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Hoax Explosive Device Found In Student’s Backpack At Maryland High School: Officials Hoax Explosive Device Found In Student’s Backpack At Maryland High School: Officials
Hoax Explosive Device Found In Student’s Backpack At Maryland High School: Officials A bomb squad rushed to a Maryland high school after reports of a possible explosive device inside a student’s backpack, authorities announced. The Maryland State Fire Marshal’s Office said its Bomb Squad personnel responded to Boonsboro High School in Washington County after receiving information about a possible improvised explosive device on Wednesday, March 19. With assistance from the Washington County Sheriff's Office, the bomb squad arrived within 20 minutes of the initial report and determined that the suspected item was a hoax device.  The device was rendered safe, and explosi…

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by Zak Failla
Police & Fire
Manhunt Underway For Suspect Who Tried To Kidnap Woman At Knifepoint In Maryland, Sheriff Says Manhunt Underway For Suspect Who Tried To Kidnap Woman At Knifepoint In Maryland, Sheriff Says
Manhunt Underway For Suspect Who Tried To Kidnap Woman At Knifepoint In Maryland, Sheriff Says A knife-wielding maniac is on the loose in Maryland, and police are urging residents to stay vigilant. The St. Mary’s County Sheriff’s Office is on the hunt for an armed and dangerous suspect accused of trying to kidnap a woman in broad daylight before she managed to fight him off and escape. The attack happened around 3:30 p.m. on Monday, March 17, in the 28000 block of Old Village Road in Mechanicsville, officials said. According to investigators, the unknown man approached a woman, assaulted her, pulled a knife, and attempted to force her into his vehicle. But she wasn’t going without …

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by Zak Failla
News
Leashed Dog Mauls 4-Year-Old At Harford County Playground: Sheriff Leashed Dog Mauls 4-Year-Old At Harford County Playground: Sheriff
Leashed Dog Mauls 4-Year-Old At Harford County Playground: Sheriff A 4-year-old Maryland boy is recovering after being attacked by a leashed dog at a playground while his father watched, officials said. The Harford County Animal Control Unit is actively investigating the attack, which happened around 5:30 p.m. on Tuesday, March 11, near Mayfield Drive and Marcie Court in Bel Air, according to the Harford County Sheriff’s Office. Authorities say the boy and his father were at the playground when, for reasons still unknown, a German Shepherd mix on a leash suddenly turned violent. The boy suffered serious injuries and was rushed to the hospital by Harford Co…

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by Zak Failla
Police & Fire
‘Armed And Dangerous’ Suspect Sought After Double Slashing In Maryland: Police ‘Armed And Dangerous’ Suspect Sought After Double Slashing In Maryland: Police
‘Armed And Dangerous’ Suspect Sought After Double Slashing In Maryland: Police A manhunt is underway for an "armed and dangerous" suspect accused of slashing two neighbors during an altercation in Bowie, authorities said. The City of Bowie Police Department is searching for Jacob Michael Beairsto, described as a white man in his early 20s, approximately 5-foot-7 and 140 pounds, with shoulder-length red hair. The attack happened around 3:45 p.m. on Thursday, March 13, in the 3600 block of Morningside Lane, police said. Officers responded to the scene after receiving reports of an altercation between neighbors. Investigators determined that Beairsto allegedly attacked …

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by Zak Failla
Police & Fire
Drone Tracks Down Missing Child, Aids In Arrest Of Six Suspects In Maryland: Police Drone Tracks Down Missing Child, Aids In Arrest Of Six Suspects In Maryland: Police
Drone Tracks Down Missing Child, Aids In Arrest Of Six Suspects In Maryland: Police Montgomery County police put technology to work in a big way, using a high-tech drone to safely locate a missing 5-year-old and help officers arrest six suspects in a series of unrelated incidents, officials announced. The Montgomery County Police Department’s Drone as First Responder (RAVEN) was deployed on Thursday, March 13, assisting in several separate missions throughout the day, including two theft cases and the search for the missing child. Officers were first called around 1:10 p.m. for a theft in progress in the 900 block of Thayer Avenue.  While officers rushed to the scene…

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by Zak Failla
Police & Fire
Pipe Bomb, Ammo Stash Found In Maryland Storage Unit; Suspect In Custody: Police Pipe Bomb, Ammo Stash Found In Maryland Storage Unit; Suspect In Custody: Police
Pipe Bomb, Ammo Stash Found In Maryland Storage Unit; Suspect In Custody: Police A Maryland man is behind bars after police say they found a homemade pipe bomb, body armor, and a stockpile of ammunition inside his storage unit. Robert Criss, 43, of Capitol Heights, is facing multiple charges after members of the Prince George’s County Police Department (PGPD) Gun Intelligence Unit and Fire Marshal Bomb Squad responded to a storage facility on Suitland Road on Wednesday, March 12, officials said. An employee called 911 after discovering a suspicious device in a unit rented by Criss. Bomb technicians determined it was a homemade explosive device—a pipe bomb—which was safe…

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by Zak Failla
Police & Fire
Gunman Opens Fire On Baltimore County Cop Outside Precinct, Police Say Gunman Opens Fire On Baltimore County Cop Outside Precinct, Police Say
Gunman Opens Fire On Baltimore County Cop Outside Precinct, Police Say A Baltimore County police officer suffered serious injuries after being ambushed and shot in the parking lot of a precinct in what officials are calling a shocking act of violence. The officer, whose name has not been released, was attacked around 2:30 p.m. on Thursday, March 13, outside the Wilkens Precinct, when an armed suspect approached and opened fire, Baltimore County Police said. We would ask that you keep this officer and his family members in your prayers. — Baltimore County Police Department (@BaltCoPolice) March 13, 2025 The officer was rushed to the University of Maryland …

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by Zak Failla
News
Teen Scooter Rider Dies Months After Being Struck In Maryland: Police Teen Scooter Rider Dies Months After Being Struck In Maryland: Police
Teen Scooter Rider Dies Months After Being Struck In Maryland: Police A 19-year-old Maryland man who was critically injured in a collision while riding a scooter last fall has died from his injuries months later, police announced. Timarr Godette, of Greenbelt, succumbed to his injuries on Sunday, March 2, nearly five months after being struck by a driver while riding in a bicycle lane, according to Prince George’s County Police on Wednesday. The crash happened on Oct. 13, 2024, around 7:05 p.m., when officers responded to the intersection of Crescent Road and Greenhill Road for a reported collision. Investigators said a driver struck Godette while he was ope…

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by Zak Failla
News
ICE Seizes Nicaraguan Killer In Maryland Who Aided Drug Cartel ICE Seizes Nicaraguan Killer In Maryland Who Aided Drug Cartel
ICE Seizes Nicaraguan Killer In Maryland Who Aided Drug Cartel A Nicaraguan man with a violent past made a grisly admission during immigration proceedings in Maryland, according to US Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE).  Federal officials took 56-year-old Javier Zeledon Reyes into custody in Hyattsville on March 6, after he revealed details of his past crimes that included slaughtering nearly two dozen people in the 1990s while he was serving in the Nicaraguan military and later aided a Mexican drug cartel. “This arrest highlights exactly why ICE is vital to the safety of our nation,” said Matthew Elliston, acting field office dir…

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by Zak Failla
Police & Fire
Furious Woman Fires Gun At Tow Truck Over Response Time In Maryland, Police Say Furious Woman Fires Gun At Tow Truck Over Response Time In Maryland, Police Say
Furious Woman Fires Gun At Tow Truck Over Response Time In Maryland, Police Say A Maryland woman took her frustration to a dangerous level when she fired a gun at a tow truck that refused to haul her car, according to police. Anne Arundel County officers were called to the 900 block of Reece Road in Severn around 6:40 p.m. on Friday, March 7, after reports of a non-contact shooting, the department said. The trouble started when a tow truck operator arrived for a service request and was met by an irate woman who immediately started berating him over his response time, police said. As the argument escalated, the tow truck driver decided to leave without towing the vehic…

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by Zak Failla
News
Would-Be Church Shooter Penned Chilling Letters Before Being Thwarted In Virginia: DOJ Would-Be Church Shooter Penned Chilling Letters Before Being Thwarted In Virginia: DOJ
Would-Be Church Shooter Penned Chilling Letters Before Being Thwarted In Virginia: DOJ A Falls Church man who entered a Prince William County church armed with a gun and dozens of rounds of ammunition was convicted of a federal hate crime after making threats to kill congregants during Sunday services, authorities announced. After a four-day trial, a federal jury found Rui Jiang, 35, guilty on all charges, including attempting to obstruct the free exercise of religious beliefs through an attempted act of violence involving a dangerous weapon, according to the Department of Justice. Jiang was also convicted of transmitting online threats and a firearms violation, prosecut…

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by Zak Failla
Police & Fire
Man Brandished Gun In Front Of Kids During Dispute Over Dogs In Maryland: State's Attorney Man Brandished Gun In Front Of Kids During Dispute Over Dogs In Maryland: State's Attorney
Man Brandished Gun In Front Of Kids During Dispute Over Dogs In Maryland: State's Attorney A St. Mary’s County man is facing decades in prison after being convicted of firing a handgun during a heated argument with his neighbors, authorities said. A jury found Christopher Michael Sherman, 36, of Mechanicsville, guilty of two counts each of felony first-degree assault and using a firearm in the commission of a violent crime, the St. Mary’s County State’s Attorney’s Office announced. The case stemmed from an incident on June 18, 2024, when Sherman brandished and fired his gun during a verbal altercation with his neighbors in front of their children over their dogs, prosecutors said…

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by Zak Failla
News
Live Hand Grenade Found In Philadelphia: Police Live Hand Grenade Found In Philadelphia: Police
Live Hand Grenade Found In Philadelphia: Police A live hand grenade was discovered in Philadelphia, prompting a swift police response, authorities announced on Monday, March 3. Officers from the 3rd District were called to the 1000 block of South 4th Street at 12:19 p.m. after reports of a device, police said. A staging area was set up at 4th and Washington Avenue in a recreation parking lot while the Philadelphia Police Bomb Squad investigated. By 1 p.m., the Bomb Squad determined the grenade was "inactive" and "inert", officials said. No injuries were reported.

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by Jillian Pikora
News
ICU Nurse Held Hostage, Forced To Restrain Colleague During Hospital Shooting ICU Nurse Held Hostage, Forced To Restrain Colleague During Hospital Shooting
ICU Nurse Held Hostage, Forced To Restrain Colleague During Hospital Shooting A heroic ICU nurse who was held at gunpoint, forced to restrain a colleague, and used as a shield during the UPMC York hospital shooting is now struggling to heal from the trauma. A GoFundMe has been launched to support Tosha Trostle, who says the psychological scars run deeper than any physical wound. “I Was Used As A Human Shield” Tosha Trostle was drawing blood when she heard a commotion in the hallway of UPMC York’s ICU. Thinking it was a routine emergency, she stepped out—only to come face-to-face with the gunman holding her coworker, Jess, at gunpoint. “He made Jess zip-tie my …

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by Jillian Pikora
Politics
Youngkin Deputizing Virginia State Police For Federal Immigration Crackdown Youngkin Deputizing Virginia State Police For Federal Immigration Crackdown
Youngkin Deputizing Virginia State Police For Federal Immigration Crackdown Virginia State Police troopers will soon be federally deputized to assist with immigration enforcement under a new executive order signed by Governor Glenn Youngkin, state officials announced. Under Executive Order 47, issued on Thursday, Feb. 27, Youngkin directed Virginia State Police (VSP) to enter into an agreement with US Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE), allowing select troopers to act as federally trained immigration officers. The move will establish a VSP Task Force of troopers who will assist ICE in identifying, detaining, and apprehending undocumented individuals accused …

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by Zak Failla
Police & Fire
Party Crashers Show Up With Guns, Threaten To Shoot Crowd In Maryland, Sheriff Says Party Crashers Show Up With Guns, Threaten To Shoot Crowd In Maryland, Sheriff Says
Party Crashers Show Up With Guns, Threaten To Shoot Crowd In Maryland, Sheriff Says A group of party crashers armed with at least one stolen gun and marijuana threatened to return and shoot partygoers before being caught by Maryland deputies, according to the Wicomico County Sheriff’s Office. The incident unfolded over the weekend, at a home on the 100 block of Only Road in Salisbury. Deputies say the suspects—Nathaniel L. Hornsby, 20, of Eden; Leon G. Lofland IV, 21, of Marion Station; and a 15-year-old boy from Pittsville—showed up uninvited and started acting suspiciously. Partygoers reported that two of the suspects appeared to be concealing handguns, and when asked t…

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by Zak Failla
Police & Fire
Police Impersonator Who Posed As State Trooper Learns Prison Fate In Harford County Police Impersonator Who Posed As State Trooper Learns Prison Fate In Harford County
Police Impersonator Who Posed As State Trooper Learns Prison Fate In Harford County A Baltimore man who impersonated a Maryland State Trooper and illegally possessed firearms has been sentenced to prison following a trial in Harford County, officials announced. Edward Renard Kyler Sr., 42, was convicted of possession of a firearm with a felony conviction after a two-day jury trial before Judge Alex Allman, according to the Harford County State’s Attorney’s Office. The conviction stems from a search warrant executed in June 2022 at Kyler’s residence in the 1100 block of Iron Bark Court in Bel Air. Deputies discovered a black backpack containing three BB guns, a Glock 9mm m…

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by Zak Failla
Traffic
Train Strikes Vehicle At Beards Hill Road Crossing In Harford County Train Strikes Vehicle At Beards Hill Road Crossing In Harford County
Train Strikes Vehicle At Beards Hill Road Crossing In Harford County A collision between a CSX train and a vehicle brought rail traffic to a halt in Harford County, though no injuries were reported, officials said. The incident occurred Tuesday on Beards Hill Road at the rail crossing in Aberdeen, according to the Harford County Volunteer Fire and EMS Association. Volunteer firefighters and EMS crews from the Aberdeen Fire Department responded swiftly to the scene. While the train struck the vehicle, no train cars were derailed. Officials confirmed that Amtrak and Maryland Transit Administration MARC services were unaffected by the incident. Beards Hill R…

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by Zak Failla
Police & Fire
Officer Killed At UPMC Funeral Set, Maryland Police Given Priority Seating Officer Killed At UPMC Funeral Set, Maryland Police Given Priority Seating
Officer Killed At Upmc Funeral Set, Maryland Police Given Priority Seating West York Borough Police Officer Andrew Duarte will be laid to rest this week after he was killed in the line of duty during a mass shooting at UPMC Memorial Hospital in York County on Saturday, Feb, 22. His family, fellow officers, and an outpouring of community support are ensuring his legacy of service and sacrifice is never forgotten. Funeral Service Details Duarte’s funeral will take place on Friday, Feb. 28, at 1:00 p.m. at Living Word Community Church, 2530 Cape Horn Road, Red Lion, PA. Due to high attendance expectations, seating arrangements are as follows: Seating inside the c…

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by Jillian Pikora
Police & Fire
Teens Wanted In Multi-State Crime Spree, Firing At Troopers Captured By US Marshals Teens Wanted In Multi-State Crime Spree, Firing At Troopers Captured By US Marshals
Teens Wanted In Multi-State Crime Spree, Firing At Troopers Captured By US Marshals The two Tennessee teens who fired at Pennsylvania State Troopers during a multi-state crime spree have been captured in Hartford, Connecticut, authorities announced. Jeremiah Begley, 17, and Christian Guerrero Jr., 17, were taken into custody on Thursday, Feb. 27, with the assistance of the U.S. Marshals Service, Hartford Police, and the PSP Fugitive Apprehension Unit, state police said. They are being held in Connecticut while awaiting extradition to Dauphin County, PA. The Crime Spree The chaos began on Feb. 23, 2025, at 12:40 p.m., when a motorist on I-81 in Silver Spring Township, Cumbe…

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by Jillian Pikora
Police & Fire
Six Killed In Three Separate Maryland Fires Within 12 Hours, State Fire Marshal Investigating Six Killed In Three Separate Maryland Fires Within 12 Hours, State Fire Marshal Investigating
Six Killed In Three Separate Maryland Fires Within 12 Hours, State Fire Marshal Investigating Tragedy struck Maryland overnight as six people were killed in three separate fires in less than 12 hours, authorities confirmed. The most recent fire claimed two lives early Friday in Allegany County, following incidents in Anne Arundel and Harford counties. At approximately 10:15 a.m. on Feb. 21, 911 dispatchers received reports of smoke and flames coming from a home on Asbury Avenue in LaVale, according to the Office of the State Fire Marshal. Sixty firefighters from LaVale and nearby departments battled the blaze for 25 minutes before gaining control. During a search of the home, respo…

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by Zak Failla
News
Man Who Stabbed Salman Rushdie Over Dozen Times Convicted Of Attempted Murder Man Who Stabbed Salman Rushdie Over Dozen Times Convicted Of Attempted Murder
Man Who Stabbed Salman Rushdie Over Dozen Times Convicted Of Attempted Murder A New Jersey man who repeatedly stabbed author Salman Rushdie on stage at a New York speaking engagement was convicted of attempted murder. Hadi Matar, 27, of Fairview, was also found guilty of assault in Chautauqua County Court on Friday, Feb. 21, for injuring another attendee following two hours of jury deliberations, Buffalo NBC affiliate WGRZ reports. Matar faces up to 25 years in prison when he's sentenced in April. The attack happened at around 10:45 a.m. on Aug. 12, 2022, as Rushdie was about to begin lecturing at the Chautauqua Institution in Chautauqua, located about 70 miles sou…

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by Michael Mashburn
Police & Fire
Same Armed Suspect Hits Two Maryland Banks In Six Days, Police Say Same Armed Suspect Hits Two Maryland Banks In Six Days, Police Say
Same Armed Suspect Hits Two Maryland Banks In Six Days, Police Say Detectives are searching for an armed suspect behind a string of bank robberies in Montgomery County and are asking for the public’s help after releasing new surveillance photos. The first heist happened at M&T Bank on Montgomery Avenue around 11:30 a.m. on Saturday, Feb. 1, according to Montgomery County Police.  Investigators say the suspect walked in, placed a handgun on the counter, and demanded cash, and the teller handed over the money, and the man fled with an undisclosed amount. Just six days later, around 10 a.m. on Friday, Feb. 7, the same suspect reportedly struck again…

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by Zak Failla
Police & Fire
Armed & Aging: 70-Something Road Rage Drivers Wave Guns In Separate Maryland Incidents Armed & Aging: 70-Something Road Rage Drivers Wave Guns In Separate Maryland Incidents
Armed & Aging: 70-Something Road Rage Drivers Wave Guns In Separate Maryland Incidents Two Maryland men in their 70s are facing serious charges after allegedly pulling guns during separate road rage incidents in Baltimore County and Prince George’s County, Maryland State Police announced. William Shockey, 71, of Baltimore, and Charles Provost, 70, of College Park, were arrested after investigations led troopers to loaded firearms in their possession. The first incident happened on Tuesday, Feb. 18, when troopers from the Golden Ring Barrack received a complaint about a red Mustang driver waving a gun on I-695 near Liberty Road. Investigators identified Shockey as the suspect…

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by Zak Failla
Police & Fire
Arsonist Sparks Maryland YMCA Blaze With 80 People Inside: Fire Marshal Arsonist Sparks Maryland YMCA Blaze With 80 People Inside: Fire Marshal
Arsonist Sparks Maryland YMCA Blaze With 80 People Inside: Fire Marshal A 63-year-old man is facing serious charges after allegedly setting fires inside a Maryland YMCA while more than 80 people were inside, authorities announced. Donald Lee Martin Jr. was arrested following an investigation by the Maryland State Fire Marshal's Office into a fire reported around 3 p.m. on Friday, Feb. 7, at the YMCA located on Baltimore Avenue in Cumberland. Officials say tenants at the YMCA, which provides transitional services for families and shelter for unhoused individuals, quickly extinguished a fire that broke out in a third-floor apartment before it could spread.  …

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by Zak Failla
Politics
Hundreds Of FAA Staffers Cut By Trump Administration Amid String Of Plane Crashes Hundreds Of FAA Staffers Cut By Trump Administration Amid String Of Plane Crashes
Hundreds Of FAA Staffers Cut By Trump Administration Amid String Of Plane Crashes The Trump administration has fired hundreds of Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) employees, including safety engineers and technicians, despite four fatal aviation accidents since Inauguration Day—a move some warn could compromise air travel safety. On Friday, Feb. 14, several hundred FAA workers received termination notices, as reported by the Professional Aviation Safety Specialists (PASS) union.  “We are troubled and disappointed by the administration’s decision to fire FAA probationary employees PASS represents without cause nor based on performance or conduct,” said PASS natio…

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by Joe Lombardi
News
Gunman Who Opened Fire In Harford Mall Learns His Fate After 28-Day Manhunt Gunman Who Opened Fire In Harford Mall Learns His Fate After 28-Day Manhunt
Gunman Who Opened Fire In Harford Mall Learns His Fate After 28-Day Manhunt A Maryland man convicted of attempted murder for opening fire inside Harford Mall will spend the majority of his life behind bars, authorities announced. Wesley Larry Lyons Jr. was sentenced to 93 years in prison, with all but 65 years to serve, after being found guilty in December 2024 of attempted second-degree murder and multiple firearm-related charges stemming from a shooting in June that year, according to the Harford County State’s Attorney’s Office. Prosecutors argued for the full 93-year sentence, citing the reckless nature of the attack and the danger posed to the public. “This s…

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by Zak Failla
Police & Fire
Video Shows Hero Cop Saving Driver From Burning SUV In Maryland Video Shows Hero Cop Saving Driver From Burning SUV In Maryland
Video Shows Hero Cop Saving Driver From Burning SUV In Maryland A police corporal in Maryland is being recognized following a heroic save of an injured driver trapped in a burning SUV in Hyattsville. Body-worn video footage of Cpl. Kelly Hernandez was released by police on Thursday, showing the officer coming to the aid of a man who broke his leg in a crash late last month. In the video, Hernandez ran toward the burning vehicle, where the driver was pleading for help, imploring, "my leg's broken ... Please help me."  Here is body-worn camera video of an SUV accident on Jan. 19 on Queens Chapel Road. Cpl. Kelly Hernandez was able to pull the vic…

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by Zak Failla
News
Glock Sued By Maryland, Baltimore Over Rise In Fully Automatic Weapons On Streets Glock Sued By Maryland, Baltimore Over Rise In Fully Automatic Weapons On Streets
Glock Sued By Maryland, Baltimore Over Rise In Fully Automatic Weapons On Streets Maryland and Baltimore officials are taking on one of the biggest names in the firearms industry, filing a lawsuit against Glock, Inc. over the ease with which its pistols can be turned into illegal machine guns, authorities announced. Attorney General Anthony Brown and Baltimore Mayor Brandon Scott announced the suit against the firearm manufacturer on Wednesday, Feb. 12, alleging the company knowingly endangers public safety by selling handguns that can be easily modified with “Glock switches”—devices that convert semiautomatic pistols into fully automatic weapons. “We will not allow the …

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by Zak Failla
Police & Fire
Teen Shoplifter With Loaded Glock Tracked Down In Maryland Parking Lot: Police Teen Shoplifter With Loaded Glock Tracked Down In Maryland Parking Lot: Police
Teen Shoplifter With Loaded Glock Tracked Down In Maryland Parking Lot: Police A routine shoplifting call in Frederick took a dangerous turn when officers found a loaded gun hidden in the suspect’s jacket, authorities announced. Officers from the Frederick Police Department responded to a business in the 1500 block of Opossumtown Pike around noon on Saturday, Feb. 8, for a reported theft in progress. When officers arrived, they found the suspect in a nearby parking lot, where a witness identified the juvenile as the shoplifter, police said. During the arrest, officers discovered a loaded 9mm Glock 19 handgun concealed in the suspect’s jacket, along with ammunition. …

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by Zak Failla
News
Final Victim Of DC Plane Crash Identified Final Victim Of DC Plane Crash Identified
Final Victim Of DC Plane Crash Identified Authorities have confirmed the recovery and positive identification of all 67 victims from the tragic aircraft collision over the Potomac River, marking a major step in bringing closure to grieving families, they say. The Unified Command announced the update on Feb. 5, stating that efforts will now shift toward clearing the remaining wreckage from the waterway. "Our thoughts are with the victims’ families as they endure this heartbreaking loss," officials said. "We offer our deepest condolences and remain steadfast in our commitment to supporting them through this difficult time." While al…

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by Zak Failla