Crime

A 10-year-old Virginia girl took her own life after being targeted by bullies for defending others, her family has said.

Autumn Brooke Bushman, 10, of Roanoke, died on March 21. Her parents, Mark and Summer Bushman, and two older siblings are reeling from the sudden and unexpected loss.

According to her obituary, Autumn was a child who had “deep empathy, was soft-hearted, and always ready to lend a listening ear or offer support.”

While her parents were reportedly aware she was being bullied, things began to spiral in the last few weeks.

“If somebody was getting bullied or picked on, she would stand up for them. And unfortunately, that may have made her a target for more bullying,” Summer Bushman told WDBJ7.

Autumn began making unusual changes to her everyday life: she began wearing darker clothes, laughing and joking less around her loved ones, and sleeping for longer, her father told WSLS in a separate interview.

This behavior was atypical for a young girl who had an “infectious laugh and wonderful sense of humor” and loved taking part in cheer, track, dance, and archery.

Autumn was said to have “brought joy to those around her, making every moment brighter,” her family wrote in the obituary.

The bullying, her parents say, began at the start of the school year at Mountain View Elementary School last August, where Autumn was in the fourth grade.

BISMARCK — North Dakota lawmakers barely passed a bill Wednesday, March 26, seeking to allow a women's prison to create a nursery program where babies can live with their incarcerated mothers.

After a debate that lasted nearly an hour, Senate Bill 2352 passed the House with a 48-42 vote.

The legislation is likely to be reconsidered since 48 votes are required for a bill to pass and four members were absent or not voting Wednesday.

SB 2352 would authorize the Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation to allow children 18 months or younger to live with their mothers at the Heart River Correctional Center in Mandan.

The facility is currently under construction and scheduled to open in 2027, when the program would be effective.

SB 2352 has the same intent as failed Senate Bill 2115, which was struck down by the Senate in January by an 18-29 vote. Opposing lawmakers cited concerns about the bill's uncertain, but potentially large, fiscal note.

The bill has since been slimmed from eight pages to a few sentences. Its original language would have exempted prison staff from being held liable if the child was injured — unless those injuries resulted from a negligent employee.

The head of an NYPD transit district in Queens was stripped of his command amid allegations that he had police reports falsified to downplay subway crimes on his watch, sources tell The Post.

Capt. Steven Hyland, who headed Transit District 20 in Jamaica, allegedly had two sergeants and a lieutenant under his command falsify reports — even forging signatures — to play down assaults and grand larcenies in the subway system, the law enforcement sources said.

In one incident, Hyland allegedly ordered a cop to change a complaint marked “legit” to snuff it out.

“This dude was so bad, he victimized the victim,” one source said.

Now, the veteran cop has been reassigned to a lesser detail in the Brooklyn court system after bringing internal charges against him Wednesday.

Police brass received one complaint regarding Hyland falsifying a report – prompting the department to launch its own audit, finding three more, sources said.

“When the police commissioner learned this was an investigation she told all parties to take the matter incredibly serious,” another source said. “He was transferred immediately.”

Three people have died after a shooting in St. Michael on Tuesday morning. The Spirit Lake Tribe says at 9:30 a.m. it was notified by the Bureau of Indian Affairs law enforcement of the deadly shooting.

All three people who died are members of the Spirit Lake Tribe. The Bureau of Indian Affairs says they identified the gunman and what vehicle they were in early on. The Bureau of Indian Affairs says around 1:20 p.m., a farmer spotted the vehicle near the Black Tiger Bay Campground and quickly called it in. The gunman was found inside of his vehicle, with self-inflicted injuries. The injuries were not caused by a gun.

“He sent us a pin and we all arrived at the same time. We ran up to the vehicle. We kind of circled it so there wasn’t any crossfire. We gave commands and we were able to see hands.” said Benson County Sheriff Ethan Rode.

In total, 25 law enforcement agencies aided in the search for the gunman. During the search, a shelter-in-place was issued for all residents within the Spirit Lake Reservation boundaries, including the districts of St. Michael, Fort Totten, Crow Hill, and Wood Lake. “It’s nerve wracking, but we try to make the best of it and work together with other agencies to come up with a plan to try and apprehend these people.” Sheriff Rode said.

On Tuesday, other media outlets reported that the gunman was on the way to Fargo. Valley News Live asked the Fargo police department about this, and they said, in part, that those claims weren’t true. ”The FPD is aware of the situation that occurred in Spirit Lake Reservation earlier today and the information that the Spirit Lake Tribal Council has shared publicly. At this time, this is all the information the FPD has been provided — we do not have any other details related to the incident or any verified information that the suspect is traveling to Fargo. We will continue to monitor the situation and provide updates if additional information becomes available. If you have additional questions about this incident, please contact the Spirit Lake Tribal Council.”

A man has been arrested after a Japanese streamer was fatally stabbed while she livestreamed on a downtown Tokyo street on Tuesday.

Police in Japan said Friday that they had arrested Kenji Takano, 42, on suspicion of attempted murder.

He has since been sent to prosecutors but has not been charged yet, according to a statement from Tokyo metropolitan police on Friday.

The victim, Airi Sato, 22, was rushed to a hospital on Tuesday with critical injuries after she was attacked, suffering more than 30 stab wounds to the upper body, according to police. She was later pronounced dead.

According to the New York Times, Sato was heard screaming “Help!” by witnesses and livestream viewers before her WhoWatch stream went dark, with the sounds of emergency vehicle sirens audible for those watching live.

Her audience was reportedly posting questions in the chat, like “Where did she go?” and “Someone help!”

The suspect told police he got to know Sato through her livestreaming and had seen her in person a number of times, and that they had a financial dispute, according to the Asahi newspaper and other media reports.

The Asahi newspaper reported that Takano had lent Sato 2.5 million yen (around C$24,225) and that she did not pay him back despite a court order to do so.

Kyodo News reported that it is believed that Takono began lending Sato money around 2022. The outlet also reported that during a search of his home in Oyama, police seized more than 10 receipts for bank transfers, some of them to Sato.

Tokyo police said Takano had admitted to the attack but said he didn’t mean to kill Sato.

According to police, Takano used a survival knife to stab Sato in the head, neck and torso while she stood looking into her cellphone camera on a busy street.

An EncroChat user known as "Big Sh**ger" smuggled illegal cigarettes into the UK hidden inside a shipment of pasta. Paul Wilson and his older brother Peter used the encrypted communications platform to traffic millions of pounds of drugs and illicit tobacco products.

The latter's wife now says her husband has "let her down again" as he faces the prospect of another lengthy spell in prison. A third man, Andrew Brennan, meanwhile illegally sourced more than £5million of cigarettes, including "very good copies" of Mayfair and Chesterfield cigarettes from Greece and Belgium.

Liverpool Crown Court heard that Brennan was involved in the trafficking of £5,203,993 of illegal cigarettes and £187,000 of cocaine while utilising the handle "Special Mask". Peter Wilson, who went by the pseudonym "Lesser Park", was meanwhile involved in discussions regarding £1,200,753.82 of tobacco products, £675,000 of cocaine and £7,000 of amphetamine, with Paul Wilson, the user of the account "Big Sh**ger", being connected to the supply of £2,721,729.35 of cigarettes, £375,000 of cocaine and 1,000 ecstasy tablets.

Lucia de Berk, better known to the media as Lucia de B., is a licensed pediatric nurse from The Hague. In 2003, she was sentenced to life in prison for four murders and three attempted murders.

As it turned out later, it was all a big mistake.

Her case has become one of the most famous miscarriages of justice in the history of the Netherlands.

But… how could something like this happen?

Deliberate incidents or a tragic coincidence? Let’s set the scene. At the end of 2001, Lucia worked at the Juliana Kinderziekenhuis, a children’s hospital in The Hague.

Her co-workers became suspicious after a baby unexpectedly died of “possible unnatural circumstances” under her supervision.

Tragically, similar incidents had occurred during Lucia’s shifts before. Between September 2000 and 2001, she was present for nine instances of infant death or resuscitation.

Though there was no direct evidence against Lucia, the chances of these incidents occurring so frequently were said to be medically and statistically very unlikely.

How unlikely, you ask? Experts claimed there was just a 1 in 342 million chance.

Based on this claim, the Juliana Kinderziekenhuis Children’s Hospital decided to press charges against Lucia, and other hospitals in which she had been working over the years supported the decision.

The trial During her trial at the court of The Hague, the evidence seemed to pile up against De Berk. Besides the statistical unlikelihood of what had happened, her diary became the most important piece of evidence against her.

On the night of one of the incidents where a patient had died, Lucia wrote that she had “given in to her compulsion.”

However, the final conviction was based on an expert’s statement. The expert claimed that the first victim had died due to a non-therapeutic administration of digoxin.

He believed that at least one of the victims had died as a result of a crime.

Based on this evidence, De Berk was eventually sentenced to life in prison for the murders of four patients and the attempted murders of three others on March 24, 2003. She was imprisoned at Scheveningen prison.

In her appeal in 2004, De Berk also received detention with ‘TBS’ (coerced psychiatric treatment), but the psychological observation unit found no evidence of mental illness.

De Berk continued to plead her innocence while at Scheveningen prison. She spent five years behind bars before her case was reopened in 2008.

[more at link]

Lucy Letby has called for the public inquiry into her crimes to be halted, arguing there is now “overwhelming and compelling” evidence undermining her baby murder convictions.

Lawyers for the former nurse took the extraordinary step of writing to Lady Justice Thirlwall on Monday to say that the inquiry – which is due to end on Wednesday – should be suspended immediately.

In a letter seen by the Guardian, they said the judge’s final report would “not only be redundant but likely unreliable” unless it was paused until the conclusion of a review of her convictions.

They added: “It is estimated that over £10m has been spent so far on the inquiry. It is now clear there is overwhelming and compelling evidence that Lucy Letby’s convictions are unsafe.

“For the inquiry to be effective and that taxpayer’s money not to be wasted, we urge that the inquiry be suspended and to wait for the outcome of the review to take place.”

Letby, 35, is serving 15 whole-life prison terms after being convicted of murdering seven babies and attempting to kill another seven at the Countess of Chester hospital in north-west England.

Lilie James was stalked by a former short-term partner who "carefully planned" and "rehearsed" his attack before carrying out a "premeditated killing", an inquest into her death has been told.

The 21-year-old was found with serious head injuries in the toilet area of the gym at St Andrew's Cathedral School in Sydney's CBD in October 2023.

Homicide detectives began a search for Paul Thijssen, a 23-year-old Dutch citizen who had been in a brief relationship with her, who was found dead at cliffs at Diamond Bay Reserve in Vaucluse days later.

On the opening day of concurrent inquests into the deaths, counsel assisting Jennifer Single SC said the evidence will establish Ms James was killed in the bathroom with a hammer.

She had ended their brief relationship just before her death.

"The evidence indicates that Paul stalked Lilie, Paul carefully planned his attack, and in the hours before the attack, he rehearsed his attack, making a number of dry runs," Ms Single said.

Violent crime creeps into every corner of New York City.

Indian prince Chitresh “Teddy” Khedker, 57, and his socialite wife, Nenescha, 70, were found dead in their luxurious apartment on the Upper East Side of Manhattan on April 12, 1993, according to New York Homicide, airing Saturdays at 9/8c p.m. on Oxygen.

“There weren’t any gunshots. There weren’t any stab wounds,” former New York City Police Department Detective Marc Slender said in the true crime show's “Royal Bloodshed” episode. He added that, by then, the victims “were starting to decompose.”

The housekeeper who discovered the bodies around 11 a.m. that Monday morning informed police that, “Teddy was a prince from India,” Slender said. “The wife came from money as well and was originally from South America.”

Between the royal lineage and the couple's wealthy Park Ave. address, investigators faced a “high-profile case,” Slender said.

Before the investigation was resolved, two more murder victims and a horrifying crime scene would be tied to it.

DOWNERS GROVE, Ill. - A west suburban soccer coach and tutor allegedly sexually assaulted a 15-year-old student inside a classroom in 2023, according to prosecutors.

Christina Formella, 30, was charged with aggravated criminal sexual abuse and criminal sexual assault, the DuPage County State’s Attorney’s Office said.

Alleged assault of teen boy What we know

The victim and his mother reported the alleged assault on Saturday to the Downers Grove Police Department.

The mother learned of the incident when looking through her son’s text messages on his phone.

Prosecutors said in December of 2023, Formella, who was the boy’s tutor and soccer coach, and the victim were in a classroom at Downers Grove South High School for a tutoring session before school began.

That’s when Formella allegedly sexually assaulted the boy, prosecutors said.

After learning of the alleged assault, Downers Grove detectives stopped Formella on Sunday and took her into custody.

Formella was granted a release from jail with conditions, including being forbidden from entering Downers Grove South High School or from contacting anyone under the age of 18.

The Virginia teenage track runner who struck an opponent in the head with a baton during a race last week has been charged with assault and battery.

Alaila Everett, a track competitor from I.C. Norcom High School in Lynchburg, Virginia, made headlines earlier this week when a video of her smashing a baton into the head of a fellow runner went viral. The opposing runner, Brookville High School junior Kaelen Tucker, suffered a concussion and possible skull fracture.

Everett faces one misdemeanor count of assault and battery.

The video set off a torrent of social media reactions, prompting Everett to take to the airwaves and proclaim her innocence.

On Tuesday, Everett appeared on ABC’s Good Morning America, saying it was not “in her character” to attack another person unprovoked. Everett is not alone in defending herself. The Portsmouth NAACP has also taken up her cause.

“Alaila is NOT AN ATTACKER and media headlines that allude towards that in any way is shameful. We understand the sensitivity of the circumstances for both athletes and their families involved but this narrative must not go unaddressed,” a statement from the group read.

“Alaila is an honor student and a star athlete at the historic I.C. Norcom High School. From all accounts, she is an exceptional young leader and scholar whose athletic talent has been well documented and recognized across our state. She has carried herself with integrity both on and off the field, and any narrative that adjudicates her guilty of any criminal activity is a violation of her due process rights.”

Everett claims the baton strike occurred because she got stuck behind Tucker and lost her balance.

cross-posted from: https://hilariouschaos.com/post/1219302

Author: The Associated Press, ABC News
Published on: 12/03/2025 | 09:00:39

AI Summary:
Police arrested several men accused of sexual assault of their underaged daughters. They are accused of repeatedly raping their daughters or stepdaughters. Police have so far refused to confirm the reports.

Original: 158 words
Summary: 31 words
Percent reduction: 80.38%

I'm a bot and I'm open source

One Newark police officer was killed and another is “fighting for his life” in critical condition after a shootout with a 14-year-old suspect Friday evening, according to reports.

Shots rang out around 6:30 p.m. near a White Castle and McDonald’s where the teen was hanging out with friends, ABC7 reported, citing the Essex County Prosecutor’s Office.

The young gunman allegedly fired a total of 29 shots at officers, sources told PIX11.

Both officers were hit in the flurry of bullets and were taken to University Hospital, ABC7 reported.

The injured officer is in critical condition and is “fighting for their life,” the New Jersey State Policemen’s Benevolent Association said in a statement.

There are conflicting reports about the status of the teen, with PIX 11 sources saying he was killed, while ABC 7 reported he was taken into custody.

The suspect was hanging with a large group at the fast-food restaurants just before the incident, but it is not clear what led to the shootout, according to ABC 7.

“I have been updated on an incident that took place in Newark earlier tonight involving two officers that were shot,” New Jersey Gov. Phil Murphy wrote on X.

An Israeli woman and her host were gang raped while stargazing in southern India, authorities say.

According to reports, the Israeli visitor, 27, and her host, 29, were stargazing near Sanapur lake in Hampi, Karnataka alongside three other male tourists before they were brutally attacked.

Ram L Arasiddi, superintendent of Koppal police, confirmed that the alleged attackers — reportedly three — approached the five individuals asking where they could find gasoline. One of the alleged attackers then demanded money — 100 rupees — from the stargazers.

“Since the homestay operator did not know them, she told them they had no money,” police said, according to BBC. At one point, one of the male tourists gave them 20 rupees, and an argument ensued.

“After that, the three men allegedly started arguing and threatened to bash their heads with stones,” according to police.

The AP reports the assailants allegedly pushed the male travelers into a water canal, and one of them drowned. They then were accused of sexually assaulting the women.

“The woman [homestay operator] said in her complaint that besides being beaten up, the two women were sexually assaulted by the accused,” according to authorities.

The US Secret Service shot a man outside the White House early on Sunday after an "armed confrontation", the service said in a statement.

It had earlier received a tip-off from local police about a "suicidal individual who may be travelling to Washington DC from Indiana", it said.

Its officers approached a man matching that description, "who brandished a firearm", it said, adding that shots were fired. The man is now in hospital in an "unknown" condition.

President Donald Trump was not in the White House at the time, as he is spending the weekend at his Florida residence, Mar-a-Lago.

"As officers approached, the individual brandished a firearm and an armed confrontation ensued, during which shots were fired by our personnel," the statement said.

The incident is now under investigation by Washington's Metropolitan Police, which investigates all law-enforcement shootings in the District of Columbia.

A judge ordered a prison sentence of eight to 20 years Monday for a man in a shooting whose case raised separation of powers questions and who was previously sent to prison for a pet shop fire.

Kirk Bills, 38, pleaded guilty to attempted murder and discharging a gun from or within a structure or vehicle via an Alford plea, meaning he admitted only that prosecutors had enough evidence to convict him.

Bills was accused of shooting a 37-year-old man in March 2020 outside an apartment on the 800 block of North Major Avenue. Three men approached the victim and two fired guns, causing him to lose an eye and suffer internal organ damage. Police said at the time that the shooting appeared to be retaliation for an attempted break-in.

In December 2020, attorney Dayvid Figler, who then represented Bills, argued then-Chief Deputy District Attorney Nicole Cannizzaro, who was also Senate majority leader, had stacked charges against Bills after legislative attempts to “curb prosecutorial abuses” failed. Figler said it was a violation of the separation of powers doctrine for Cannizzaro to work on the case.

District Judge Tierra Jones ruled in September 2022 that there was no separation of powers issue with Cannizzaro prosecuting the case.

“This was an attempted execution,” said Chief Deputy District Attorney Nicholas Portz.

The prosecutor said the case involved two different shootings in the span of about 40 minutes: one at a cemetery where people were visiting graves and the one in Henderson.

“There were women and children who were shot at during the course of this particular event,” he said of the cemetery shooting. “Fortunately, no one was struck.”

Bills shot the Henderson victim, Robert Ortiz, in front of his children, Portz said, then put his gun to the back of Ortiz’s head and pulled the trigger again.

“Because (Ortiz) turned his head, the bullet went through his head, but he lost his eye instead of his life that day,” Portz said.

Bills fled to Minnesota after the shootings, where he was arrested after robbing someone at gun point, according to the prosecutor.

Defense attorney Michael Miceli said Bills used an Alford plea because he wouldn’t admit he was part of the cemetery shooting and was not sure if he or another suspect hit the Henderson victim.