Teen fatally shot by cousin in video game controller altercation
BIRMINGHAM, AL (WBRC) –
An altercation between cousins over a video game controller led to the shooting death of a Birmingham teen Friday night.
Birmingham Police identified the victim as 18-year-old Bobby Baker.
The shooting took place in the 3500 block of 45th Street Southwest, in the Brownsville neighborhood in western Birmingham. Officers discovered the victim lying on the floor in the upstairs hallway of the location.
Paramedics treated him at the scene before transporting him to UAB Hospital where he was pronounced dead.
“He had just graduated high school. He was planning on going to the military,” said Kueocia Zimmerman, Baker’s sister. “Just in disbelief. Our hearts are just heavy.”
Investigators believe a physical altercation began when the cousin walked into the Baker’s bedroom and knocked a video game controller out of his hand.
The two began to wrestle and a gun was removed from the cousin’s waist. Both of them struggled over the gun when it fired and wounded Baker in the chest.
The cousin was taken into police custody and placed on a 48-hour hold in the city jail. However, family members are not ready to assign blame just yet.
“He had no intention of trying to kill my brother. He loved him too. That was his first cousin. They always played around,” said Zimmerman. “We ain’t angry or anything. I’m crying because of my cousin. I know he didn’t mean to do it. We just hurt.”
The suspect’s identity has not been released. A police spokesperson told WBRC it is a “possibility” that the shooting could be ruled accidental. However, the district attorney will make the final call.
Police are still investigating this case as a homicide.
via: http://www.kmov.com/story/30176867/teen-fatally-shot-by-cousin-in-video-game-controller-altercation
A vigilante hacker is changing 10,000 WiFi passwords
Does your home WiFi use a default password? It forces you to change it. Does it leave unguarded communication channels open? It forces you to close them.
To experts, this seems like the work of a well intentioned hacker vigilante. Illegal, yes. But helpful, kinda.
The custom-built software is nicknamed “Ifwatch” and it is spreading quickly, according to researchers at the cybersecurity firm Symantec.
“We have not seen any malicious activity whatsoever,” said Symantec threat intelligence officer Val Saengphaibul. “However, in the legal sense, this is illegal activity. It’s accessing computers on a network without the owner’s permission.”
To date, it has snuck into at least 10,000 Internet-connected devices, usually WiFi routers.
Ifwatch first popped up last year, when an independent security researcher spotted something funky in a home WiFi router.
Why does Ifwatch seem nice? Because it tries to kill any malware on your router. It also gives your device automatic, friendly updates that protect it from computer viruses. In some cases, it forces a device to reboot every week, clearing away any dangerous malware.
Then again, there’s no telling if this intrusive program is really as benign as it seems. Ifwatch has the ability to monitor what’s going on in your router — and capture that data.
So, in theory, it could spy on you. When you’re prompted to type in a new password, it’s hard to tell if that stays private. Would you type in a new password with someone looking over your shoulder?
“We have no idea who is behind this — or what their full intention is,” Saengphaibul said.
But there’s a clue. There’s a hidden message in the program’s computer code: “To any NSA and FBI agents reading this: please consider whether defending the US Constitution against all enemies, foreign or domestic, requires you to follow Snowden’s example.”
This altruistic hack could be an attempt to improve everyone’s privacy. Or maybe it’s just a very clever diversion.
via: http://fox2now.com/2015/10/02/a-vigilante-hacker-is-changing-10000-wifi-passwords/
Married teachers arrested after sexual relationship with student
PEORIA, AZ – Two Arizona teachers were arrested on Friday for inappropriate conduct with a former student.
The Peoria Police Department tells KPHO-TV that Brian Woolsey, 45, allegedly began a sexual relationship in 2010 with a then 15-year-old. The suspect’s wife, Jennifer Woolsey, was aware of the relationship and did not report it to police. KSAZ-TV reports that the relationship with the teen lasted for 3 years
The victim is now an adult and came forward to police on Thursday. The couple both teach at Sunrise Mountain High School in Peoria. They were arrested on Friday at a location outside of school.
Brian Woolsey faces multiple counts of sexual conduct with a minor and two counts of sexual exploitation of a minor. Jennifer Woolsey is being held for failing to report sexual abuse.
The school district says the teachers have been placed on administrative leave while they conduct an investigation. They sent letters home to parents to explain the situation.
Brian Woolsey teaches media production and math. Jennifer Woolsey teaches language arts.
via: http://fox2now.com/2015/10/02/married-teachers-arrested-after-sexual-relationship-with-student/
Mother arrested, accused of using iron, power drill to abuse her two children
DENVER — Her pictures show Kinyaite Davis took good care of herself. Police say the same cannot be said for her two children.
“This is hard on us,” said her sister, who asked not to be identified.
She described the dark secrets and severe abuse that police say started when Davis’ two children were toddlers. They are ages 11 and 12. It was the sister who turned in Davis.
“It was a hard decision doing what I did for the kids. But, at the same time, it was easier for what I’ve seen personally as far as bruises and burns,” she said.
Police said the sister said both children made “outcry to her” of extensive physical abuse over five years. On one occasion, the son claimed his mother placed an iron against his shoulder and pushed the steam button, causing a large burn.
Worse, police say the daughter still has scars from when she was 8 years old. She told them it was from the mother driving a power drill though her hand as she tried to cover her face.
Police say when the children didn’t clean house, Davis punished them by beating them with a belt. When that didn’t work, she steamed them with the iron. Neighbors never suspected anything, but the family says Denver Health and Denver Health and Human Services did.
They say they recently learned the department visited the home three times in three years and must have seen the injuries.
“They knew and they didn’t do anything about it,” the sister said.
“No child should ever suffer abuse or neglect and our child welfare team takes all allegations reported to us very seriously,” Health and Human Services spokeswoman Julie Smith said. “Because all clients are afforded the right to privacy, we are not permitted to discuss specific cases. I can say that we are committed to protecting children and building up families.”
Davis is in custody facing two felony child abuse counts.
Florida man snatches 4 million pounds of citrus without paying, officials say
Perhaps he had an insatiable appetite for oranges. Or maybe he was just trying to squeeze a serious profit.
Whatever the reason, a Florida man allegedly stole 4 million pounds of citrus, the state department of agriculture said Friday. That’s more than $540,000 worth of produce.
Officials said Bradley D. Reiter, owner of Reiter Citrus Inc., entered into contracts with several grove companies and a resident to buy and remove citrus from their land — but he never paid for the fruit.
As it turned out, Reiter didn’t even have a license to deal citrus, the Florida Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services said.
He also entered a resident’s grove without permission and removed 180 boxes of citrus, the agriculture department said. Officials said Reiter Citrus Inc. gave the resident a check worth only half the actual value of the fruit.
Reiter was arrested and booked into the Polk County Jail and faces several charges, including scheme to defraud, grand theft and dealing citrus without a license, the agriculture department said.
It was not immediately clear what happened to the 4 million pounds of fruit.
Fla. deputy fatally shot from behind after serving domestic violence papers
A Florida deputy was shot from behind and killed after serving a domestic violence injunction Tuesday morning, the Okaloosa County Sheriff’s Office said.
Deputy Bill Myers, 64, was working in Shalimar when he was struck by multiple bullets, including in his head and back.
The suspect, Joel Dixon Smith, was later killed in a hotel shootout with a tactical team, officials said.
“Deputy Myers has been a treasured part of this agency’s family since 1989,” Sheriff Larry Ashley said of the deputy who had retired two years ago then came back to work part time earlier this year. He was loved, admired, and respected for his dedication to the law enforcement profession.
“He loved photography and he had an ability to make those around him smile, especially his young granddaughter who he adored and took to Disney World as often as he could.”
Myers had come back to work to earn a little money to take his granddaughter to the theme park, the sheriff said.
The sheriff told reporters he spoke to Myers’ wife and one of his sons.
“They are devastated,” Ashley said.
Myers had served the papers, which prohibited Smith from having contact with his spouse, at the office of the suspect’s lawyer and had talked to the suspect about surrendering his firearms, the sheriff said.
Smith told Myers that his guns were in his truck. As they walked to the parking lot, Smith shot Myers, according to Ashley. There were four shell casings found at the scene but it wasn’t immediately clear if Smith fired each round. Myers’ gun wasn’t in his holster, the sheriff said.
Because the event had been set up by Smith’s attorney, who called authorities to tell them where to meet his client, it appeared Smith wasn’t a threat.
“Certainly there was no indication … that there was violence to be expected,” Ashley said.
Myers died at Fort Walton Beach Medical Center.
The suspect fled and after being spotted by police raced to a hotel in Niceville where he barricaded the door of his room. The sheriff’s Special Response Team arrived and after more than 100 minutes of negotiations, they fired tear gas into the room, authorities said. Smith came out with a handgun and was shot several times, Ashley said. He died at the same hospital as the deputy.
Gov. Rick Scott said: “Our hearts are broken to learn of the death of Deputy Bill Myers. Florida’s law enforcement officers risk their lives daily to protect others, and any act of violence against these brave heroes is shameful and cowardly. My wife, Ann, and I send our sincerest condolences to Deputy Myers’ family and brothers and sisters in Florida’s law enforcement community.”
Ashley said Smith was arrested in a domestic violence case in Walton County in 2008.
According to the Officer Down Memorial Page, 27 officers have been killed by gunfire in the line of duty this year. Two others were fatally wounded during firearms training.
Selma man arrested after shooting 3 people during church service
SELMA, AL (WSFA) –
A Selma man has been taken into custody and charged after officials say he shot his girlfriend, infant and a pastor, during a church service on Sunday.
Investigators say that witnesses recall around 10:25 a.m. James Junior Minter, 26, went inside the Oasis Tabernacle Church located on the 3700 block of Water Avenue and sat between the victim and the child. Shortly after Minter pulled out a gun and began shooting.
When officers arrived they found the 24-year-old woman who had been shot in the shoulder and jaw, the infant with a gunshot to the hand and the 61-year-old pastor with a gunshot to the leg. The woman and child were taken to hospitals in Birmingham and are currently listed in stable condition. The pastor was transported to a local hospital for treatment.
Witnesses say while Minter was shooting at his girlfriend, the pastor attempted to grab Minter and was shot. Others then assisted in subduing Minter and were able to take the firearm from him. Minter then fled the scene but was taken into custody by police, less than a mile away.
According to Dallas County District Attorney Michael Jackson, Minter has been charged with three counts of attempted murder. He has been taken to the Dallas County Jail with no bond. Minter may also face additional charges related to the shooting. If convicted he could face 10 years to life in prison and fines up to $60,000.
Investigators say that the possible motive of the shooting stemmed from a domestic violence issue that had been ongoing between the couple.
Reporter Hannah Lane is at the scene and will have a live report from the church on WSFA 12 News at 5 p.m.
via: http://www.kmov.com/story/30073424/selma-man-arrested-after-shooting-3-people-during-church-service
Body of Missing 4-Year-Old Boy Found in Mission Bay Channel; Abduction Claims Unfounded
The body of a 4-year-old boy missing since Saturday night has been found, officials said.
San Diego Police (SDPD) Officer Cory Mapston said the body of Wesley Hilaire was found 100 yards off the shore near Mission Bay’s east channel. Though police had previously issued an Amber Alert, they said Sunday the claims of child abduction were unfounded. “It appears to be an entirely accidental drowning,” SDPD Sgt. Cory Mapston said.
After Wesley was reported missing just after dark, police began combing through the land and water near the 3000 block of N Mission Bay Drive, where he was last seen. Around 2 a.m., SDPD officials issued an Amber Alert in San Diego, Riverside and Orange counties.
Mother Daniesha Hilaire was at the scene through the night and into Sunday morning, passing out fliers with her son’s information, hoping that the information would help spread the word and find her son.
“If anybody sees him, just take him from whoever he’s with,” Daniesha told NBC7 through tears Saturday night. “He was with my sister at the beach and I was at work and I got a text saying that they couldn’t find him at the beach.”
When she was told her son’s body was found, Daniesha collapsed and had to be taken away on a gurney. The boy’s grandmother, also at the scene, began yelling and screaming. Many in the area gathered to pray.
At 11 a.m., a Harbor Patrol sonar boat began going through the water slowly and found the boy’s body 100 feet from Mission Bay Park. Divers then went in to recover the boy.
When officials searched the perimeter, Daniesha told NBC 7 her young boy was a bright young man.
“As a 4-year-old, he knew it all,” Daniesha said through laughter. “He knew more than any 4-year-old should probably know.”
As the investigation unfolded overnight, police told NBC7 they were not ruling out any possibilities, but believe the young boy was either abducted or drowned, though they said they issued an Amber Alert as a precaution in the event he was abducted.
Wesley was last seen wearing no shirt and red shorts. Wesley was 42 inches tall and weighs approximately 40 pounds, his mother said. He has brown eyes and black hair.
His mother, Daniesha, said he was with his aunt playing with other children in the water. Police initially believed a man may have abducted him after a witness reported seeing a man leading him away from a nearby bathroom.
Sunday morning, the boy’s family said the police said the witness’ statements seemed questionable.
“It turns out what the citizen had seen, we dont know what it was about, but it was not about our 4-year-old missing child,” Mapston said.
Search crews were looking in the water and in surrounding areas, but when they failed to find him in the water, they turned the scene into a crime scene. A helicopter and police dogs were called in to aid with the search.
“Officers began doing a missing person’s search operation and during that it involved the water, so we had lifeguards,” Mapston said.
The father recently deployed with the U.S. Navy on the USS George Washington, the mother said.
“My husband just left last week,” she told reporters Sunday morning. “Yes, it’s hard. I talked to him last night. No word on if they’re going to fly him in.”
via: http://www.nbcsandiego.com/news/local/Missing-Boy-Amber-Alert-Update-327206311.html
GA mother arrested; 2 kids found with feces on their backs outside of home
COLUMBUS, GA (WTVM) – A Columbus woman was arrested on Sept. 5, and charged with cruelty to children and reckless conduct after her children were allegedly found in unclean conditions.
According to Columbus Police Department arrest and incident reports, Lisa Pearl Newsome, 26, was found inside her home, located in the 400 block of Central Circle, asleep at 1 p.m., after her children were discovered by neighbors Sunday morning.
The two children, 2 and 3 years old, were wearing diapers and “has feces on their backs,” the CPD arrest report said, when they were found shortly after 10 a.m. near the intersection of Broadwell Drive and Walnut Street.
The neighbors that found the children cleaned them up as police searched for their mother “for several hours.” It is unclear how the children got out of their home.
The children were taken from the mother by the Department of Family and Children Services and Newsome was arrested. Newsome was charged with two counts of reckless conduct and two counts of second-degree cruelty to children.
Newsome will appear in recorder’s court on Sept. 10 at 9 a.m.
St. Louis woman accused of assaulting boyfriend, spitting blood on police
ST. LOUIS, Mo. (KMOV.com) – A St. Louis woman is facing four charges after allegedly assaulting her boyfriend and spitting blood on police.
Court documents said Brittany L. Daugherty, 26, admitted she intended to kill her child’s father, Eddie Quinn on January 26, 2015. She drove 80 miles per hour to his workplace, the Salvation Army on Page, then threw a flower vase at the locked glass entrance door, shattering the glass. She then stepped through the broken glass and started punching Quinn in the face with a closed fist. This violated an order of protection she knew was in place.
St. Louis County police records stated officers attempted to arrest Daugherty when she started fighting with officers and spitting blood on them. Police managed to restrain her and put a bag over head to keep her from spitting. Daugherty continued to yell that she had a gun on her and wanted to kill her ex-boyfriend. She also asked the police to shoot her and told paramedics she was bipolar.
Daugherty faces one felony charge for first-degree burglary, one felony charge for second-degree domestic assault, another felony charge for resisting arrest and trying to flee, and a misdemeanor charge for violating an order of protection. Her cash-only bond is set at $50,000.
via: http://www.kmov.com/story/29972942/st-louis-woman-assaults-boyfriend-spits-blood-on-police