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Lyft Driver Stabbed 11 Times During Apartment Pickup, Car Stolen by Woman Seeking Police Station Ride: Police

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Inset: Naziyha Weatherall (Greenville County Sheriff’s Office). Background: Law enforcement officers at the scene of a reported stabbing on East North Street in Greenville County, South Carolina (WYFF/YouTube).

A South Carolina woman is still in custody after investigators say she attacked a Lyft driver she had requested, stabbing him before taking off in his vehicle.

Naziyha Lanay Weatherall, 22, faces charges of attempted murder, carjacking resulting in bodily injury, and possession of a weapon during a violent crime, according to Greenville County jail records reviewed by Law&Crime.

Prosecutors outlined the allegations in court this week, describing the sequence of events that led to Weatherall’s arrest and the serious charges against her.

The victim was working as a Lyft driver in Greenville County on April 22 when a ride request came in from an apartment complex, authorities said. He drove to the East North Street area — a heavily traveled route through Greenville and surrounding parts of the county — and waited for the passenger to arrive.

Authorities said Weatherall approached the man’s vehicle, stabbed him in the head, and then stole the vehicle.

“The victim was simply just trying to do his job and was stabbed 11 times,” the solicitor said, according to local Fox affiliate WHNS. “Not only was he stabbed 11 times, his car was then carjacked by this defendant.”

Deputies with the Greenville County Sheriff’s Office responded to the scene at about 2:30 p.m. that day. Authorities provided first aid for the rideshare driver, who was brought to a local hospital, and then they investigated what happened. Weatherall was later arrested.

The victim’s wife said her husband is still shaken by the incident.

“The alleged conduct was extremely violent,” she said, adding that he was “attacked vehemently with a knife, resulting in 11 stab wounds to multiple areas of his body.”

“What concerns us most is that happened while my husband was simply working. He was not looking for any confrontation, he was providing a service to a person,” the wife continued. “If this level of violence could happen to someone who was simply doing his job, we are concerned about potential risks to other people in our community.”

The defense, for their part, said Weatherall had no previous criminal record and was dealing with a “mental health crisis” at the time involving schizophrenia, according to WHNS. She allegedly believed she was being watched and under attack and had called a Lyft so she could get to a nearby police station and report what she believed she was going through.

“Her mother even called the police station to let them know she was on the way to make a report,” a defense attorney said. “During that, the crisis got worse. She was undergoing a delusion in which she believed she was being trafficked, and panicked, and that’s how we’re at where we’re at today.”

The judge, not for the first time, denied the defendant bond. She must undergo a psychological evaluation next month.

The post Lyft driver picking up woman at apartment complex stabbed 11 times and has his vehicle stolen as the suspect wanted to head to the police station: Cops first appeared on Law & Crime.

Spencer Pratt Compares Moms Who Killed Two Kids to a Pit Bull

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Spencer Pratt, the reality TV personality who once floated a run for Los Angeles mayor, compared mothers who kill their children to a dangerous pit bull that has lost control and should be euthanized.

Pratt made the remarks after a New York judge found Dimone Fleming, 22 at the time of the deaths, not guilty of killing her two young sons in November 2022 by reason of mental disease or defect.

Prosecutors and Fleming’s attorney agreed that Fleming, now 26, was experiencing postpartum psychosis when the children were killed.

The same postpartum psychosis defense has been raised by Massachusetts mother Lindsay Clancy in the closely watched case involving the alleged murders of her three children.

‘When a pit bull kills a kid, we exterminate them,’ Pratt wrote Saturday on X. ‘Theres [sic] no judgment behind it: we know it’s an impulse they couldn’t control.’

‘But we also recognize that if your impulses lead to you killing kids, you need to be removed from society,’ he continued.

Pratt finished: ‘Judgment aside, you just cannot be trusted and you need to be locked away forever. As a parent…if you kill your kids, your life is over anyway, so IDK what we are doing here.’

Conversations around postpartum psychosis have intensified in the wake of Clancy’s highly publicized trial.

Former Los Angeles mayoral candidate Spencer Pratt weighed in on the debate around post partum psychosis and criminal responsibility after a mom with the condition was cleared of murdering her two children by reason of insanity

Former Los Angeles mayoral candidate Spencer Pratt weighed in on the debate around post partum psychosis and criminal responsibility after a mom with the condition was cleared of murdering her two children by reason of insanity

Dimone Fleming, 22, was found not responsible for the killings of her two sons, three-year-old Daishawn Fleming (pictured) and 11-month-old Octavius Canada

Dimone Fleming, 22, was found not responsible for the killings of her two sons, three-year-old Daishawn Fleming (pictured) and 11-month-old Octavius Canada

Her case has been compared to Massachusetts mom Lindsay Clancy, who has argued that she suffered from postpartum psychosis when she killed her three young children

Her case has been compared to Massachusetts mom Lindsay Clancy, who has argued that she suffered from postpartum psychosis when she killed her three young children

Postpartum psychosis afflicts roughly one to two per 1,000 women after delivery, per the Cleveland Clinic.

Fleming was accused of stabbing her sons, 11-month-old Octavius Canada and three-year-old Daishawn Fleming, before submerging them in a bathtub at the Bronx shelter where they lived.

Like Clancy, Fleming had been receiving treatment for depression and anxiety before her respective children’s deaths, per court records obtained by the New York Times.

Fleming was working at a concession stand in Queens and living in a shelter in the Mount Hope neighborhood of the Bronx with her sons.

She had been diagnosed with major depressive disorder and prescribed psychotropic medication by doctors.

Fleming was instead using marijuana on a daily basis, which in turn amplified her symptoms.

Psychiatrist Dr Eric Goldsmith, who evaluated Fleming at the prosecution’s request, wrote in a report that she was ‘grossly psychotic and out of touch with reality’ on the night her sons were killed.

Goldsmith reported that the mom-of-two was hallucinating, believed the world was coming to an end and that a spirit had invaded her body.

A forensic psychiatric report written by doctors from the defense said Fleming thought her actions ‘were necessary to protect or cleanse her children.’

Fleming was accused of repeatedly stabbing her two young sons, Daishawn and Octavius (pictured), before submerging them in a bathtub at the Bronx shelter where they lived

Fleming was accused of repeatedly stabbing her two young sons, Daishawn and Octavius (pictured), before submerging them in a bathtub at the Bronx shelter where they lived 

Both sides in Clancy's case agreed that Clancy strangled her children, Cora, five, Dawson, three, and eight-month-old Callan, in January 2023 before attempting to take her own life

Both sides in Clancy’s case agreed that Clancy strangled her children, Cora, five, Dawson, three, and eight-month-old Callan, in January 2023 before attempting to take her own life

Prosecutors did not aggressively seek to convict Fleming, who had originally been charged with first-degree murder.

Tiffany Wichman, a Bronx assistant district attorney, said that ‘prosecuting mothers does not and cannot prevent these crimes from happening, but public discourse might.’

‘People talking about it is important, and I hope people continue talking about it,’ Wichman said.

Fleming’s lawyer, Jodi Morales, called the result of the case ‘a result of collaboration.’

‘Everybody recognized what we were dealing with here,’ Morales said. ‘That doesn’t happen often when you’re on opposite sides of the table.’ 

Going forward, Fleming could be held at a high-security hospital for an initial six months. That would be extended indefinitely if her condition does not improve.

If doctors find her to be mentally ill but not dangerous, she could also be sent to a more open hospital for further evaluation.

Fleming could also be discharged if she is found to be mentally fit. However, the court would likely place conditions on her freedom.

In Clancy’s case, prosecutors have insisted that she intentionally planned the killings of her children, Cora, five, Dawson, three, and eight-month-old Callan, on January 24, 2023.

Clancy’s defense has argued that she suffered from postpartum psychosis when she killed her three kids and then unsuccessfully tried to take her own life. She remains paralyzed from the waist down.

Clancy pleaded not guilty by reason of lack of criminal responsibility in her murder trial

Clancy is still waiting for the 12-person jury to return a verdict in her trial, with jurors having been allowed home for the weekend. Deliberations are expected to resume Monday morning

Clancy is still waiting for the 12-person jury to return a verdict in her trial, with jurors having been allowed home for the weekend. Deliberations are expected to resume Monday morning

Clancy has pleaded not guilty by reason of lack of criminal responsibility. Both sides agree that she strangled her children.

The killings happened less than three weeks after Clancy was discharged from a psychiatric hospital.

She had also been prescribed more than a dozen psychiatric medications across different health providers. 

The 12-person jury began deliberating Thursday afternoon. First-degree murder, second-degree murder or manslaughter charges can all be considered.

On Friday, they asked to see the knife that Clancy used to try to take her life, as well as bags of pill bottles found in her home.

Judge William Sullivan allowed them to go home for the weekend after they failed to reach a verdict.

Deliberations are scheduled to continue on Monday at 9am ET.

The Daily Mail has reached out to Pratt for comment.

Two Schoolboys Accused of Raping 17-Year-Old Girl Face Suspension

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Two of the three boys accused of raping a 17-year-old girl are set to be suspended from St Gregory’s.

Principal Matthew Brennan confirmed the move in a letter sent to parents on Friday.

‘We have a clear responsibility for the safety and wellbeing of all our students and staff,’ the letter stated.

‘Whilst we are unable to share the details, we have already commenced disciplinary action in accordance with our established policy.

‘That policy clearly provides for the suspension of students suspected of criminal behaviour.

‘I want to reassure our community, including families, students and staff, that no student charged with a serious criminal offence, and where such proceedings are ongoing, would be permitted on campus in line with our safety obligations.’

Three boys, all aged 17, are accused of subjecting a teenage girl to an hours-long sexual assault on August 15 in Sydney.

Two of those boys attend St Gregory’s in Campbelltown, south-west Sydney, while the third attends Elderslie High School. 

Two of the three boys accused of raping a teenage girl will be suspended

Two of the three boys accused of raping a teenage girl will be suspended

Elderslie High School has not yet suspended its student, the Daily Telegraph reported. 

The alleged instigator, a private schoolboy charged with 11 offences, allegedly took the girl to a football game and drinks before taking her to a home when she felt sick.

There, he is accused of raping her before a text message was sent to a friend, a children’s court was told on Friday.

He then invited another boy via text message to join in, with that boy attending to attack the girl, police prosecutor Sergeant Rhonda Riley alleged.

That boy has been charged with six counts of sexual assault in company as well as common assault.

The pair are alleged to have bragged about the attack to another friend, crudely telling him that he needed to have sex with the girl.

He responded to the invitation and arrived at the house and engaged in non-consensual sex with her, the court was told.

The third boy has been charged with two counts of aggravated sexual assault in company. 

St Gregory's principal Matthew Brennan revealed the students would be suspended in a letter to parents on Friday

St Gregory’s principal Matthew Brennan revealed the students would be suspended in a letter to parents on Friday 

The alleged instigator did not apply for bail when his case was mentioned on Friday, but his two co-accused did.

Children’s Court Judge Jeff Tunks was urged to consider that the teens had strong family supports, schooling commitments and lacked criminal histories.

Jai Rose, representing the second alleged attacker, said his client would abide by any bail conditions imposed.

Mr Rose also pointed to the looming higher school certificate exams, prompting Sgt Riley to remark that the alleged victim would also have to complete her exams ‘going through fear, going through pain’.

The barrister for the third teen meanwhile suggested consent would be an issue at trial as a text after the alleged attack claimed the boy had not received necessary ‘context’ from his co-accused.

Judge Tunks said social and sporting ties and exam delays were of little relevance to the bail assessment.

He described the alleged attack as ‘degrading’ and a ‘humiliating’ ordeal with ‘elements of menace’.

However, he granted bail to the two co-accused, finding the risks posed by the pair could be mitigated with strict conditions.

‘The Bail Act is not used as some sort of de facto punishment for crimes that are not proven beyond reasonable doubt,’ Judge Tunks said.

Both teens were ordered to be of good behaviour, report to police daily and abide by a home detention condition.

They were instructed not to contact each other or witnesses, surrender travel documents and possess only one phone.

The alleged instigator remains in juvenile detention.

He faces the most charges, including six counts of aggravated sexual assault in company and three counts of sexual intercourse without consent.

The teens’ cases return to court in October.

1800 RESPECT (1800 737 732)

National Sexual Abuse and Redress Support Service 1800 211 028

South Carolina Officer Killed, Another Wounded in Shootout With Repeat Suspect

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In Columbia, South Carolina, a Saturday morning shootout involving a man with a lengthy arrest history left one police officer dead and a second officer injured, authorities said.

The officers had been dispatched shortly after 9:30 a.m. to a home for a domestic dispute call. A woman told police that a man she had a restraining order against was inside her residence and damaging property.

Police said the man had already left by the time officers reached the home. About an hour later, they located him, and the encounter escalated into what authorities described as a “gunfight.”

Split of Officer DeLong and the shooting scene

Officer Christopher DeLong, 29, was killed Saturday during the exchange of gunfire with the suspect. (Columbia Police Department; WACH)

“Our hearts are broken this evening,” Columbia police Chief W.H. “Skip” Holbrook said at a news conference later Saturday. “We gather under the worst of circumstances you could possibly imagine. We’re deeply hurt.”

Holbrook added, “It’s with heartbreak and sadness that I inform you that one of our officers has succumbed to his injuries.”

Officer Christopher DeLong, 29, had been with the police department for two years and leaves behind a wife and two young children, Holbrook said.

“Our thoughts and prayers are first and foremost with Officer DeLong’s family, his loved ones and friends and coworkers,” he said.

The second officer, David Dymock, is in stable condition, Holbrook said, adding, “our prayers are with him as he continues to recover from wounds sustained during the gunfight.”

Scene of the shooting

The suspect, identified as Adam Tyler Dowdy, was also killed in the gunfight. (WACH)

The suspect, identified as Adam Tyler Dowdy, was also killed in the gunfight.

Dowdy had a series of arrests for disorderly conduct, operating a motor vehicle under the influence, contempt of court, public intoxication, possession of a controlled substance and probation violations, Holbrook said.

Holbrook added that Dowdy may have been out on bond for battery in Georgia.

“We’re still trying to verify that preliminary information,” he said. “He has a history of several arrests that span through the following states: South Carolina, Kentucky, Wisconsin, and Georgia.”

He asked for people to pray for the DeLong family “to have strength as they navigate this unimaginably difficult time.”

Holbrook said he had already gotten condolences from every law enforcement agency in the region as well as South Carolina Gov. Henry McMaster.

“I’m saddened by the tragic loss of Officer Chris DeLong of the Columbia Police Department,” U.S. Sen. Darline Graham, R-S.C., wrote on X. “Officer DeLong answered the call to serve and protect us all, and he lost his life in the line of duty this morning. My prayers are with his family, friends, and the Columbia Police Department. I’m also praying for Officer David Dymok, who was injured while serving and protecting our community. We’re hoping for his quick and full recovery. Law enforcement officers are heroes who protect us every day. We owe them a debt of gratitude for their service and sacrifice.”

The South Carolina Law Enforcement Division is investigating the shooting.

Michelle Obama’s Candid Confession About Malia and Sasha

Stewart, who shares son Nathan, 22, and daughter Maggie, 20, with wife Tracey McShane, asked Michelle whether she missed the “job” of raising children. Her answer was immediate and direct: “No.”

When Stewart reflected that parenting had brought “meaning and pattern” to his life, Michelle did not hesitate to make her position clear. “I’m good,” she said candidly.

“Looking at all this meaning,” she continued, seemingly motioning toward the podcast studio she shares with her brother. “I have a wonderful pattern.”

As Stewart and Robinson acknowledged that they still take pleasure in being connected to their children’s routines, Michelle offered a playful counterpoint: “I love my schedule.”

She summed up her current chapter with a smile, adding, “I have a great schedule, and it’s all mine.”

But the Becoming author pointed out that there’s a reason why dads may feel differently than moms about kids leaving the nest.

“I think fathers can be that way because you weren’t there from 6:00 to 9:00 at night, you missed a lot of it,” she shared. “I mean, I’ve had so much quality time with my children, so much. I know them inside and out.”

Teen Stabbed During Broad-Daylight Attack in the Bronx

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A 13-year-old boy was stabbed in broad daylight outside a Bronx supermarket on Saturday, leaving him injured as police launched a search for the attacker, sources said.

The stabbing happened at about 5:23 p.m. outside the C-Town supermarket at 1612 Westchester Avenue in Soundview, where the teen was knifed in the stomach, according to police sources.

EMS crews rushed him to Jacobi Hospital on Pelham Parkway following the assault. He was listed in stable condition, sources said.

At the scene, blood was visible on the concrete sidewalk as officers blocked off the area in front of the store during the investigation.

No arrests had been made, and police were still searching for the assailant, according to sources.

The heinous attack comes days after a New York City Schools employee was stabbed to death by an lunatic who had 13 prior arrests.

NYC Department of Education Paraprofessional Rashaun Shettlewood, 32, was fatally stabbed in the chest and his 33-year-old friend was stabbed in the torso by the brute in another daytime attack in the Bronx at Davidson and West Tremont Avenues in Morris Heights at 3:30 pm.

The men were transported to St. Barnabas Hospital where Shettlewood succumbed to his injuries, his friend was in stable condition, police sources said.

It was unclear what led to the attack, but police source said it stemmed from a dispute.

The alleged stabber, Jeffrey Jorge, 37, of Brooklyn, was arrested the following morning after cops spotted him wielding a knife at Ocean Avenue and Parkside Avenue in Prospect-Lefferts Gardens.

He was charged with murder, attempted murder, manslaughter and two counts each of assault and criminal possession of a weapon, according to the NYPD.

Prince Jackson Honors Dad Michael’s Birthday in Rare Outing

Prince Jackson stepped into the spotlight in Las Vegas over the weekend, making a rare public appearance to honor what would have been Michael Jackson’s 68th birthday on August 29.

In video footage obtained by Page Six on Saturday, the 29-year-old lifted his right hand as the crowd counted to three, then joined fans in calling out, “Happy birthday, Michael!” in tribute to the late King of Pop.

Prince kept his look low-key for the celebration at Cirque du Soleil’s Michael Jackson ONE show, wearing a black shirt and a black baseball cap turned backward.

He was also seen warmly chatting with attendees and appearing to sign autographs as fans gathered to celebrate Michael Jackson’s enduring legacy.

Michael Jackson shared Prince and daughter Paris, 28, with ex-wife Debbie Rowe. He was also father to son Bigi, 24.

The former couple tied the knot in 1996 and divorced in 1999 after three years of marriage.

Prince previously paid a sartorial tribute to his father at the Los Angeles premiere of biopic “Michael” in April.

The “Beat It” singer’s eldest child wore a piece of fabric from his dad’s wardrobe in the form of a red armband over his suit.

“Michael Bush was the costume designer for my father; he designed the suit that I was wearing,” Prince told ABC News.

“And actually, the armband was made out of the fabric that my dad would always wear — the red corduroy shirt. And that was my childhood, like if I hugged my father, that was what he was wearing.”

He was also spotted back in 2024 — alongside his siblings, aunt La Toya Jackson, and uncle Marlon Jackson — at the funeral of his uncle Tito Jackson.

When speaking to ABC News about his father, Prince — who was an executive producer on the 2026 biographical film “Michael” — said the pop legend was “probably one of the most misunderstood people out there.”

The Grammy winner passed away on June 25, 2009, from a heart attack caused by acute propofol and benzodiazepine intoxication. He was 50.

Prince told Entertainment Weekly in 2022 of his father’s death, “As long as you celebrate them, they’re never gone.”

South Carolina Cop, Father of Two, Killed by Convicted Felon

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A South Carolina police officer fatally shot while responding to a violent incident at a Columbia park has been identified as a 29-year-old father of two.

Columbia Police Officer Christopher DeLong was hit by gunfire late Saturday morning during an exchange of shots near Southeast Park in Columbia, authorities said.

DeLong was shot alongside fellow officer David Dymock, who survived the attack and remains in stable condition after being injured.

Investigators identified the gunman as 33-year-old Adam Dowdy, a convicted felon who was also killed when the confrontation escalated following an earlier domestic violence dispute.

DeLong, who had served with the Columbia Police Department for two years, leaves behind his wife, Hannah, and their two young children.

Hannah, in a heartbreaking Facebook post, condemned her husband’s shooter as she described how their family is now ‘living a nightmare.’

‘I am heart broken. My person. My love. The best dad to our babies and the person I’ve been with since I was 16 was killed today in the line of duty,’ she wrote.

‘Someone’s selfish decisions took away the one person I loved and I knew I would always have, and my babies now have to grow up [without] their daddy.’

Hannah, 28, added: ‘I can’t process this. I want to wake up from this.’

Columbia Police Officer Christopher DeLong, 29, was killed in the line of duty Saturday morning. He had been with his wife Hannah, 28, since she was 16 years old

Columbia Police Officer Christopher DeLong, 29, was killed in the line of duty Saturday morning. He had been with his wife Hannah, 28, since she was 16 years old

The couple share two children together, seen with DeLong. His loved ones say he was a 'outstanding husband and da

The couple share two children together, seen with DeLong. His loved ones say he was an ‘outstanding husband and daddy’

The suspect, since identified as 33-year-old Adam Dowdy, was also killed in the shooting which erupted after an earlier domestic violence dispute

The suspect, since identified as 33-year-old Adam Dowdy, was also killed in the shooting which erupted after an earlier domestic violence dispute

DeLong responded to a woman’s home just around 9.30am after she reported that Dowdy had violated the restraining order she had against him, Columbia Police Chief Skip Holbrook said.

The suspect was inside her residence and destroying her property, she told police. 

Dowdy fled the property before DeLong had arrived on scene, but the victim was able to provide police with his name and a description of his car.

DeLong left the home around 10.30am and roughly 20 minutes later responded to a call for a report of a suspicious person by the park.

When he arrived on scene, he found Dowdy standing near his vehicle.

Dymock, 29, responded to the scene as a back-up officer around 10.41am. Four minutes later he reported that both he and DeLong had been shot. 

He also confirmed that the suspect was down. 

DeLong and Dymock were both transported to a nearby hospital, where the 29-year-old died from his injuries. His grandmother confirmed on Facebook that he ‘passed away during surgery.’

Dymock was also injured in the shooting, but remains in stable condition. 

DeLong has been hailed for having 'made the ultimate sacrifice serving others'

DeLong has been hailed for having ‘made the ultimate sacrifice serving others’

Hannah, in a heartbreaking Facebook post, condemned her husband's shooter as she described how their family is now 'living a nightmare'

Hannah, in a heartbreaking Facebook post, condemned her husband’s shooter as she described how their family is now ‘living a nightmare’

Officer David Dymock, 29, seen with his wife Lauren, was injured in Saturday's shooting. He was hospitalized and is in stable condition

Officer David Dymock, 29, seen with his wife Lauren, was injured in Saturday’s shooting. He was hospitalized and is in stable condition

Dowdy had a long history of criminal activity, including disorderly conduct, driving under the influence, public intoxication, possession of a controlled substance, probation violations, contempt of court and other miscellaneous criminal offenses. 

Preliminary investigation suggests he may have been out on bond for a charge in DeKalb, Georgia of family violence, battery of the first offense, Holbrook said.

Dowdy had a history of arrests spanning across South Carolina, Kentucky, Wisconsin and Georgia, the chief added.

It is unclear what prompted Dowdy to fire at the officers. 

He did, however, have anti-police rhetoric on his Facebook page in which he referred to officers as ‘tyrants’ and likened them to gang members.

‘I would NEVER call ya’ll and wouldnt pull ya’ll out of a house fire! Do better. Tyrants. The general public shouldnet (sic) be afraid of ya’ll,’ he wrote.

‘Literally the biggest gang in [America] and i have nothing for ya. Such a joke. What goes around comes around.’

The shooting remains under investigation by the South Carolina Law Enforcement Division. Authorities have said there is no further threat to the public. 

Images from the scene showed a large police presence at Southeast Park in Columbia, South Carolina on Saturday afternoon

Images from the scene showed a large police presence at Southeast Park in Columbia, South Carolina on Saturday afternoon

The shooting remains under investigation by the South Carolina Law Enforcement Division. Authorities have said there is no further threat to the public

The shooting remains under investigation by the South Carolina Law Enforcement Division. Authorities have said there is no further threat to the public 

Columbia Police Chief Skip Holbrook confirmed DeLong's death during a press conference on Saturday night. DeLong had been with the force for two year

Columbia Police Chief Skip Holbrook confirmed DeLong’s death during a press conference on Saturday night. DeLong had been with the force for two years

Tributes have poured in for DeLong, who has been hailed for his service and dedication to his family.  

His grieving mother, Angela Graham, said her ‘heart is completely crushed and that ‘today has been a complete nightmare.’

‘I am so proud of the amazing man he had become,’ she wrote. ‘A wonderful son, amazing big brother to four sisters outstanding husband and daddy to my two sweet grand babies. He loves with all his heart.

‘This truly does feel real please send prayers for my family, my daughter-in-law and precious grandbabies.’

Another loved one said: ‘All I can say is, what an honor it was to have known Chris DeLong. He had a heart of gold and gave his life to protect and serve the community we live in.’

Kershaw County Sheriff Lee Boan said DeLong ‘made the ultimate sacrifice serving others,’ a statement echoed by the Columbia Firefighters Association.

‘Today, our community mourns the heartbreaking loss of Officer Chris DeLong, who made the ultimate sacrifice in the line of duty,’ the firefighters union wrote.

‘Behind the badge was a husband, a father, a friend, and a man who answered the call to serve knowing the risks that came with it.

‘Our hearts are especially with his wife, Hannah, and their two children, whose sacrifice is greater than words can express. May they feel the strength of an entire community standing beside them in the difficult days ahead.’

Coast Guard Officer, 29, Fatally Shot in Suspected Random Attack

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The family of a U.S. Coast Guard officer killed in what investigators believe may have been a random shooting is now offering a $20,000 reward for information that leads to an arrest.

Connor Scott Overstreet, 29, was shot and killed in the residential Bryn Mawr-Skyway area of Washington at about 12.40am on August 23, KING 5 News reports.

King County Sheriff’s Office deputies arrived to find Overstreet with a gunshot wound to the chest. They attempted life-saving aid at the scene, but he died from his injuries.

Authorities are investigating Overstreet’s death as a homicide and are urging residents in the neighborhood to review dashcam and home surveillance footage. Investigators are especially interested in any images of vehicles or people recorded between 12.30am and 1.15am that morning.

As detectives continue searching for answers, Overstreet’s family has raised the reward for tips that could help identify his killer to $20,000, according to Fox 13.

He leaves behind his wife Madeline, who is begging for answers over her husband’s senseless death. 

‘All Connor wanted to do was save lives by flying for the Coast Guard. His loss is a tragedy felt by countless people. He was truly the best of us,’ she told Fox 13.

‘Connor was my rock, and I am so honored to be Connor’s wife forever and always.

Connor Scott Overstreet, 29, was fatally shot in a residential neighborhood of Bryn Mawr-Skyway, Washington at around 12.40am on August 23

Connor Scott Overstreet, 29, was fatally shot in a residential neighborhood of Bryn Mawr-Skyway, Washington at around 12.40am on August 23

Overstreet was an active-duty lieutenant in the US Coast Guard. He is pictured with his wife, Madeline

Overstreet was an active-duty lieutenant in the US Coast Guard. He is pictured with his wife, Madeline

‘We plead with you to help us find answers, justice and peace for Connor and all who loved him so deeply.’

‘I plead with the public to come forward with any information that may help bring justice for Connor,’ his devastated father, Brennan Overstreet, said in a statement.

‘Nothing can bring our son back, but we have increased the reward for information in hopes to bring us answers in this unimaginable tragedy,’ he said.

‘Our family is devastated by the senseless loss of Connor,’ the grieving father continued. ‘He brought joy, love and kindness to all who knew him, and the world is a darker place without him in it.’

The family has now set up an online fundraiser to increase the reward for information even further.

As of Saturday night, it had raised over $57,000, with family members saying any remaining funds may be used to ‘lessen the immense burden that the Overstreet family has incurred during this tragedy’ and anything remaining would be donated to a charitable organization Overstreet would support.

‘Thank you to all who have offered to support the Overstreet family as we grapple with the unimaginable loss of Connor Scott Overstreet,’ the fundraiser reads. 

‘The outpouring of love, support, outrage and offers to help have lifted our hearts in this dark time.’

Madeline called for justice for her 'soulmate' as police ask locals to check surveillance footage for any people or vehicles that were spotted in the area at the time of his death

Madeline called for justice for her ‘soulmate’ as police ask locals to check surveillance footage for any people or vehicles that were spotted in the area at the time of his death

Shea Overstreet, the victim’s sister, called him her ‘best friend’ in a post on social media.

‘Connor lived the fullest life and yet had so much more to live,’ she wrote on a page honoring the victim.

‘I’ll never recover and love you forever, Connor.’

As the family now continues to grieve, Overstreet’s remains were safely returned on Friday to Air Station Ventura with full honors.

‘The Coast Guard is deeply saddened to confirm the death of Lt Connor Overstreet, an active-duty member at Coast Guard Air Station Ventura, following an incident in the Seattle area,’ the US Coast Guard Pacific Area said in the aftermath.

‘We extend our deepest condolences to the member’s family, friends and shipmates during this tragic time.’ 

A memorial is scheduled for September 3. 

FBI Finds Cash Buried in Backyard, Unmasking Former California Councilman’s Corruption

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A former California city councilman who acknowledged hiding nearly $63,000 in cash in his backyard has been sentenced to 18 months in federal prison for accepting bribes connected to a police union contract and commercial cannabis permits, federal prosecutors said Friday.

Ricardo Pacheco, 63, served for more than 20 years on the Baldwin Park City Council before stepping down in 2020 under the terms of his plea agreement. Prosecutors said Pacheco exploited his public office to receive cash payments and route other money through his church and political organizations.

According to the Department of Justice, Pacheco and former Compton City Councilman Isaac Jacob Galvan engaged in “corrupt acts while they were elected officials,” including taking and making bribe payments in exchange for political backing and city permits.

Former Baldwin Park Councilman Ricardo Pacheco poses at an event

Former Baldwin Park Councilman Ricardo Pacheco appears at an event before his federal prison sentence. (Mayor Manuel Lozano Facebook)

Pacheco was also ordered to pay a $10,000 fine and forfeit $219,755. The FBI recovered $83,145 in cash proceeds from him, including $62,900 that Pacheco admitted he had buried in two separate spots in his backyard, prosecutors said. A hearing to determine restitution has not yet been scheduled.

Galvan, 39, received the same 18-month federal prison sentence and was ordered to pay $323,557 in restitution.

The case began with the police-union deal.

Between January and October 2018, Pacheco solicited and received $37,900 from a Baldwin Park police officer in exchange for supporting the Baldwin Park Police Association’s contract with the city, prosecutors said. The deal was worth at least $4.4 million over three years.

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Former Baldwin Park Councilman Ricardo Pacheco poses with attendees at a community event

Ricardo Pacheco, center, appears at a Baldwin Park community event. (Mayor Manuel Lozano Facebook)

The officer was working at the FBI’s direction after he and another officer approached the bureau to assist in its corruption investigation, according to the DOJ.

In October 2018, the officer handed Pacheco a $20,000 cash bribe inside an envelope at a Baldwin Park coffee shop, prosecutors said. Pacheco also directed $17,900 in checks to his church and political action committees that were set up in other people’s names but controlled by him, according to the DOJ.

Pacheco voted for the police association contract in March 2018.

Pacheco later became an FBI informant after agents caught him in a video-recorded sting at the coffee shop, according to the Los Angeles Times.

The outlet reported that Pacheco wore a concealed wire as investigators built cases that led to six indictments involving more than 20 people tied to local government and the marijuana industry.

The outlet also reported that the wider investigation implicated figures including Galvan, a former Baldwin Park city attorney, a Commerce city manager, a San Bernardino County planning commissioner and a marijuana distributor.

The case also uncovered an alleged pay-to-play system around marijuana permits in Baldwin Park.

Cannabis plants grow at Glass House Brands greenhouse near Camarillo, California, US

Commercial cannabis plants. Marijuana permits were central to the Baldwin Park bribery case. (Jill Connelly/Bloomberg via Getty Images)

The city began allowing marijuana cultivation, manufacturing and distribution in 2017. Prosecutors said Pacheco soon began seeking money from businesses pursuing development agreements and related permits.

Galvan, who was then serving on the Compton City Council, offered consulting services to W&F International Corp., a Diamond Bar import-export business that wanted a marijuana permit in Baldwin Park, prosecutors said.

Galvan then helped facilitate $70,000 in bribes from the company’s owner, Yichang Bai, to Pacheco in return for the councilman’s votes and political backing, according to the DOJ.

Former Compton City Councilman Isaac Jacob Galvan in an official portrait

Former Compton City Councilman Isaac Jacob Galvan was sentenced to 18 months in federal prison. (Fox 11 Los Angeles)

Pacheco delivered, prosecutors said, voting in favor of W&F’s permit in June and July 2018 and later supporting the company’s effort to relocate its operations.

The payments were obscured through checks from third parties, including checks with blank payee lines, prosecutors said. When Pacheco later sought more money for his legal defense fund, Galvan told Bai the councilman wanted $25,000. Bai agreed to provide $20,000 through seven checks from bank accounts that were not his or W&F’s, the DOJ said.

Galvan also admitted he failed to report about $560,525 in income to the IRS from 2017 through 2020. Prosecutors said the scheme caused a tax loss of $115,816.

Bai pleaded guilty to conspiracy to commit bribery and was sentenced in July to 20 months in federal prison and a $3,000 fine.