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Lindsay Clancy Retrial: Social Media Could Boost Defense

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Lindsay Clancy Retrial: Social Media Could Boost Defense

As jurors in Lindsay Clancy’s murder trial told the court for a second time Wednesday that they could not reach a verdict, a retired Massachusetts Superior Court judge said a mistrial could create an uncommon strategic opening for the defense if the case is tried again.

Clancy, 36, is charged with three counts of first-degree murder in the deaths of her young children, Cora, Dawson and Callan, all of whom were under 6 years old when they were found strangled inside the family’s Massachusetts home in January 2023.

On Wednesday afternoon, Judge William Sullivan issued jurors a Tuey-Rodriguez instruction after they again indicated they were deadlocked. The legal charge is used when a jury is struggling to agree, urging members to keep deliberating and consider one another’s views while making clear they should not abandon sincerely held beliefs simply to reach a unanimous decision.

Lindsay Clancy sits during trial.

Lindsay Clancy looks on as the jury enters the courtroom during her murder trial at Plymouth Superior Court in Plymouth, Massachusetts, on Monday, Aug. 17, 2026. (Greg Derr/Pool The Patriot Ledger via AP)

Sullivan had held off on giving that instruction earlier in the week, when jurors first told the court they were having trouble finding common ground, choosing at that point to send them back to continue deliberations.

The jurors deliberating in Clancy’s murder trial are discussing several options, which include first-degree murder, second-degree murder, voluntary or involuntary manslaughter, not guilty by reason of lack of criminal responsibility (insanity) or not guilty.

Judge William Sullivan presides as Lindsay Clancy appears in Plymouth Superior Court during jury deliberations

Judge William Sullivan, left, delivered a rare Tuey-Rodriguez charge to the deadlocked jury Wednesday as Lindsay Clancy, right, looked on during proceedings in Plymouth Superior Court. (Greg Derr/The Patriot Ledger via Pool and David L. Ryan/Pool)

Retired Massachusetts Superior Court Judge Jack Lu told News Media that a retrial after a mistrial has traditionally favored the prosecution, but that social media has upended that conventional wisdom.

“In the past, the conventional wisdom was that the prosecution is more likely to win on a retrial after a hung jury. Now it’s different… The new conventional wisdom is question mark because of social media infected trials,” Lu said.

The defense attorney walking into court.

Defense attorney Kevin Reddington addresses reporters as jurors weigh the case against Lindsay Clancy in the 2023 deaths of her three children. (JOSEPH PREZIOSO / AFP via Getty Images)

Lu pointed to Karen Read’s case, the Massachusetts woman who was tried twice in the death of her Boston police officer boyfriend. Her case drew a massive amount of social media interest, which he said had a major impact on her trials. In 2024, jurors deadlocked in Read’s trial, and she was acquitted at her retrial in 2025.

“In the Karen Read case, the social media abuse was at a slow boil in the first trial. At the second trial, it just all erupted,” Lu said.

Reddington displaying a photo in court.

Kevin Reddington, an attorney for Lindsay Clancy, speaks to reporters outside Plymouth Superior Court on Sept. 1, 2026. (Greg Derr/The Patriot Ledger via AP, Pool)

ALSO READ: New Mom Honored by Loved Ones in Emotional Tribute After Murder

Lu himself said he’s no longer on social media because “it’s too abusive an environment.”

While Reddington himself said he’d “absolutely” go to trial again if Sullivan declares a mistrial, he said Clancy couldn’t emotionally handle another one.

“She had a flat affect, she’s sad,” he said on Tuesday to reporters.

A GoFundMe for Clancy’s parents, the Musgrove family, has surpassed $830,000, though it’s unclear who would fund her defense in a retrial, or whether Reddington would charge for it.

Three young Clancy children in pajamas sit together on a couch, the smiling baby resting against his older brother, with their sister beside them.

Callan, left, Dawson and Cora Clancy. The three children were killed at their Duxbury, Massachusetts, home in January 2023. (Lindsay Marie Clancy/Facebook)

Wednesday marks the second time the Clancy jury reported they’ve been unable to reach a unanimous decision.

In a note sent to Sullivan on Tuesday, jurors said that “after many hours of deliberation, we are unable to come to a unanimous decision.” He directed them to resume their work.

“I brought you back out because I know that this was a long trial. All right, I know there were over 80 witnesses. There were over 300 exhibits. Because of that, I’m going to ask you to go back out, keeping in mind all of the instructions that I gave you to go out and to continue your deliberations at this time. All right. And so, with that, I’m going to ask you to go back out. Like I said, keep in mind the instructions I gave you reviewing the evidence, and I’d ask you to resume your deliberations at this time,” Sullivan said.

Lindsay Clancy trial

Lindsay Clancy’s defense lawyer, Kevin J. Reddington, addresses the media outside of Plymouth Superior Court, Wednesday, Aug. 26, 2026. Clancy is on trial for the murder of her three children in January 2023. (David McGlynn for News Media)

If jurors return once more to say they are still deadlocked, Lu said, the case will likely end in a mistrial.

“I’m afraid so, with limited exceptions, it would end up being a mistrial, a true hung jury, deadlocked jury,” Lu said.

Jurors will return Thursday to continue deliberations for a sixth day, having already spent more than 28 hours weighing a verdict.

New Mom Honored by Loved Ones in Emotional Tribute After Murder

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New Mom Honored by Loved Ones in Emotional Tribute After Murder

A Bank of America vice president who was fatally attacked by a knife-wielding woman in Times Square is being remembered in a heartfelt tribute as a woman “deeply devoted” to her loved ones.

Erin Piacenti, 32, of Chester, New Jersey, died Monday afternoon after officials said she was stabbed in the stomach by 49-year-old Pamela Cisneros Lopez.

An online fundraiser has since been launched, featuring a photo of Piacenti smiling while holding her newborn daughter, Madison, beside her husband, Frank.

The tribute on the fundraising page emphasized that Piacenti should be remembered for the life she led rather than the violence that ended it, saying: “Erin’s life was defined not by the circumstances of her death, but instead by the way she lived.”

It continued: “Erin was deeply devoted to her family and friends, exceptionally bright and accomplished, and was someone who brought warmth and energy to the people around her.”

‘Erin and Frank celebrated their second wedding anniversary this summer, had just returned from a family road trip upon her passing, and were preparing to build a life together with their new daughter. That life changed incomprehensibly in an instant.

‘Funds raised will be dedicated to supporting Madison as she grows up surrounded by the family, friends, stories, and memories that will allow her to know just how remarkable her mother was.’ 

Monday was the first day that Piacenti returned to the office after maternity leave, loved ones said. 

Erin Piacenti, 32, her daughter Madison and her husband Frank are seen here together. The family shared a heartbreaking tribute remembering Piacenti as a devoted mom

Erin Piacenti, 32, her daughter Madison and her husband Frank are seen here together. The family shared a heartbreaking tribute remembering Piacenti as a devoted mom

Piacenti is seen here in an image shared to an online fundraiser holding her baby daughter Madison

Piacenti is seen here in an image shared to an online fundraiser holding her baby daughter Madison

She was standing on West 41st street in Midtown, Manhattan, when she was approached by Lopez and stabbed at random.

Lopez was finally stopped by officers after the random stabbing spree, in which she also injured 68-year-old Tak Kam by stabbing him in the stomach. 

Footage emerged earlier this week showing officers firing a taser at Lopez, from Queens, as she refused to back down and waved the two kitchen knives at them.

Police then shot the woman, and she immediately fell to the ground where she was handcuffed and given first aid. 

At a press conference alongside Mayor Zohran Mamdani, Police Commissioner Jessica Tisch said Lopez had told officers during a brief standoff: ‘I’m not dropping anything, I would rather kill both of you.’

Tisch told reporters: ‘This was an extraordinarily dangerous situation unfolding in the heart of Times Square, the crossroads of the world.

‘At any given moment, there are thousands of New Yorkers, commuters, tourists, families, workers moving through these streets.’ 

She added that Lopez has a ‘documented mental health history’ with the department which included two incidents in 2018 and 2019 but she was never arrested. 

Pamela Cisneros Lopez was fatally gunned down after running at officers with the two kitchen knives

Pamela Cisneros Lopez was fatally gunned down after running at officers with the two kitchen knives

Piacenti was standing on West 41st street in Midtown, Manhattan, on Monday when she was approached by Lopez and stabbed at random

Piacenti was standing on West 41st street in Midtown, Manhattan, on Monday when she was approached by Lopez and stabbed at random

Join the discussion

How should our city address violent attacks linked to untreated mental illness in public spaces?

Both Tisch and Mayor Mamdani praised the officers, saying more people could have been hurt or killed if not for their actions. 

Lopez’s brother, Patrick Peralta, 58, told the Daily Mail on Tuesday that she had been diagnosed with bipolar disorder about ten years ago, following a bout of postpartum depression after the birth of her second child around a decade before that.

Peralta spoke at their mother’s home in Jackson Heights, Queens, where they grew up and where their relatives have gathered after hearing the news.

The 58-year-old said that they were a tight-knit family, and that Lopez was the youngest of six. She worked as an HR employee and was a daily church-goer. 

Peralta said that Lopez had struggled with postpartum depression since her children’s birth, and had tried to bring them up for years until she could no longer cope.

‘I think she felt like she hadn’t accomplished anything with her life because she was at home with the kids,’ Peralta told the Daily Mail.

Lopez had also been ‘going through a divorce for the past five to eight years,’ and Peralta said he wasn’t sure whether it had been finalized.

Peralta, who works as a surgical technician in the city, said Lopez’s mental health reached a crisis point in March 2019, when she attempted suicide.

Lopez's brother said his sister had previously attempted suicide but seemed to have gotten her mental health back on track in recent times

Lopez’s brother said his sister had previously attempted suicide but seemed to have gotten her mental health back on track in recent times 

Police released an image of the two knives recovered at the scene following the double stabbing

Police released an image of the two knives recovered at the scene following the double stabbing

‘She threw herself on the train tracks at Jamaica station,’ he said. ‘Somebody pulled her off the tracks.’

However, since then, Lopez had been turning her life around while taking medication for bipolar disorder and had seemed ‘fine’ for about six years, he said.

Peralta said he recognized his sister in footage of the stabbing on the news and called police.

‘It was the worst thing I have ever watched,’ he told the Daily Mail. ‘I had a premonition that it was her and called the police.

‘I don’t know what was going through her head, but I think she wanted to get shot. I don’t know where the rage came from. I was in shock because she was never violent. I’m still numb.’

‘She seemed normal the last time I saw her – there were no signs that something like this could happen,’ he added. 

‘She was taking medication – she gave herself injections every month. Maybe she didn’t take the last one and started going off track after that.’

Police are investigating. Tisch said there was no evidence suggesting it was a terrorist attack. 

4 Wall Exercises That Strengthen Lower Belly Muscles After 65

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It’s easy to get comfortable with the exercises you already know and enjoy—especially when they’ve helped you see progress. But fitness professionals often recommend refreshing your routine if you want to keep building muscle, improving strength, and increasing endurance. Changing up your workouts can also help you avoid a frustrating plateau, stay mentally engaged, and move toward your fitness goals with greater efficiency.

That’s especially true when it comes to workouts for lower belly fat. Many people default to classic core moves like sit-ups when they want a flatter stomach, but they’re not the only—or always the best—option. We spoke with Jacob Siwicki, founder and head coach of Siwicki Fitness, NCSF and AFAA certified trainer, former top 1% globally ranked Equinox group fitness instructor in 2019, Dartmouth economics graduate, former Dartmouth football player, FOX 5 DC fitness expert, and the #1-ranked personal trainer in Washington, D.C. in 2021. Siwicki shared four effective wall exercises that can help strengthen the core and target lower belly fat after 65 more effectively than relying on sit-ups alone.

“I like these four exercises because they train the core to do its real job, which is keeping the spine and pelvis steady while the arms and legs move. The wall gives you support, but it does not do the work for you. You still have to brace your abs, control your posture, and stop yourself from rotating or arching,” Siwicki tells us. “They are also a lot more accessible for someone who has trouble getting down on the floor or has wrist, shoulder, or back issues. You can make any of them harder just by stepping farther away from the wall or moving more slowly.”

To try this core-strengthening move, all you need is your body weight and a stable wall.

Trump Unveils Final 30-Day Midterm Strategy to Help Republicans Win Congress

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Trump Unveils Final 30-Day Midterm Strategy to Help Republicans Win Congress

President Trump on Wednesday outlined an aggressive late-cycle campaign strategy aimed at helping Republicans prevail in 35 pivotal midterm races as the party works to defend its congressional majorities this fall.

Speaking at a White House Rose Garden dinner attended by GOP lawmakers and administration officials, Trump said he plans to begin traveling in October — roughly one month before the high-stakes Nov. 3 elections — while also holding a series of tele-rallies designed to energize Republican voters and boost candidates in competitive contests.

“I’m going to take the final 30 days, maybe a little bit more than that, because it’s all about 35 races,” Trump told the gathering. “I’m going to go to every one of those 35 places, and we’re going to see if we can get everyone elected.”

Trump did not identify the specific races he intends to target, though 35 Senate seats are on the ballot in November. He asked Republican leaders in attendance, including House Speaker Mike Johnson (R-La.), to flag candidates who are “either tied,” narrowly ahead or trailing by a small margin.

“In some cases, you can be losing by a lot, and we’ll bring you over the line,” Trump said. “But mostly, it’s if you’re close — and we’ll get, I think, we’ll get all those people elected.”

RELATED: Amy Acton Declines Debate With Vivek Ramaswamy in Ohio Governor Race

The president also teased a flurry of “tele-townhalls,” as many as 10-per-night, in the run-up to the midterms. 

“They’re fantastic. They work amazingly,” he said. 

Trump specifically pledged to campaign in Alaska, for incumbent GOP Sen. Dan Sullivan, and in Texas, for Attorney General Ken Paxton, who is locked in a tight Senate race with Democrat James Talarico. 

Trump compared the potentially brutal schedule to the final 120 days of his 2024 presidential campaign, during which he claims he swore-off playing golf. 

“Four months out I said, ‘OK, no days off.’ If I didn’t make 4-5 speeches a day it was very bad. I just went around and really campaigned hard,” he recalled. 

“For 4 months, there will be no pleasure. I’m not gonna go play golf. … All I’m gonna do is work, work, work, fight, fight, fight, win, win, win … and I did.”

Birkenstock Boston and Arizona Styles Drop to Just $100 Ahead of Labor Day

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Birkenstock Boston and Arizona Styles Drop to Just $100 Ahead of Labor Day

If you’ve had your eye on Boston and Arizona Birkenstocks on sale, this is the moment to shop. Ahead of Labor Day, Birkenstock is marking down some of its most-loved footwear styles.

Select colors and versions of the iconic Boston clogs and Arizona sandals are currently priced at just $100. Even better, we spotted plenty of even more Birkenstock finds under $80, including the Florida Birko-Flor and Catalina Luxe Buckle.

READ MORE: Maine High Court Gives Dad Final Say on Daughter’s Church Attendance

Birkenstocks have long been known for their comfort, but they’re also a simple way to give fall outfits that relaxed, pulled-together feel. Wear the clogs with straight-leg or baggy jeans, a soft sweater and your go-to jacket for an easy autumn look. They’re just as useful for quick coffee runs, campus walks or laid-back days at home.

Whether you’re shopping for a reliable everyday shoe or a seasonal staple to carry you into fall, these Birkenstock deals are worth grabbing soon before they disappear.

Transformers Star Peter Cullen’s Cause of Death Revealed at 85

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Transformers Star Peter Cullen’s Cause of Death Revealed at 85

Peter Cullen, the celebrated voice behind the “Transformers” franchise, died after suffering cardiac arrest.

The veteran voice actor passed away last Wednesday at his home in Los Angeles. According to a death certificate obtained by TMZ, Cullen’s official cause of death was listed as cardiac arrest brought on by respiratory arrest.

The document also cited malignant neoplasm of the lower lobe of the lungs as the underlying cause, indicating that Cullen had a cancerous tumor in the lower portion of either his right or left lung.

Cullen is expected to be laid to rest at Forest Lawn on Sept. 9, TMZ also reported.

He was 85.

His family previously told TMZ in a statement that he died “peacefully, surrounded by his loving family — and held in the hearts of his many friends and countless fans worldwide.”

The statement continued, “His family asks that you honor his remarkable legacy by serving your communities and leading others with compassion, integrity, and loyalty and always remember ‘be strong enough to be gentle.’”

Cullen was famous for voicing Optimus Prime in the “Transformers” franchise. He voiced the iconic character in the original 1980s “Transformers” animated TV series, and reprised the role in 1986’s “The Transformers: The Movie.”

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Two decades later, he brought his signature deep and calming baritone voice to 2007’s “Transformers” live-action movie directed by Michael Bay, which starred Shia LaBeouf and Megan Fox.

He subsequently voiced the character in every live-action “Transformers,” including “Transformers: Revenge of the Fallen” (2009), “Transformers: Dark of the Moon” (2011), “Transformers: Age of Extinction” (2014), “Transformers: The Last Knight” (2017), “Bumblebee” (2018), and “Transformers: Rise of the Beasts” (2023).

Aside from voicing Optimus Prime, Cullen was known for voicing the downcast donkey Eeyore in the 1988 show “The New Adventures of Winnie the Pooh.” He continued playing the beloved character across numerous Disney productions for decades.

More legendary voice work Cullen became known for was bringing giant monster King Kong to life in 1976’s “King Kong,” and providing vocal effects for the alien creature Predator in 1987’s “Predator.”

He received a Lifetime Achievement Award from the National Academy of Television Arts & Sciences at the Children’s & Family Emmy Awards in 2023 for his extraordinary contribution to voice acting.

During his emotional speech that later went viral, Cullen shared that the inspiration for Optimus Prime came from his late brother Larry, who was a decorated US Marine Corps captain.

Cullen recalled his brother telling him, “Peter if you’re going to be a hero, be a real hero. Be strong enough to be gentle.”

“Semper Fi, Larry,” he added, referencing the official motto of the Marines, which means “always faithful” in Latin. “All my heart, I thank you.”

CommBank’s $211,000 Property Value Call Alarms Mortgage Holders

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CommBank’s $211,000 Property Value Call Alarms Mortgage Holders

Australian mortgage holders are growing increasingly anxious after one of the nation’s big four banks cautioned that rising interest rates could put further pressure on property prices, with Sydney expected to bear the brunt of the downturn.

In its latest housing market forecast released this week, Commonwealth Bank said national home values could slide by nine per cent, while capital city property prices may fall by around ten per cent on average.

CBA economists warned that Australia’s housing market is heading for a “deeper correction”, with the decline in home values unfolding more quickly and across more areas than previously expected.

“The adjustment over the past three months has been larger and faster than we anticipated,” senior economist Trent Saunders said on Tuesday.

The report identified Sydney and Melbourne as the weakest major property markets, noting that Sydney dwelling values dropped 1.4 per cent in August and are now 7.1 per cent lower than their February peak.

Melbourne prices fell 1.1 per cent and are 6.5 per cent below their previous peak.

CommBank’s economists said the bigger change in recent months has been in Brisbane and Adelaide, which have each recorded three consecutive monthly price falls, while Perth has fallen for four months in a row. 

Financial comparison site Canstar published analysis of CommBank Research, seen by realestate.com.au, which predicted median property prices could fall by between $89,000 and $211,000 across the capital cities.

Aussie homeowners have been warned to brace as property values are expected to take a downturn (stock image)

Aussie homeowners have been warned to brace as property values are expected to take a downturn (stock image) 

Commonwealth Bank economists said this week that there is an upcoming 'deeper correction' in home values for Australia

Commonwealth Bank economists said this week that there is an upcoming ‘deeper correction’ in home values for Australia

CommBank forecast Sydney house prices would fall 14 per cent from peak to trough, cutting median house values by about $211,000. 

In response, Canstar’s data insights director Sally Tindall warned this was ‘no longer spare change’ but represented a significant hit to homeowners’ wealth.

Melbourne is expected to take a 12 per cent hit, stripping $119,000 from median home values, while Brisbane, Perth and Adelaide are also forecast to suffer significant declines.

RELATED: Ex-Biggs Mayor Sentenced for Grooming Foreign Exchange Student

Modelling predicts an eight per cent fall in Brisbane, wiping $97,000 off its median home price.

Both Perth and Adelaide median house prices would be knocked below the $1 million mark, down to $991,000 and $931,000 respectively. 

The forecasting from CommBank Research comes as experts predict another Reserve Bank of Australia interest rate rise before Christmas. 

If the board of the RBA makes that call, it would be the fourth increase of 2026. 

CommBank said higher interest rates could put further pressure on homeowners, forecasting the cash rate could rise by 0.25 percentage points in November to 4.60 per cent. ANZ made the same prediction. 

CBA's forecast predicts home values will drop more over the rest of the year

CBA’s forecast predicts home values will drop more over the rest of the year 

Canstar's data insights director Sally Tindall warned the decline in property values was 'no longer spare change' but represented a significant hit to homeowners' wealth

Canstar’s data insights director Sally Tindall warned the decline in property values was ‘no longer spare change’ but represented a significant hit to homeowners’ wealth 

This would add around $92 a month to mortgage repayments, taking the total increase this year to about $364 a month.

Meanwhile, National Australia Bank has a bleaker prediction, suggesting back-to-back rate rises could push the cash rate to 4.85 per cent before the end of the year. 

According to Canstar, this could add an extra $183 a month to repayments on a standard $600,000 home loan. 

For homeowners concerned about these forecasts, Ms Tindall urged Australians to check their savings accounts. 

She said banks are quietly cutting base interest rates while keeping higher bonus rates advertised. 

Accused 15-Year-Old Claims Self-Defense in Seattle Mass Shooting

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Accused 15-Year-Old Claims Self-Defense in Seattle Mass Shooting

A 15-year-old boy charged in connection with a deadly shooting at a packed Seattle food festival is arguing that he fired his weapon in self-defense, even as investigators continue working to identify additional gunmen believed to be involved.

According to court filings obtained by KOMO News, the teenager’s attorney said he took a handgun from a pouch and returned fire after two unknown suspects allegedly started shooting in the direction of him and a friend during the Bite of Seattle on July 26.

The burst of gunfire triggered panic near the Seattle Center Armory, not far from the Space Needle, as festival attendees ran for safety. Three people were killed and four others were injured, among them a 2-year-old boy, News Media previously reported.

Authorities have characterized the violence as a gang-related exchange of gunfire that left bystanders trapped in the chaos. Those killed were identified as 19-year-old Niko-Semo, a 44-year-old man and a 56-year-old woman.

Police officers keep watch at a mass shooting scene at the Bite of Seattle food festival.

Police officers stand guard following a mass shooting at the Bite of Seattle food festival on July 26. (Getty Images)

More than a month later, the 15-year-old remains the only person charged in connection with the shooting.

The King County Prosecuting Attorney’s Office told News Media that police have not brought prosecutors any cases involving anyone else in the shooting.

“Seattle Police are handling the investigation,” the office said. “No other cases from the Bite of Seattle shooting other than the charged case involving the 15-year-old have been referred by police investigators to the KCPAO.”

Police have, however, identified two potential persons of interest after combing through roughly 450 hours of video, Interim Seattle Police Chief Andre Sayles told FOX 13 Seattle.

Sayles cautioned that police have not determined whether the two people opened fire.

Seattle Police probing a mass shooting

Police officers at the scene of a mass shooting in Seattle on July 26. (KCPQ)

“I can say that we are looking at two potential persons of interest in this incident, not saying that they are the shooters or anything of that nature, but people that we have identified that we need to have a conversation with,” Sayles said.

No additional arrests have been announced. Sayles said detectives are moving closer to interviews and could make arrests if the evidence supports them.

The teen, whose name has not been released because he is charged as a juvenile, insists he only opened fire after someone began shooting at him.

His public defender, Hong Tran, said several eyewitnesses backed up that version of events.

ALSO READ: Jennifer Aniston Opens Up About the Fear Her Boyfriend Is Helping Her Conquer

“Law enforcement has interviewed several eyewitnesses to the shooting who confirmed that [the teen] reached for a firearm after the shooting started,” Tran wrote in an Aug. 28 memorandum, according to KOMO News.

Tran said the boy had gone to the festival to enjoy the food and was standing near Niko-Semo when the first shots rang out.

“After hearing shots fired, witnesses observed [the teen] pull a firearm from a pouch and shoot in the direction of the shots,” Tran wrote.

Officers working the festival raced toward the gunfire and arrested the teen at the scene. Witness video obtained by KOMO News appears to show police taking him into custody.

“I was getting shot at,” the teen told officers, according to the defense filing. He said he fired back in self-defense.

Prosecutors say the teen’s actions were anything but defensive, accusing him of recklessly firing into an area packed with adults and children.

“There is no greater threat to the community than a person indiscriminately firing into a crowd of adults and children who only wanted to attend and enjoy Bite of Seattle,” Senior Deputy Prosecuting Attorney Logan Bryant wrote in a filing opposing the teen’s release, according to KOMO News.

The teen faces first-degree assault with a deadly weapon and second-degree unlawful possession of a firearm by a person under 18, King County Superior Court records show. Prosecutors also filed a firearm sentencing enhancement with the assault charge.

His shots were not responsible for any of the three deaths, according to court records cited by KOMO News.

Seattle Mayor Katie Wilson and Police Chief Shon Barnes stand at a vigil in Seattle.

Seattle Police Chief Shon Barnes and Seattle Mayor Katie Wilson attend a vigil for victims on July 27, after a shooting at Seattle Center during the Bite of Seattle food festival. (Lindsey Wasson/AP Photo)

Prosecutors said the boy was carrying a Polymer80 “ghost gun” fitted with an extended magazine capable of holding more than 30 rounds. The privately assembled weapon did not have a standard serial number and allegedly carried a vanity plate reading “1 SHOT 1 KILL.”

Investigators recovered at least four guns at the scene, including weapons allegedly tied to the teen and Niko-Semo, KOMO News reported. Police have been testing the firearms as they work to determine who else was involved in the deadly exchange.

The teen’s attorney asked a judge to release him to electronic monitoring at his father’s home. The judge rejected the request last week and ordered him to remain in custody.

The shooting also sparked scrutiny over the city’s delayed public updates and decision not to use its emergency alert system.

Days later, Wilson accepted Barnes’ resignation after he was asked to step down during a meeting with the mayor, five sources told FOX 13 Seattle. Barnes later defended his response and said he followed department protocol, KOMO News reported.

The teen is due back in juvenile court for a status hearing in October. Prosecutors will ask a judge in November to move the case to adult court.

Jennifer Aniston Opens Up About the Fear Her Boyfriend Is Helping Her Conquer

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Jennifer Aniston Opens Up About the Fear Her Boyfriend Is Helping Her Conquer

Jennifer Aniston stepped into the moderator’s seat in New York City on Wednesday, publicly interviewing her boyfriend, Jim Curtis, as he celebrated the release of his new book, The Book of Possibility.

The 57-year-old Friends alum joined the 50-year-old author onstage at Kaufmann Concert Hall at 92NY Residence, where a packed audience watched the pair’s easy rapport and playful back-and-forth, according to photos and video obtained by the Daily Mail.

After their 30-minute conversation, the event opened up to fan questions, leading Aniston to share that Curtis was helping her confront a “deep fear” simply by having her lead the discussion.

The candid moment came when she was asked to name “one possibility” she was choosing that day.

Aniston answered that she was “choosing to overcome a very deep, deep fear of public speaking.”

Then, asked how she handles stress, the star answered, ‘I think I’m doing really well. Deep breaths and meditation.’ 

Aniston emphasized, ‘Truly. It is five deep, deep breaths. Focus. Take a moment.’

Jennifer Aniston publicly interviewed longtime boyfriend Jim Curtis on Wednesday in New York City to mark the release of his new book, The Book of Possibility

Jennifer Aniston publicly interviewed longtime boyfriend Jim Curtis on Wednesday in New York City to mark the release of his new book, The Book of Possibility

During a Q&A from fans following their 30-minute conversation, Aniston revealed a 'deep fear' that Curtis is helping her overcome by having her moderate the event; seen in November 2025

During a Q&A from fans following their 30-minute conversation, Aniston revealed a ‘deep fear’ that Curtis is helping her overcome by having her moderate the event; seen in November 2025 

Meanwhile, Curtis opened up about his personal struggles during the one-on-one talk.

He shared the difficulty of coming to terms with his health in his early 20s, when doctors found lesions on his spinal cord, leading to partial paralysis and chronic nerve damage.

‘I’m not saying here that if the doctor tells you to do something, you should get up and leave,’ he explained about getting a grave diagnosis.

He said, ‘What I’m saying is you don’t have to live as the victim. You don’t have to live in your suffering. It can become your power.’

His advice for getting through a health ordeal is to ‘accept it and love it.’

However, he wasn’t always honest about why he walks with a limp.

‘I would say I got into a motorcycle accident,’ Curtis admitted. ‘I was so shameful that I had a medical condition. I was broken in some way. I thought the motorcycle accident was at least a little macho.’

Over the course of 25 years, he said he was able to ‘overcome’ his insecure thoughts with ‘self-acceptance and self-love.’

ALSO READ: 15 Hospitalized After Possible Chemical Exposure Sparks Chaos at Iowa Prison

Upon the conversation’s conclusion, Aniston thanked the audience and warmly embraced her boyfriend in front of the packed theater before exiting the stage. 

She made the reveal when asked to share 'one possibility [she is] choosing today'

Aniston responded that she is 'choosing to overcome a very deep, deep fear of public speaking'

She made the reveal when asked to share ‘one possibility [she is] choosing today.’ Aniston responded that she is ‘choosing to overcome a very deep, deep fear of public speaking’ 

The couple shared a warm embrace during the event

The couple shared a warm embrace during the event

Aniston went Instagram official with Curtis to mark his birthday last November.

At the time, she professed her love for her beau as she shared a black and white image of her hugging him from behind.

She captioned the loved-up photo: ‘Happy birthday, my love. Cherished ❤️.’

The hypnotist also posted snapshots from his birthday party on his Instagram account across two posts.

One caption read: ’50 and feeling good! Birthday recap part 1. Thank you for all the wishes and love. So grateful for you my friends, family and community.’

Another more romantic one, including a wider shot of the photo Jennifer posted, had the sweet note, ‘If this is a dream I don’t want to wake up. ❤️.’

On Wednesday, insiders shared insight on the current state of the couple’s romance to Us Weekly. 

The source claimed that Aniston and Curtis have ‘moved beyond the excitement of a new relationship and are developing a genuine partnership.’

The pair are said to have ‘an ease about them that’s infectious’ and that that ease stems from them feeling ‘accepted’ by one another.

Aniston went Instagram official with Curtis to mark his birthday last November

Aniston went Instagram official with Curtis to mark his birthday last November

‘It comes from feeling accepted rather than needing to impress each other,’ the insider explained. 

‘They are more trusting and less guarded. They are just as comfortable discussing difficult subjects as they are being vulnerable with each other. It’s grown from an exciting connection to a dependable partnership.’

The insider also shared that Aniston’s friends are impressed by how ‘naturally’ her and Curtis’ ‘lives have blended together despite coming from totally different worlds.’

Pals are also convinced that the secret to the couple’s romantic success is because Curtis ‘is not part of the industry’ and does ‘his own thing.’

Ex-Biggs Mayor Sentenced for Grooming Foreign Exchange Student

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Ex-Biggs Mayor Sentenced for Grooming Foreign Exchange Student

A former California mayor has been sentenced to prison after prosecutors said he spent months grooming a 17-year-old foreign exchange student before sexually abusing her.

Robert Brian Bassett, 58, received a sentence Wednesday of four years and four months in state prison after entering no-contest pleas to three felony child sexual abuse charges.

Authorities described the case as a devastating abuse of power and a profound betrayal of trust.

The teen had been staying at Bassett’s home in Biggs from April to November 2023 while participating in a foreign exchange program, living thousands of miles away from her family. Bassett was meant to provide her with a safe host home.

Instead, prosecutors said, he manipulated and groomed the girl over several months and sexually abused her more than once while she was still 17.

Bassett was also serving as mayor of Biggs at the time, a small Northern California town of roughly 2,000 people. Prosecutors cited the girl’s vulnerability, Bassett’s grooming and his abuse of her trust as aggravating factors, leading the judge to impose the maximum sentence.

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The victim told the court that she continues to suffer from what happened — and from the knowledge that someone she trusted betrayed her.

The case began to unravel after Bassett was arrested July 9, when police served a search warrant at his Biggs home. Investigators eventually contacted the victim in her home country, where she disclosed the abuse.

Bassett served on the Biggs City Council and acted as the town’s mayor from 2022 through December 2024.

While he initially maintained his position on the council after stepping down as mayor, he ultimately resigned from the City Council in early 2025 amid a past extortion investigation.

Following a subsequent criminal investigation into actions during his mayoral term, Bassett reached a legal plea deal.

As part of this agreement, two additional felony charges were dropped.

He was sentenced to over four years in state prison, and after prison, Bassett will be required to register as a sex offender for 10 years.
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