if you are reading this per my text, then I am so sorry," the note reportedly said. "I left the house this morning on a mission, and set an auto text.

GOT A TIP?

"I am likely dead, or facing a lengthy prison sentence. I had the opportunity to take out Charlie Kirk, and I took it.

FOLLOW US ON X

"I don’t know if i will/have succeeded, but I had hoped to make it home to you. I wish we could have lived in a world where this did not feel necessary. I wish I could have stayed for you and lived our lives together.

"I lack the words to express how much I love you, and how very much you mean to me. Please try and find joy in this life. I love you, always, -Tyler," the letter continued, according to the outlet.

The warrant also reportedly revealed authorities' alleged timeline of events leading up to and immediately following Kirk's assassination.

GET BREAKING NEWS BY EMAIL

According to court documents previously obtained by Fox News Digital, Robinson arrived in Orem in a gray Dodge Challenger around 8:29 a.m. on the morning of the alleged shooting. He was captured on surveillance video from 11:50 a.m. to 11:53 a.m. entering the UVU campus through a tunnel under Campus Drive and checking his cell phone.

He was spotted on a camera located at the north side of UVU's Losee Center building walking with "a distinctive gait," believed to be due to the rifle allegedly concealed in his jeans, around 12:02 p.m.

CLICK HERE FOR MORE US NEWS

Approximately 13 minutes later, authorities said Robinson was spotted wearing dark clothing and climbing a staircase leading to a common area next to the Losee Center, before scaling a wall and crouching on a rooftop, the charging document previously said. He then waited several minutes before "running across the rooftop" and crouching into "a prone shooting position" with a direct line of sight to where Kirk was speaking.

At 12:23 p.m., as Kirk fielded a question during the campus event, a single gunshot rang out, striking the father of two in the neck. Surveillance footage captured Robinson allegedly fleeing the rooftop while carrying what appeared to be a rife, according to the documents.

Robinson is charged with aggravated murder, among other counts, in the shooting of Kirk while Kirk was speaking at a Turning Point USA event on UVU’s campus last year.

Robinson has since pleaded not guilty to all charges, and prosecutors have vowed to seek the death penalty in the case.

Fox News Digital's Sarah Rumpf-Whitten and Michael Ruiz contributed to this report.

OpenAI CEO Sam Altman's home targeted in Molotov cocktail attack; man arrested: police

Fri, 10 Apr 2026 13:57:49 -0400

A person allegedly threw a Molotov cocktail at the home of OpenAI CEO Sam Altman and is now in police custody, a spokesperson for the AI company confirmed.

"Early this morning, someone threw a Molotov cocktail at Sam Altman’s home and also made threats at our San Francisco headquarters. Thankfully, no one was hurt," the spokesperson said.

"We deeply appreciate how quickly SFPD responded and the support from the city in helping keep our employees safe. The individual is in custody, and we’re assisting law enforcement with their investigation."

OPENAI CEO SAM ALTMAN TELLS INTERVIEWER SHE SHOULDN'T LET HER SON USE AI YET

The San Francisco Police Department said the suspect is a 20-year-old male.

"On April 10, 2026, at approximately 4:12 a.m., San Francisco Police officers responded to a North Beach residence regarding a fire investigation. At the scene, officers learned that an unknown male subject threw an incendiary destructive device at a home, causing a fire to an exterior gate. The suspect then fled on foot. There were no injuries reported as a result of this incident," police said in a statement.

"The suspect’s description was broadcast to all officers. At approximately 5:07 a.m., SFPD officers responded to a business on the 1400 block of 3rd street regarding an unknown male subject threatening to burn down the building. When officers arrived on scene, they recognized the male to be the same suspect from the earlier incident and immediately detained him."

This is a developing story. Please check back for updates.

Realtor's cold case murder suspect accused of fleeing scene, skipping 911 call in new witness account: report

Fri, 10 Apr 2026 13:49:46 -0400

The woman arrested in connection with the 2011 cold case murder of an Iowa real estate agent was reportedly spotted acting "in an erratic manner" by a witness immediately after gunshots, according to newly released court documents.

Kristin Ramsey, 53, is charged with first-degree murder in the death of Ashley Okland on April 8, 2011. She was arrested last month, marking the latest development in the 15-year-long cold case.

Okland was fatally shot twice at close range, once in the chest and another in the face, while hosting a model townhome owned by Rottlund Homes – the same company in which Ramsey was employed at the time of the alleged killing.

REALTOR'S COLD CASE MURDER FINALLY SOLVED AFTER 15 YEARS, POLICE SAY

In a new court filing, a witness who lived next door reported hearing two loud noises before seeing Ramsey outside the front door of the townhome, according to KCCI.

The witness also reportedly told authorities she saw Ramsey pacing outside her vehicle and using her phone upon looking out her second-story window.

The court filing indicates Ramsey called a colleague at Rottlund Homes immediately following the alleged shooting, but did not call 911, the outlet reported.

FOLLOW THE FOX TRUE CRIME TEAM ON X

Shortly afterward, the witness reported seeing Ramsey "back up at a high rate of speed in an erratic manner and leave the area," court documents show, according to KCCI.

SIGN UP TO GET TRUE CRIME NEWSLETTER

Authorities also indicated the witness — not Ramsey — called 911 to report the shooting.

SEND US A TIP HERE

Prosecutors have since revealed that Ramsey has given conflicting versions of her whereabouts on the day of the alleged murder in multiple interviews since the investigation began, according to KCCI.

Court records also show that authorities discovered several firearms, illegal substances and violent posters inside Ramsey’s home upon executing a search warrant on May 3, 2011, the outlet reported.

LISTEN TO THE NEW 'CRIME & JUSTICE WITH DONNA ROTUNNO' PODCAST

The same items were reportedly found after a second search warrant was executed at Ramsey’s home shortly before her arrest this spring.

A motion has reportedly been filed by the state opposing Ramsey’s request to lower her bond from $2 million to $100,000.

LIKE WHAT YOU'RE READING? FIND MORE ON THE TRUE CRIME HUB

Authorities have not released a potential motive, and Ramsey has not yet entered a plea in the case. She is expected to appear in court Friday for a bail hearing.

Ramsey’s defense attorney did not immediately respond to Fox News Digital’s request for comment.

Chicago dad bludgeoned to death outside bar as police hunt for four persons of interest

Fri, 10 Apr 2026 13:03:55 -0400

A Chicago dad who was expecting his second child was bludgeoned to death outside a bar in an early morning attack as police seek four persons of interest.

Alexander "Xander" Kazanowski, 25, was found unresponsive on the ground with injuries to his head near a bar in the Avondale neighborhood of Chicago around 3:20 a.m. March 24, according to the Cook County Crime Stoppers.

According to the Chicago Police Department, he was taken to Advocate Illinois Masonic Medical Center in critical condition and later died.

Kazanowski, an Illinois-based model, had allegedly been asked to leave a bar because of several comments he had made, according to WGN-TV.

FOLLOW THE FOX TRUE CRIME TEAM ON X

The Chicago Police Department opened a homicide investigation, sharing video of the four persons of interest they would like to question.

The individuals were described as three African American men, and one Asian woman.

One wore a black jacket, a black baseball hat, and blue jeans. The second man wore a black jacket, a white hooded sweatshirt, and black pants. The third man wore a blue jacket, blue jeans and a brown winter hat.

SIGN UP TO GET TRUE CRIME NEWSLETTER

And the woman was wearing a black jacket and white pants.

LIKE WHAT YOU'RE READING? FIND MORE ON THE TRUE CRIME HUB

The security cameras captured the four individuals entering the bar, Tune-Up, the night of the alleged attack, according to video released by the Chicago Police Department. It was not clear if the video was from before or after the alleged assault.

The Cook County Crime Stoppers is offering a $10,000 reward for information leading to the arrest of the individuals responsible.

LISTEN TO THE NEW 'CRIME & JUSTICE WITH DONNA ROTUNNO' PODCAST

Kazanowski was the father of one daughter, Thea, and a soon-to-be-born son, John, according to his obituary.

He grew up in South Barrington, Illinois, and was a wrestler in middle and high school. At 19, he founded his first company, Wurk Services, and he was also an actor and model, his obituary said.

SEND US A TIP HERE

"Xander’s story is not defined by the years he was given, but by the vigor with which he filled them," his obituary said. "True to his character, his final act was a perfect expression of his generous heart. As an organ donor, he saved multiple lives and helped countless others move closer to the miracle of a second chance."

Anyone with information on the individuals being sought in connection with Kazanowski's death is asked to contact Grand Central Area detectives at 312-746-6614. Tipsters who wish to remain can submit information to CPDTIP.com, using reference number JK192078, or call the Cook County Crime Stoppers at 800-535-7867.

Fox News Digital has reached out to the Chicago Police Department for additional information.

Army ROTC cadets recount taking down pro-ISIS shooter at Old Dominion University: 'I could have been next'

Fri, 10 Apr 2026 11:33:37 -0400

For the first time, the heroic students who helped take down an active shooter that killed a beloved professor and community member at Old Dominion University are telling their story, recounting the harrowing events of that day.

Mohamed Jalloh, a man previously convicted of providing material to support the Islamic State terror group, opened fire at the university on March 12, killing one and injuring two others.

Jalloh was pronounced dead at the scene on Thursday when officers arrived.

Beloved professor of military science Lt. Col. Brandon Shah was killed. FBI Special Agent in Charge Dominique Evans told reporters that the students in the room during the incident "subdued" the gunman.

ODU GUNMAN WHO KILLED ROTC INSTRUCTOR HAD PRIOR ISIS CONVICTION, WAS RELEASED EARLY

Students involved in the incident reflected on that day, saying it was a day like any other.

During the class period, a student said a man they didn't recognize, later identified as Jalloh, walked into the classroom and repeatedly and nervously asked if this class was ROTC.

"I wasn't thinking about what that question really meant," said Cadet Louis Ancheta.

VIRGINIA MAN CHARGED WITH SELLING WEAPON USED BY OLD DOMINION UNIVERSITY GUNMAN

As Shah confirmed the class was ROTC, Cadet Wesley Myers, who was in class that day, said Jalloh shouted "Allahu Akbar" and began shooting at Shah.

Instincts immediately kicked in and Shah lunged toward the gunman, according to the students.

As Shah wrestled with the gunman, Ancheta leaped into action, taking a pocket-knife and repeatedly stabbing Jalloh.

"If he didn't lunge at him, I wouldn't be here right now," said Cadet Jah-Ira Utarte, who was sitting in the front row of the classroom at the time, said in an interview released by the Department of War. "There's a possibility he could've turned his gun and I could've been next."

VIRGINIA DEMOCRATS DIG IN ON DHS FUNDING LINE DESPITE ISIS-LINKED SHOOTING AT ODU, ILLEGAL IMMIGRANT MURDER

Ancheta said during the fighting between his professor and the gunman, he was shot by a stray bullet.

"It really didn't feel like it hit me," Ancheta said. He continued to attempt to subdue the gunman alongside Shah and other cadets jumped in.

SHOOTING IN OLD DOMINION UNIVERSITY HALL INJURES TWO; GUNMAN DEAD

Once the gun was away from Jalloh, Cadet Jeremy Rawlinson said they immediately switched to combat care.

"It just was what I felt I had to do in that moment, to get there and do what I could," Myers said. "It's different when it's not a mannequin, and it's your friend."

Cadet Samuel Reineberg said he was "like a laser beam" to Shah, who had been shot in the chest.

PENTAGON LEADERS AWARD 2 PURPLE HEARTS TO OLD DOMINION CADETS WHO TOOK DOWN ISIS SUPPORTER

It wasn't until later that day that the students found out about Shah's death.

"There was definitely a sense of, ‘could we have done more?’" Cadet Oshea Bego said.

Shah is regarded as a hero among his students.

"[Shah] used the last of his strength to tackle that guy, and it gave us just enough time that we needed to be able to get on [the gunman]," Rawlinson said.

"One of the last things he told my mom when they met this summer was that he would take care of me. He followed through on that word," Bego said.

OLD DOMINION UNIVERSITY ROTC CADETS DISARM ISIS SUPPORTER SHOUTING 'ALLAHU AKBAR' DURING SHOOTING: OFFICIALS

"We’re not even commissioned yet, and we’re dealing with these threats and pretty much unprecedented attacks," Bego said.

Brian O. Hemphill, the president of ODU, said the university will be conducting an independent review following the incident in a statement on Thursday. Hemphill described the shooting as a "defining moment" in the university’s history.

"This is not merely a procedural step; it is a moral imperative to ensure the safety and security of every member of our campus community remains first and foremost," Hemphill said in the statement.

The review will examine "critical procedures," "overall preparedness" and "[the university’s] response," according to the release.

Artemis II crew closes in on Earth as mission ends with Pacific splashdown and more top headlines

Fri, 10 Apr 2026 07:13:26 -0400

1. Artemis II crew closes in on Earth as mission ends with Pacific splashdown

2. Hormuz choke point persists as Iran halts oil traffic despite Trump ceasefire

3. Husband of missing American woman falls overboard while being transported into custody

PARTY CRASHER — SCOTUS blocks Ohio candidate after alleged plan to ‘trick’ GOP voters. Continue reading …

'IMPOSSIBLE' — Sailors who knew missing woman's husband break silence on dinghy conditions. Continue reading …

'SENSELESS' — Sheriff says suspect 'got what he deserved' after armored vehicle ran over gunman. Continue reading …

BREWING REBELLION — California coffee chain pulls Pride flags, says 'allyship runs deeper than walls'. Continue reading …

MAN VS MACHINE — Philadelphians already attacking Uber Eats delivery robots one month after launch. Continue reading …

BIPARTISAN PUSH — MTG, Nancy Mace, Thomas Massie react to Melania Trump's Epstein denial speech. Continue reading …

GOLDEN STATE GAFFE — Resurfaced remarks show Newsom's wife equating convicted killers with bad luck. Continue reading …

BENCH BRAWL — Judge rebuked twice by Supreme Court deals another blow to Trump immigration agenda. Continue reading …

FUTILE FURY — Senate Dem says Trump ‘unfit’ to serve, pushes removal with impeachment, 25th amendment. Continue reading …

Click here for more cartoons…

FADING INSTITUTIONS — Ben Sasse says Senate 'filled with blowhards,' says politics barely matters. Continue reading …

NO BOYS ALLOWED — California college to exclude men from areas in order to ensure women are comfortable. Continue reading …

CAMPUS CALLOUSNESS — Georgetown professor dismisses concerns when confronted about grooming gangs. Continue reading …

DEFIANT DISTRICT — 'Rule of law' education officials buck California mandate designed to block ICE. Continue reading …

HOWARD KURTZ — Why Melania Trump is denying alleged smears related to Jeffrey Epstein–and wants victims to testify. Continue reading …

MATT VAN EPPS — Our fallen heroes' families deserve more than outdated survivor benefits. Continue reading …

TOO HOT TO HANDLE — Bissell steamers recalled following dozens of burn injuries. Continue reading …

PRODUCE POWER — Simple superfood pairing already in your kitchen could offer boost for heart health. Continue reading …

DIGITAL'S NEWS QUIZ — What did Gov Spanberger try to dodge? Hasan Piker lashed out at which TV host? Take the quiz here …

MONEY HIKES — Property tax burden on Americans climbs as home values dip, new data shows. Continue reading …

UNBEARABLE LOSS — First daughter Ivanka Trump gets emotional while discussing the loss of her mother. See video ...

SEN. JOHN FETTERMAN — The American media is carrying water for Iran. See video …

SEN. TED CRUZ — Trump's threat remains very operative. See video …

Tune in for a breakdown of the high-stakes science behind safely returning astronauts from deep space. Check it out ...

What's it looking like in your neighborhood? Continue reading…

Fox News Entertainment (FOX411)

Thank you for making us your first choice in the morning! We'll see you in your inbox first thing Monday.

American couple's Bahamas dinghy was ill-equipped for conditions night of wife's disappearance: friend

Fri, 10 Apr 2026 06:00:34 -0400

HOPE TOWN, Bahamas — After Brian Hooker's arrest in the disappearance of his wife, Lynette, in the Bahamas, a man who was friends with the couple and knew them from the Caribbean paradise says that their small dinghy was "underpowered" and "undersized" for the conditions they faced.

Officials in the Bahamas said Lynette Hooker, 55, and Brian Hooker, 58, left Hope Town's Abaco Inn at around 7:30 p.m. on Saturday and went on a smaller boat, referred to as a dinghy, to travel to their yacht. Brian Hooker reportedly told officials that Lynette fell into the water with the ignition key, which caused the engine to cut off. According to Brian, the current carried Lynette away, and he paddled the dinghy to a marina at Marsh Harbour.

Brian Hooker was arrested by Bahamian authorities on Wednesday night, but hasn't been charged with a crime.

A man who knew Brian and Lynette Hooker in the Bahamas told Fox News Digital that conditions on the night the American woman went missing were less than ideal, especially considering the fact they were on an 8-foot dinghy, as authorities have said. The man, who is also an American, asked to remain anonymous.

LYNETTE HOOKER MISSING IN BAHAMAS: TIMELINE OF MICHIGAN WOMAN’S DISAPPEARANCE, HUSBAND’S ARREST

"Their dinghy was really just too small to be out in those conditions. Their eight-foot hard bottom dinghy with that electric motor, you shouldn't be out in anything more than like 12, max 15 knots. It's really underpowered, undersized for the condition they were in," the man said.

Winds in the Hope Town area were gusting at around 26 knots on Saturday night, according to a review of data by Fox Weather. Improvesailing.com states that wind speeds above 25 knots are considered "rough for any small/mid-sized boat."

"If the wind [is] blowing 30 knots, you're moving at four feet in the opposite direction every one second, you're separating by seven and a half feet. Even an Olympic swimmer would have a hard time getting back on — it would be impossible for two people that are 55 and 58 to reunite," the man said. "I've done three dinghy rescues in three weeks, really. I mean, it's crazy."

DAUGHTER OF MISSING AMERICAN WOMAN IN BAHAMAS SAYS THERE WERE 'PRIOR ISSUES,' CALLS FOR FULL INVESTIGATION

The man, who is a sailor himself alongside his wife, said Brian and Lynette were a couple in what seemed to be a great marriage.

"They seemed very much like the happiest of people in an extremely happy relationship. People to aspire to in the sailing and cruising life," he said.

The friend of Brian and Lynette Hooker told Fox News Digital there are common misconceptions about the engine key, noting that in rough weather it's sometimes the lighter person who drives while the heavier one sits in the middle in order to provide stability.

"People are really confused about a dinghy key. It's common practice to wear the key — it goes on the outboard motor, and it's got a tether on it that you wear on your wrist as the driver. So if you fall overboard, it stops the motor from the dinghy motoring away from you. And that's what everybody does. And they're really saying, 'why did she have the key?' Well, she had the key because she was driving."

Lynette's daughter, Karli Aylesworth, painted a different picture of her stepfather, Brian Hooker, in an interview with Fox News' Griff Jenkins earlier this week. Her comments included allegations of alcohol-fueled domestic violence, which Brian has denied through his attorney. He has not been charged with any crime.

"I've seen him choke out one of his daughters before. And we had to go to court for that," Aylesworth said. "So he's just repeating patterns."

AMERICAN COUPLE CHASING RETIREMENT DREAM IN BAHAMAS BOATING MYSTERY WERE 'INEXPERIENCED': FRIEND

Aylesworth claimed that Brian Hooker had also become violent toward her mother.

"There's history of them choking her out and threatening to throw her overboard. So the fact that this is actually happening makes me believe there's more to the story," she said.

In a statement to Fox News Digital, Brian Hooker's attorney, Terrel Butler, said he denies the allegations.

FOLLOW THE FOX TRUE CRIME TEAM ON X

Butler on Thursday night said that Hooker voluntarily gave a statement to police believing he was helping them find Lynette.

Hooker was initially interviewed and released, then brought back for more questioning as a witness. Police brought him back a third time and questioned him as a suspect.

WATCH THE FULL FOX & FRIENDS INTERVIEW

Lynette Hooker was previously arrested in a domestic violence case, according to a police report obtained by Fox News Digital, but wasn't charged.

Brian and Lynette Hooker both accused each other of assault during the February 2015 incident.

While Lynette Hooker was the one arrested, charges weren't filed due to "insufficient evidence as to who started the assault."

SIGN UP TO GET TRUE CRIME NEWSLETTER

In a Wednesday Facebook post, Brian Hooker wrote he is "heartbroken" over Lynette's disappearance.

"I am heartbroken over the recent boat accident in unpredictable seas and high winds that caused my beloved Lynette to fall from our small dinghy near Elbow Cay in the Bahamas. Despite desperate attempts to reach her, the winds and currents drove us further apart. We continue to search for her and that is my sole focus," Brian Hooker said.

SEND US A TIP HERE

Darlene Hamlett, Lynette Hooker's mother, told The Associated Press that she hadn't heard from her son-in-law in several days.

"I’m going to be interested in what he says, because I haven’t heard from him in almost two days," Hamlett said.

LISTEN TO THE NEW 'CRIME & JUSTICE WITH DONNA ROTUNNO' PODCAST

The U.S. State Department has issued a level 2 travel advisory for the Bahamas. Americans are urged to "exercise increased caution" due to crime, beach safety, as well as jet ski and boating dangers.

LIKE WHAT YOU'RE READING? FIND MORE ON THE TRUE CRIME HUB

A spokesperson for the State Department previously told Fox News Digital the agency is aware of reports regarding the missing American and is working with Bahamian authorities.

The State Department declined to share any additional details.

Boating in the Bahamas isn't well regulated, and the State Department has said that "injuries and deaths have occurred."

Artemis II nears end of historic mission with splashdown off California coast

Fri, 10 Apr 2026 04:01:51 -0400

The Artemis II mission to the moon is nearing completion, but first comes a safe splashdown off the San Diego coast.

The Orion spacecraft, carrying four astronauts, is expected to return Friday, with the U.S. Navy helping recover the capsule and crew from the Pacific Ocean.

San Diego, a city with deep Navy roots, is playing a central role in that effort. Several bases in the area are helping lead the recovery, bringing a sense of pride and excitement to the community.

Locals and visitors from across the country are expected to gather along the coastline and at museums throughout the area to witness the crew’s homecoming.

ARTEMIS II ASTRONAUTS SHOW OFF APOLLO 18 FLAG FROM SPACE

"We’re back in the game of deep space," said Jim Kidrick, president and CEO of the San Diego Air and Space Museum. "You go back to General Patton, World War II, you know, Americans love a winner… and will not tolerate a loser."

The mission marks the latest chapter in space exploration, wrapping up, at least for now, off the Southern California coast.

The astronauts aboard Orion are on their way home after traveling around the moon, reaching more than 252,000 miles from Earth.

"I think people have been rejuvenated by one word that’s going on in space today, and that’s the moon," Kidrick added.

ARTEMIS II PILOT VICTOR GLOVER’S DAUGHTER STEALS SPOTLIGHT WITH TRIBUTE

At the museum, the story of the Apollo program is once again front and center, as attention shifts back to deep space more than 50 years later.

"There are so many…historic moments that have happened. So it’s kind of cool to just be a part of one of them," said Abigail Lawrence, who is visiting from Utah.

Others visiting San Diego for the splashdown shared similar excitement.

"You know what? What could be better than coming back to San Diego? I don’t know, I can’t think of anything. Anything," said Sheila Haas.

San Diego-based sailors are also on the front lines, working with NASA to recover the Orion capsule from the Pacific and bring it aboard USS John P. Murtha, a Navy landing platform dock (LPD).

"I’m just happy to see that the Navy is able to use an LPD for such a peaceful mission," said Navy veteran David Haas. "The LPD are good all around ships for all sorts of things. And so it just makes me happy."

After re-entry, Navy recovery teams will secure the spacecraft and help the crew out safely.

"Our Navy certainly, with the NASA rescue team, all making sure that those astronauts finish up that mission wonderfully well and very safely," Kidrick said.

Back at the Air and Space Museum, thousands of eyes are expected to be on the sky Friday evening, with a sense of hope that a new generation will continue the push into deep space.

"We can help inspire, educate, get them excited… those young boys and girls who are really going to be those next generations," Kidrick said. "There can’t just be one greatest generation… The generations that follow you are gonna have a wonderful future because somebody will land on Mars."

For Artemis II to land off the San Diego coast, there cannot be any rain or thunderstorms within 35 miles of the splashdown zone.

Forecasters are currently monitoring a storm in the Pacific, but so far, conditions for Friday appear to be on track.

Coast Guard seizes over 4,500 pounds of cocaine worth $34M from suspected narco-terrorist vessel on Easter

Thu, 09 Apr 2026 22:31:38 -0400

The U.S. Coast Guard seized more than 4,500 pounds of cocaine worth nearly $34 million in what officials described as a suspected "narcoterrorist" vessel in the Eastern Pacific on Easter Sunday, according to DHS.

According to the Department of Homeland Security (DHS), the Coast Guard cutter Escanaba was alerted by a maritime patrol aircraft that the crew of a suspected narcoterrorist vessel was throwing contraband overboard.

The Coast Guard deployed an MH-65 Dolphin helicopter aircrew to investigate the vessel, which was operating off the coast of Manta, Ecuador.

DHS said the Escanaba crew deployed a cutter pursuit boat and recovered more than 4,510 pounds of cocaine.

HEGSETH SAYS US STRIKES FORCE SOME CARTEL LEADERS TO HALT DRUG OPERATIONS

DHS Secretary Markwayne Mullin said the recovery was part of Operation Pacific Viper, a Coast Guard counter-drug operation launched in August 2025 in the Eastern Pacific.

"Operation Pacific Viper plays a central part of President Trump’s fight against the cartels at sea, cutting off their ability to make money by trafficking their poison into our country," Mullin said in a statement. "This operation has already seized over 215,000 pounds of cocaine and has arrested over 160 suspected narco-traffickers."

He added, "The brave men and women of the Coast Guard are saving American lives by keeping these deadly drugs out of our communities and off our streets."

VIDEO CAPTURES US STRIKE ON SUSPECTED NARCO VESSEL IN EASTERN PACIFIC, COAST GUARD SEARCHES FOR 3 SURVIVORS

DHS said the Coast Guard’s efforts to disrupt drug trafficking in the Eastern Pacific are a key part of the Trump administration’s initiative to combat narcoterrorism and dismantle transnational criminal organizations.

Through Operation Pacific Viper, the Coast Guard has seized more than 215,000 pounds of cocaine and apprehended more than 160 suspected narcotraffickers, according to DHS.

According to DHS, the operation included the Coast Guard's largest drug seizure in its history, when it recovered more than 76,000 pounds of illegal drugs in August 2025, valued at $473 million. The total reflects multiple interdictions combined into a single offload.

The Coast Guard also seized nearly 50,000 pounds of illicit drugs in November 2025, valued at $362 million — one of the largest totals attributed to a Coast Guard cutter from multiple interdictions, according to DHS.

Child among 4 dead as accused arsonist allegedly drank beer during chaos

Thu, 09 Apr 2026 21:18:59 -0400

A New York City man is facing murder charges after allegedly randomly setting a fire in a Queens apartment building that killed four people, including a 3-year-old girl, and injured seven others, authorities announced.

Roman Amatitla, 38, of Maspeth, was arrested Wednesday and arraigned on multiple charges, including eight counts of second-degree murder and first-degree arson, for the March 16 blaze at a three-story building in Flushing.

He faces up to 25 years to life in prison if convicted.

Queens District Attorney Melinda Katz called the incident an "act of mass murder," noting Amatitla's chilling lack of motive.

WAVE OF ALLEGED MIGRANT MURDERS IGNITES FURY ACROSS US AS OFFICIALS WARN OF MORE CARNAGE, CRACKDOWN NEEDED

"Shockingly, the defendant had no known connection to the building or any of its occupants and selected the building at random," Katz wrote in a statement.

According to prosecutors, Amatitla entered and exited the Avery Avenue building multiple times late that morning, at one point urinating in front of the apartments.

He then went to a nearby gas station, where he bought a beer, stole a second one and took a pack of matches after refusing to pay for a lighter, authorities allege.

FOUR-TIME DEPORTED HONDURAN ARRESTED AFTER SHOVING ELDERLY AIR FORCE VET ONTO NYC SUBWAY TRACKS, DHS REVEALS

He then entered the apartment building for a fourth and final time, authorities said, allegedly lighting a piece of paper on fire and tossing it onto trash near a stairwell.

As smoke engulfed the street, he stayed in the immediate area to watch the building burn.

During a court hearing Thursday, Queens Assistant District Attorney Gabriel Reale said Amatitla "watched as people jumped from various windows, some of them living, one of them dying" while sipping on a beer, according to a report from the New York Post.

VETERAN, 83, SHOVED ONTO NYC SUBWAY TRACKS DIES FROM INJURIES, ILLEGAL MIGRANT CHARGED WITH MURDER

Three of the people killed in the blaze, identified as Sihan Yang, 3, Chengri Cui, 49, and Chie Shin Ming, 61, were found in the building and pronounced dead from smoke inhalation.

A fourth victim, Hong Zhao, 64, died at a hospital after suffering multiple broken bones and brain trauma when he leaped from a window to escape the flames.

Among those injured were a New York City Fire Department (FDNY) lieutenant and a firefighter who plunged into the basement when a staircase collapsed during rescue operations, resulting in thermal burns and smoke inhalation.

Four other occupants were injured jumping from the building to flee the fire, while a fifth was rescued from a second-story window by firefighters.

Prosecutors said Amatitla "had to get his rage out on someone or something," though no official motive has been released.

New York City Police Department records note he is from Mexico, though his immigration status has not been confirmed.

The Department of Homeland Security and Immigration and Customs Enforcement did not immediately respond to inquiries from Fox News Digital.

Amatitla was ordered to remain in custody by Criminal Court Judge Thomas Wright-Fernandez and is scheduled to return to court April 13.

Neighbor fatally shoots alleged gunman after 2 women shot in domestic dispute

Thu, 09 Apr 2026 21:01:26 -0400

A Washington state man was shot and killed by a neighbor after allegedly opening fire on two women during a domestic dispute that spilled into a nearby driveway, police said.

Officers with the Puyallup Police Department (PPD) responded around 9:10 a.m. April 2, when investigators allege 47-year-old Arnino Guanlao shot two adult female relatives after a family argument escalated outside the home.

A neighbor, who had been inside at the time, went outside and intervened, fatally shooting Guanlao, according to police.

One of the victims, 23-year-old Christiannel Lyle Macapagal Maningat, died at the scene. The second woman was transported to a hospital with life-threatening injuries, authorities said.

‘GOOD SAMARITAN’ DESCRIBES TACKLING TRANS SHOOTER AT RHODE ISLAND ICE RINK: ‘WENT FOR THE GUN’

Authorities said the case remains under investigation, including a review of the neighbor’s use of force.

Washington law allows a person to use force to protect himself or others if he reasonably believes it is necessary, but deadly force is only justified when facing an immediate threat of serious injury or death.

"That’s under investigation as to exactly how the circumstances took place," PPD Capt. Kevin Gill said during a press briefing.

MAN ACCUSED OF TIMED BEATINGS NOW CHARGED WITH MURDER AFTER WOMAN FOUND DEAD IN RIVER: REPORT

Witnesses described a chaotic scene as gunfire erupted in the neighborhood.

"There was a girl here who was face down, and she was still breathing a little and trying to move a little, but she wasn't doing much. And then pretty quick a cop came on scene, and he and I pulled her out, turned her over and found her gunshot wound on her abdomen," neighbor Michelle Weingarden-Bandes told FOX 13 Seattle.

"We are all not just in shock about what we saw, those of us who were out here this morning, but that this has happened in our neighborhood."

RHODE ISLAND ICE RINK SHOOTING VICTIMS CONFIRMED AS SHOOTER'S DAUGHTER ALLEGES 'VENDETTA' AGAINST FAMILY

Investigators said the neighbor who shot the suspect is cooperating as detectives work to determine the circumstances of the use of force, according to FOX 13 Seattle.

Detectives are also working to determine what led to the dispute and are processing multiple sites linked to the incident, the outlet reported.

Residents reported hearing multiple gunshots during the incident.

FAMILY SPEAKS OF 'PROFOUND PAIN' AFTER TRANS DAD GUNS DOWN EX-WIFE, SON AT HIGH SCHOOL HOCKEY GAME

Law enforcement officials said detectives are continuing to interview witnesses, many of whom were left distraught by the violence.

Additional reporting by Law & Crime identified Guanlao as the victims’ stepfather and said he had been firing at his adult stepdaughters when the neighbor intervened.

Authorities have not said what sparked the initial dispute.

WASHINGTON STATE STABBING RAMPAGE LEAVES 5 DEAD, INCLUDING SUSPECT SHOT BY DEPUTIES

The PPD said detectives with its Criminal Investigations Division, along with the Metro Cities Crime Response Unit, are continuing to investigate the incident.

Fox News Digital has reached out to police for additional information.

The violence has left the victims’ family reeling.

A GoFundMe created for the family says the victims’ mother is now caring for her surviving daughters while grieving the loss of one child and remaining at the bedside of another who is still hospitalized.

The fundraiser, which has raised nearly $19,000, says the family’s lives "changed in a matter of moments" and describes the emotional toll on the two other daughters now coping with the aftermath of the violence.

Organizers said the funds will help cover funeral costs, medical expenses and basic living needs as the family navigates the aftermath of the shooting.

Suspect who killed California deputy run over by armored vehicle after hours-long firefight standoff: sheriff

Thu, 09 Apr 2026 19:16:01 -0400

A California sheriff’s detective was shot and killed Thursday while serving an eviction notice after an armed suspect opened fire on deputies in what authorities described as an apparent ambush that led to an hours-long standoff.

The suspect, identified as David Eric Morales, was ultimately killed when a law enforcement BearCat armored vehicle ran over him after he continued firing and refused to surrender, authorities said.

"The suspect was lying prone on the ground, in camouflage clothing, continuing to pose a threat," Tulare County Sheriff Mike Boudreaux said later during a news conference. "The situation was resolved, and the suspect is now dead. He was not shot. One of the BearCats ran over him and killed him."

Boudreaux said the shooting happened around 10:40 a.m. in Porterville, where deputies encountered Morales, who allegedly fired at them with a high-powered rifle.

Authorities said Morales remained barricaded in his home for hours after the shooting, firing repeatedly as deputies and assisting agencies worked to contain the scene.

REPEAT OFFENDER KILLS 2 DEPUTIES DAYS AFTER $50K BOND DESPITE LONG VIOLENT RECORD: POLICE

Boudreaux said Morales eventually exited the home through a window and was later found outside, lying in brush while wearing camouflage and continuing to pose a threat.

The detective, identified by Boudreaux as Deputy Randy Hoppert, was struck by gunfire and transported to Sierra View District Hospital, where he died at 11:57 a.m.

Hoppert was a Navy corpsman who served from 2010 to 2015 and joined the Tulare County Sheriff’s Office on Jan. 5, 2020, Boudreaux said.

"This situation went from a civil order of removal to where our officer was shot and killed. This is senseless," Boudreaux said.

TIM TEBOW AND WIFE DEMI-LEIGH PARTNER WITH COMPANY GIVING EX-CONVICTS SECOND CHANCE: 'WHAT GRACE IS ALL ABOUT'

Authorities considered airlifting the Hoppert to Fresno, but his condition was too unstable for transport.

Boudreaux said Morales had not paid rent for 35 days, and deputies were serving a final eviction notice when the shooting occurred.

The sheriff said Morales appeared to have been waiting for deputies and "laid in wait" before opening fire, prompting a call for additional units.

Boudreaux described the outcome in blunt terms.

"Don’t shoot at cops. You shoot at cops, we’re going to run you over. He got run over. He got what he deserved," the sheriff said.

SIX DEAD, INCLUDING TEEN MOM AND INFANT, IN BELIEVED GANG-RELATED SHOOTING

He added that the suspect had "chosen this ending."

The sheriff also told reporters he spent time with Hoppert's wife and mother earlier this afternoon.

"I sat down at the hospital and met with the wife and his mom, and I can tell you there is no consoling that family at this point," Boudreaux said. "Attacks on law enforcement of this nature must stop."

During the standoff, Morales allegedly fired at law enforcement vehicles and equipment, including a drone that was shot out of the air, while multiple tactical vehicles took gunfire, according to Boudreaux.

Law enforcement agencies across the region responded to assist, and an escort was being organized to accompany Hoppert's body from the hospital to the coroner’s office, Boudreaux said.