Tag:

Mass shootings

Columbia, MD
Lifestyle
Columbia Listed As Safest Home And Community In New Ranking Columbia Listed As Safest Home And Community In New Ranking
Columbia Listed As Safest Home And Community In New Ranking Some neighborhoods in the DMV region rank among the safest in the United States, according to a newly released report from WalletHub.  Two from Virginia were in the top 10 in the new ranking, with the state boasting five overall, joining two from Maryland and the District of Columbia as the safest cities in America in 2024.  In making their rankings, WalletHub evaluated a variety of "threats to safety," including the possibility of natural disasters, mass shootings, traffic accidents, and other dangers.  “When people think about safety in a city, their minds probably immedia…

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by Zak Failla
Albany, NY
Politics
‘Sad Day’: SCOTUS Bump Stock Ruling Sparks Bipartisan Condemnation From NY Politicians ‘Sad Day’: SCOTUS Bump Stock Ruling Sparks Bipartisan Condemnation From NY Politicians
‘Sad Day’: SCOTUS Bump Stock Ruling Sparks Bipartisan Condemnation From NY Politicians New York politicians wasted no time reacting to the Supreme Court’s decision striking down a federal ban on bump stocks, which allow semiautomatic rifles to fire more quickly. In their 6-3 ruling Friday, June 14, with conservatives in the majority, the high court sided with a Texas gun store owner who surrendered his bump stocks after the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF) reclassified the devices as machine guns in 2018. He later sued to get them back. The ATF’s regulation, issued under the Trump administration with his full support, came about after the 2017 Las Veg…

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by Michael Mashburn
Fort Lee, NJ
Police & Fire
NYC 'Prophet Of Doom' Subway Shooter Sentenced To 10 Life Terms Plus 10 Years NYC 'Prophet Of Doom' Subway Shooter Sentenced To 10 Life Terms Plus 10 Years
NYC 'Prophet Of Doom' Subway Shooter Sentenced To 10 Life Terms Plus 10 Years UPDATE: A man who admitted that he intended to cause mass harm when he opened fire on a packed New York City subway train last year was sentenced to 10 life sentences -- one for each victim -- plus 10 years in prison. No one was killed in the horrific attack by Frank James, 62, which left the victims strewn across a smoky 36th Street platform in the Sunset Park section of Brooklyn while igniting underground terror at the height of the morning rush on April 12, 2022. James took a deal from federal prosecutors rather than risk the consequences of a guilty verdict at a jury trial. The heavyse…

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by Jerry DeMarco
Albany, NY
Politics
‘Stop The Bloodshed’: Louisville Shooting Could’ve Been Prevented By Red Flag Law, Hochul Says ‘Stop The Bloodshed’: Louisville Shooting Could’ve Been Prevented By Red Flag Law, Hochul Says
‘Stop The Bloodshed’: Louisville Shooting Could’ve Been Prevented By Red Flag Law, Hochul Says Recent mass shootings that killed six people at an elementary school in Tennessee and five more at a bank in Kentucky might not have occurred had those states implemented so-called “red flag” laws like New York, according to Gov. Kathy Hochul. In an op-ed written for USA Today Network and shared on the governor's website, Hochul touted the measures, which allow a court to issue an extreme risk protection order (ERPO) that temporarily prohibits someone from buying or possessing a gun should they be deemed a danger to themselves or others. Former Gov. Andrew Cuomo signed the state’s ERPO in…

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by Michael Mashburn
Albany, NY
Politics
'Outrageous, Appalling': Hochul Lambastes Santos Over Proposed Bill Making AR-15 'National Gun' 'Outrageous, Appalling': Hochul Lambastes Santos Over Proposed Bill Making AR-15 'National Gun'
'Outrageous, Appalling': Hochul Lambastes Santos Over Proposed Bill Making AR-15 'National Gun' New York Gov. Kathy Hochul is joining the growing chorus of criticism over proposed federal legislation that would designate a “national gun,” which is being co-sponsored by embattled Long Island Rep. George Santos. "It's outrageous and appalling that New York Congressman Santos would attach his name to legislation that would designate the AR-15 as the 'national gun of the United States,’” Hochul said in a statement Thursday, Feb. 23. Earlier Report: AR-15 Would Be 'National Gun Of America' Under Bill Co-Sponsored By Nassau Rep. George Santos She went on to describe the AR-15 rifle as a …

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by Michael Mashburn
Massapequa, NY
Politics
AR-15 Would Be 'National Gun Of America' Under Bill Co-Sponsored By NY Rep. George Santos AR-15 Would Be 'National Gun Of America' Under Bill Co-Sponsored By NY Rep. George Santos
AR-15 Would Be 'National Gun Of America' Under Bill Co-Sponsored By NY Rep. George Santos This story has been updated to include a statement from Rep. Santos' office.  The American flag. The bald eagle. The Statue of Liberty. All unmistakable symbols of the United States. Now a new official symbol could be on the horizon under legislation being co-sponsored by embattled New York Rep. George Santos: the semi-automatic rifle. Santos, a Republican representing the 3rd District, which includes parts of Nassau County and Queens, is co-sponsoring a House bill that would officially make the AR-15 style rifle the “national gun” of the United States. Related story: 'I've Been A Ter…

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by Michael Mashburn
Fairfield, CT
News
'Incomprehensible': Sandy Hook Survivor Says About Witnessing Deadly Michigan State Shooting 'Incomprehensible': Sandy Hook Survivor Says About Witnessing Deadly Michigan State Shooting
'Incomprehensible': Sandy Hook Survivor Says About Witnessing Deadly Michigan State Shooting A Connecticut native who survived the deadliest mass shooting in the state's history is speaking out after witnessing another deadly shooting at a college in the Midwest this week.  Jackie Matthews is a student at Michigan State University and a Newtown native, according to her Facebook profile.  She was "directly across the street" from where three students were killed and five others were injured during a shooting on MSU's East Lansing campus, Matthews said in a TikTok video.  “I am 21 years old and this is the second mass shooting I’ve lived through," she said in the video. "The fact t…

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by David Cifarelli
Kingston, NY
News
Town Holds Firm On Hudson Valley Gun Show Cancelation Despite Organizer Changing His Mind Town Holds Firm On Hudson Valley Gun Show Cancelation Despite Organizer Changing His Mind
Town Holds Firm On Hudson Valley Gun Show Cancelation Despite Organizer Changing His Mind Despite a gun show organizer changing his mind about canceling a show on Father's Day weekend due to recent mass shootings, a Hudson Valley town is holding firm. The event, the NEACA Gun Show, was scheduled to be held in Ulster County on Saturday, June 18, and Sunday, June 19 in Saugerties. The show was canceled by mutual agreement between the town and the promoter, said David Petronis, president of NEACA last week. But on Sunday, June 12, Petronis, angry over what he said in a statement was "political" maneuverings stated he planned to "hopefully," hold the show anyway. On Monday, June 1…

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by Kathy Reakes
Kingston, NY
News
Gun Show In Hudson Valley Canceled Due To Recent Mass Shootings Gun Show In Hudson Valley Canceled Due To Recent Mass Shootings
Gun Show In Hudson Valley Canceled Due To Recent Mass Shootings A gun show scheduled to be held over the Father's Day weekend in the Hudson Valley has been canceled due to the recent mass shootings.  The event, the NEACA Gun Show, was scheduled to be held in Ulster County in Saugerties on Saturday, June 18, and Sunday, June 19. The show was canceled by mutual agreement between the town and the promoter, said David Petronis, president of NEACA. The show was due to be held at the Kiwanis Ice Arena in Saugerties, however, after meeting with Town of Saugerties Supervisor Fred Costello on Thursday morning, Petronis agreed to ca…

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by Kathy Reakes
Albany, NY
News
Gov. Hochul Signs Laws Raising Age To Buy Semiautomatic Guns, Banning Body Armor Sales Gov. Hochul Signs Laws Raising Age To Buy Semiautomatic Guns, Banning Body Armor Sales
Gov. Hochul Signs Laws Raising Age To Buy Semiautomatic Guns, Banning Body Armor Sales Anyone buying a semi-automatic firearm in New York will now have to be 21 or older after Gov. Kathy Hochul signed new gun control legislation aimed at reducing mass shootings. The age increase on semiautomatic weapons sales was just one of several gun-related bills Hochul signed into law Monday, June 6. They included a ban on body armor sales, except to those working in select professions, and a requirement that new semi-automatic guns be microstamped in an effort to better help police solve gun-related crimes. The new legislation also strengthens New York’s so-called red flag law, which …

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by Michael Mashburn
New Haven, CT
News
Doctor Shot, Killed By Disgruntled Patient In Tulsa Has Ties To Northeast Doctor Shot, Killed By Disgruntled Patient In Tulsa Has Ties To Northeast
Doctor Shot, Killed By Disgruntled Patient In Tulsa Has Ties To Northeast One of the victims in the mass shooting at the Tulsa, Oklahoma hospital has ties to the Northeast. Dr. Preston J. Phillips was a Harvard Medical School graduate who worked at the Yale New Haven Hospital for years during his residency before ultimately landing as an orthopedic surgeon at the hospital where he was murdered. Phillips, age 59, was one of four people who were shot and killed by Michael Louis - also known as Michelet Louis - on Wednesday, June 1, when the gunman purchased an assault rifle and gunned them down at the Warren Clinic Orthopedic Surgery and Sports Medicine. Poli…

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by Zak Failla
Massapequa, NY
Sports
Yankees, Other Pro Sports Teams Urge Fans To Take Action On Gun Law Reform After Mass Shootings Yankees, Other Pro Sports Teams Urge Fans To Take Action On Gun Law Reform After Mass Shootings
Yankees, Other Pro Sports Teams Urge Fans To Take Action On Gun Law Reform After Mass Shootings The game of baseball took a backseat for a pair of rival teams who took the opportunity to encourage gun control and legislative action after the recent mass shootings in Buffalo, Texas, and elsewhere in the US. Social media departments from the New York Yankees and AL East rival Tampa Bay Rays teamed up during their matchup on Thursday, May 26 to forego tweeting and messaging about their game, and instead used it to promote gun law reform. “In lieu of game coverage and in collaboration with the Tampa Bay Rays, we will be using our channels to offer facts about the impacts of gun violence,…

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by Zak Failla
Albany, NY
Politics
Hochul Wants To Raise Legal Age To Buy Some Types Of Guns In NY After Buffalo, Texas Shootings Hochul Wants To Raise Legal Age To Buy Some Types Of Guns In NY After Buffalo, Texas Shootings
Hochul Wants To Raise Legal Age To Buy Some Types Of Guns In NY After Buffalo, Texas Shootings In the wake of the latest mass shootings in Buffalo and Texas, Gov. Kathy Hochul is calling on state lawmakers to pass legislation making it more difficult for young New Yorkers to purchase some types of guns. Hochul proposed several proposals to close loopholes and strengthen gun laws in New York, including raising the age to purchase rifles to 21. “How does an 18-year-old purchase an AR-15 in the State of New York, State of Texas? That person's not old enough to buy a legal drink,” she said. “I want to work with the legislature to change that. I want it to be 21. I think that's…

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by Zak Failla
Lakewood, NJ
News
Buffalo Mass Shooter 'Cut And Pasted' Earlier Manifestos: NJ Prosecutor Buffalo Mass Shooter 'Cut And Pasted' Earlier Manifestos: NJ Prosecutor
Buffalo Mass Shooter 'Cut And Pasted' Earlier Manifestos: NJ Prosecutor The Buffalo mass shooter who called several New Jersey communities "deplorable," cut and pasted large sections of earlier manifestos in his diatribe, authorities said. Ocean County Prosecutor Bradley D. Billhimer issued a statement on Tuesday, May 17, saying that there are no direct threats to any local communities as implied by a 180-page manifesto authored by the alleged Buffalo shooter. Payton Gendron, 18, was arraigned Saturday on first-degree murder charges and ordered detained without bail on accusations he carefully planned the massacre at a Buffalo supermarket that left ten people d…

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by Jon Craig
Massapequa, NY
News
Description Released For Suspect On Run After 10 Shot In Rush-Hour NYC Subway Attack Description Released For Suspect On Run After 10 Shot In Rush-Hour NYC Subway Attack
Description Released For Suspect On Run After 10 Shot In Rush-Hour NYC Subway Attack Updated story: Police ID Suspected Gunman In Rush-Hour NYC Subway Attack Authorities have released a description of the suspect on the run after 10 people were shot, and six others injured, after a gunman opened fired on a New York City subway train during the height of the morning commute on Tuesday, April 12, according to the FDNY. The shooting took place just before 8:30 a.m. at the 36th Street Station on the N train, said NYPD Commissioner Keechant Sewell at a press conference. According to Sewell, the suspect was on the train when he put on a gas mask, pulled out a …

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by Kathy Reakes
New Haven, CT
Police & Fire
Survey: 1 In 10 Connecticut Residents Personally Affected By Mass Shootings Survey: 1 In 10 Connecticut Residents Personally Affected By Mass Shootings
Survey: 1 In 10 Connecticut Residents Personally Affected By Mass Shootings More than 10 percent of Connecticut residents say they have been, or are close to someone who has been, personally affected by a mass shooting, according to a recent survey. More than 40 percent of residents who responded to a 2020 survey by SafeWise said mass shootings are the violent crime they are most worried about. On a national level, only 28 percent of people said mass shooting worry them that much. The SafeWise 2020 State of Safety survey looked at attitudes towards crime and violence in each state as well as the levels of actual crime and violence that occurred there. The study fo…

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by Kristin Palpini
DV Plus - Westchester, NY
Schools
Report: Deadliest Mass Shootings Take Place At Suburban Schools Report: Deadliest Mass Shootings Take Place At Suburban Schools
Report: Deadliest Mass Shootings Take Place At Suburban Schools During the past 10 years, the deadliest mass shootings have been at suburban schools, according to several studies. That fact and other disturbing trends prompted Westchester County officials to study the best ways of preventing gun violence.  As the 20th anniversary of the Columbine, Colo. shootings approached in April, The Washington Post calculated that in K-12 schools alone, in the two decades since the Columbine massacre, more than 223,000 children have been exposed to gun violence during classroom hours.  Westchester County District Attorney Anthony A. Scarpino, J…

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by Jon Craig
DV Plus - Fairfield, CT
Schools
New Video: Sandy Hook Promise Shocks Viewers With 'Practical' Back-to-School Intruder Tips New Video: Sandy Hook Promise Shocks Viewers With 'Practical' Back-to-School Intruder Tips
New Video: Sandy Hook Promise Shocks Viewers With 'Practical' Back-to-School Intruder Tips Sandy Hook Promise, a nonprofit organization "protecting children from gun violence with programs that work" aired a video on Wednesday, Sept. 18 aimed at drawing attention to mass shootings -- including the one at Sandy Hook Elementary School in Newtown. It's titled "Back-to-School Essentials." The Public Service Announcement is graphic and may be disturbing for many viewers. It can be accessed by clicking here.  The Sandy Hook shooting occurred on Dec. 14, 2012, when 20-year-old Adam Lanza shot and killed 26 people, including 20 children between six and seven years old, and six …

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by Jon Craig
DV Plus - Westchester, NY
Schools
Back-To-School: Pens, Notebooks, 'Tactical' Backpacks? Back-To-School: Pens, Notebooks, 'Tactical' Backpacks?
Back-To-School: Pens, Notebooks, 'Tactical' Backpacks? It's a sign of the times. Not only is there a need to heighten security at schools with guards, cameras and visitor background checks. Now, some parents are arming their children with bulletproof backpacks. News outlets are reporting an increase in the purchase of so-called "tactical backpacks" before the 2019-2020 school year. "It's a sad sign of the fear that exists,'' said Dr. Joseph L. Ricca, superintendent at White Plains Central School District.  "There is no such thing as a bulletproof backpack,'' Ricca said. "Bullet-resistant, sure. I understand it gives (parents) a sense of …

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by Jon Craig
Massapequa, NY
Politics
Peter King Becomes First House Republican To Back Assault Weapons Ban Peter King Becomes First House Republican To Back Assault Weapons Ban
Peter King Becomes First House Republican To Back Assault Weapons Ban Long Island Congressman Peter King became the first Republican to back an assault weapons ban that was proposed by Democrats earlier this year. Rep. David Cicilline (D, Rhode Island) introduced the Assault Weapons Ban of 2019 in February, including 190 Democratic supporters, with even more joining the cause following the mass shootings in El Paso and Dayton. This week, King became the first Republican lawmaker to show his support for the legislation. He has previously shown his support for improving background checks before gun purchases, before the latest mass shootings. His public backin…

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by Zak Failla
Elizabeth, NJ
Police & Fire
Suspected Shoplifter Mistaken For Gunman At Union Walmart Suspected Shoplifter Mistaken For Gunman At Union Walmart
Suspected Shoplifter Mistaken For Gunman At Union Walmart A Walmart in Union was evacuated Thursday morning following a report that a man with a gun had been spotted there, police said.  Police later determined, however, that there had been no threat.  ** UPDATE: A 20-year-old Newark man who caused a stir at a local Walmart turned himself into police ** A woman called police shortly before 11 a.m. and said she'd seen a man in a black mask toting a black gun at the Springfield Road store. The store was evacuated and a team of officers entered, where they found an employee and a customer who had not yet left.  Police also found a bl…

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by Paul Milo
Brentwood, NY
Police & Fire
Series Of Active Shooter Exercises To Be Conducted In Suffolk Series Of Active Shooter Exercises To Be Conducted In Suffolk
Series Of Active Shooter Exercises To Be Conducted In Suffolk The Suffolk County Police Department is teaming with local school districts, retailers and religious institutions to conduct a series of active shooter drills to prevent a potential mass shooting. In the wake of mass shootings in El Paso and Dayton, Suffolk County Executive Steve Bellone and Suffolk County Police Commissioner Geraldine Hart announced that there will be several upcoming shooter exercises to train for a potential shooter situation. The first active shooter drill is expected to be held within the West Babylon School District later this month. According to Bellone, the focus o…

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by Zak Failla
Brookfield, CT
Politics
Ocasio-Cortez, Gillibrand Slam NY Times Headline On Trump's White House Address On Racism Ocasio-Cortez, Gillibrand Slam NY Times Headline On Trump's White House Address On Racism
Ocasio-Cortez, Gillibrand Slam NY Times Headline On Trump's White House Address On Racism Freshman New York Congresswoman Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez and Sen. Kirsten Gillibrand among the cacophony of voices that forced the New York Times to alter a headline online from its print edition. Following the mass shootings in Dayton, Ohio and El Paso, Texas, which left 31 people dead, The Times' front-page headline on Tuesday, Aug. 6 read “Trump Urges Unity vs. Racism” after President Donald Trump’s address at the White House. Leading up to Trump's remarks on Monday, Aug. 5 in the Diplomatic Room of the White House, the president’s rhetoric in rallies and on Twitter was widely criticized…

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by Zak Failla
Mount Pleasant, NY
News
31 Killed In Two Mass Shootings 12 Hours Apart In Ohio, Texas 31 Killed In Two Mass Shootings 12 Hours Apart In Ohio, Texas
31 Killed In Two Mass Shootings 12 Hours Apart In Ohio, Texas This story has been updated. Separate mass shootings 12 hours apart left 31 people dead and dozens injured in Ohio and Texas. The first shooting happened at a Walmart at a shopping mall in El Paso, Texas, just after 11 a.m. Saturday, Aug. 3 local time (and 1 p.m. Eastern time). In that incident, 22 people were killed and 26 injured. It is unclear why the 21-year-old suspect taken into custody, who is from the Dallas suburb of Allen, Texas, targeted El Paso, on the border of Mexico, and about 650 miles away. Less than an hour before the gunman opened fire, police said they believe he poste…

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by Joe Lombardi
Hackensack, NJ
Police & Fire
New Jersey AG Sues Vegas Company For Illegally Selling Large-Capacity Ammo Magazines New Jersey AG Sues Vegas Company For Illegally Selling Large-Capacity Ammo Magazines
New Jersey AG Sues Vegas Company For Illegally Selling Large-Capacity Ammo Magazines New Jersey’s top law enforcement officer filed a lawsuit Wednesday against a Nevada company that he said illegally sold large-capacity ammunition magazines to an undercover investigator online after receiving a cease-and-desist letter from his office months earlier. The suit filed by Attorney General Gurbir S. Grewal against Nevada-based New Frontier Armory LLC alleges that the company sold six LCMs to undercover investigators, including a 100-round magazine. “Large capacity magazines are dangerous and have been disproportionately used in mass shootings, which is why they are illegal in Ne…

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by Jerry DeMarco
Somers, NY
News
State Police Increase Presence At Mosques After New Zealand Mass Shooting State Police Increase Presence At Mosques After New Zealand Mass Shooting
State Police Increase Presence At Mosques After New Zealand Mass Shooting There is an increased police presence at New York mosques and houses of worship following the mass shootings in New Zealand. On Friday, an immigrant-hating white nationalist killed at least 49 people at two mosques in Christchurch, New Zealand that was broadcast live online. One man has been arrested and charged with murder, while two others have been taken into police custody for further investigation. The gunman left behind a 74-page manifesto that was posted on social media under the name of Brenton Tarrant, declaring himself as a white nationalist out for revenge. Jacinda Ardern, New Z…

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by Zak Failla
Mount Pleasant, NY
Politics
Cuomo Says He'll Push To Make It Illegal To Buy Guns Under Age 21 Cuomo Says He'll Push To Make It Illegal To Buy Guns Under Age 21
Cuomo Says He'll Push To Make It Illegal To Buy Guns Under Age 21 Gov. Andrew Cuomo of New Castle accepted the state Democratic Party's nomination for governor on Thursday, May 24 on Long Island while promising new gun laws -- including raising the age to purchase firearms in New York to 21. Cuomo blasted President Donald Trump and Republicans in Congress for refusing to act while the number of mass shootings including last week's killings at Santa Fe High School in Texas continue to grow. Cuomo cited the state's passage of a tough anti-gun control law known as the SAFE Act after the 2012 mass Sandy Hook Elementary school shooting in Newtown, CT, and prom…

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by Jon Craig