BRONX, NY—Austin Brandon, a 29-year-old resident of the Bronx, has been charged with second-degree murder and first-degree aggravated manslaughter following a fatal shooting incident. Brandon is also facing charges of criminal possession of a weapon in the second degree.
The incident occurred on Friday at approximately 5:57 PM at 1825 Topping Avenue, within the 46th Precinct’s jurisdiction. Responding officers arrived at the scene following a 911 call about a shooting. They discovered Marcus Henderson, a 37-year-old male, with a gunshot wound to his right leg.
Henderson was quickly transported to Saint Barnabas Hospital, where he was later pronounced dead. Following the incident, Brandon was identified as a person of interest and subsequently taken into custody. The police investigation is still ongoing as authorities work to uncover further details of the case.
- Democrat Candidate Created Fake Facebook Profile to Harass Himself, Claim Victim
In an unusual twist to political campaigning, Taral Patel, a 30-year-old Democratic candidate for the Fort Bend County Commission Precinct 3 in the Houston suburbs, has been charged with online impersonation and misrepresentation of identity. These allegations have emerged following accusations that Patel created fake online personas to launch racist and xenophobic attacks against himself.
The charges stem from a Facebook post dated September 18, 2023, in which Patel included a collage of various inflammatory social media posts. These posts contained anti-Asian, anti-Pakistani, anti-Indian, anti-Hindu, anti-Chinese, anti-George Soros, anti-taxation, anti-Democrat, anti-curry, and anti-communist content. The posts appeared to praise Christianity, America, and the GOP, while also supporting the Republican incumbent running against Patel.
Patel's Facebook post not only highlighted his campaign but also claimed that the racist attacks were linked to supporters of the incumbent and reflective of broader trends within Republican Party politics. This action has led to serious legal and ethical questions about the methods used in his campaign strategy.
Patel now faces one count of online impersonation, a third-degree felony, and one count of misrepresentation of identity, a Class A misdemeanor. The case brings to light the complex dynamics of political campaigns in an increasingly digital age and raises concerns about the authenticity and integrity of online discourse in political contexts. The investigation is ongoing, and further details will be released as they become available.
- Deadly Two-Vehicle Crashin Dutchess County
DOVER, NY - The Dutchess County Sheriff’s Office is currently investigating a fatal collision that occurred at approximately 3:45 PM on June 13, 2024, at the intersection of State Route 22 and State Route 55 in the Town of Dover, specifically the southernmost intersection near the Hamlet of Wingdale, just south of the Mobil Station.
The accident involved a 2010 Chevrolet pickup driven by 74-year-old Joseph W. Hogan of Sherman, CT, and a 2020 Kenworth tractor-trailer. According to reports, the Chevrolet was on State Route 55 preparing to merge onto Route 22 when it entered directly into the path of the northbound tractor-trailer. The collision resulted in the death of Mr. Hogan, who was later pronounced dead at Mid-Hudson Regional Hospital in Poughkeepsie. The operator of the tractor-trailer sustained non-life-threatening injuries and was taken to Vassar Hospital.
Initial investigations suggest that the primary cause of the crash was a failure to yield the right of way by the driver of the Chevrolet. Both drivers were the sole occupants of their vehicles, and the tractor-trailer was not carrying any load at the time of the accident.
No charges have been filed as the investigation continues. The Sheriff’s Office’s Detective Bureau and Crash Investigation Unit are leading the inquiry, with assistance from the State Police and J.H. Ketcham Hose Company.
Further details will be released as the investigation progresses.
- Ohio Woman Kills Son Shortly After She Regained Custody
In a tragic and heart-wrenching case out of Cuyahoga County, Ohio, Timmeka Eggleton, 31, has pleaded guilty to the murder of her three-year-old son, Curtis Witcher, alongside other charges including felonious assault and endangering children. The plea was entered in court this Tuesday, marking a significant development in a case that has captured local attention due to its particularly distressing circumstances.
Curtis Witcher had been in foster care for over two years before a judge's decision three months ago led to his return to his biological mother’s custody. Sadly, shortly after this transition, on June 14, 2023, the young boy suffered fatal injuries. According to medical examiners, he died from blunt force trauma. Prosecutors revealed that Witcher was found unresponsive in his stroller at a Family Dollar store in Cleveland, from where he was rushed to a hospital and pronounced dead.
Eggleton's mental competence to stand trial had been a point of legal contention. Initially deemed incompetent last year, she underwent court-ordered treatment, and a subsequent reevaluation in November determined she was fit to face charges. As part of her plea agreement this week, a charge of aggravated murder was dropped.
The court has scheduled Eggleton's sentencing for July 22, where she faces the possibility of life imprisonment. This case not only highlights the grave responsibilities of child welfare and judicial systems but also the dire consequences of their decisions.
- Brooklyn Man Sentenced to 28 Years to Life for Fatal Shooting in Fort Greene
Brooklyn District Attorney Eric Gonzalez announced that Earl Morgan, a 54-year-old resident of Fort Greene, Brooklyn, has been sentenced to 28 years to life in prison. This sentence comes following Morgan's conviction for the murder of Jo’heem Hamilton, a young father, and the assault of another man.
The tragic incident, which unfolded on May 30, 2020, near 24 Monument Walk in the Ingersoll Houses area of Fort Greene, began as a minor verbal dispute. According to trial evidence, after the altercation, Morgan retrieved a loaded firearm, waited in a stairwell for the victims to return, and then shot them in the back at point-blank range as they were walking away. Hamilton, 25, succumbed to his injuries, leaving behind an infant daughter. The second victim, aged 36, survived but suffered serious injuries.
Morgan was arrested on June 16, 2020, and later convicted of second-degree murder and first-degree assault on April 26, 2024, following a jury trial. The sentencing was carried out by Brooklyn Supreme Court Justice Laura Johnson.
District Attorney Gonzalez commented on the sentencing, expressing his hope that it brings some closure to the friends and family of the victims. He described the shootings as a violent response to a trivial dispute, highlighting the senselessness of the act.
- Police Arrest Maryland Driver Wanted for Deadly December Hit and Run
TOWSON, MD — Baltimore County Police have made a breakthrough in a fatal hit-and-run case that occurred last December, leading to the arrest of 21-year-old Michael Eggleston. The incident, which resulted in the death of a 92-year-old man, took place at the intersection of Liberty Road and Patterson Avenue.
On the morning of December 14, 2023, police responded to a collision involving multiple vehicles. According to crash team detectives, a 2007 Dodge Challenger driven by Eggleston was traveling westbound on Liberty Road when it collided with a 2013 Volkswagen Passat at the intersection. The impact caused the Challenger to veer into the eastbound lanes, where it struck a 2013 Toyota Avalon.
The occupants of the Toyota Avalon were immediately transported to a nearby hospital for treatment. Tragically, the driver, William Lewis, aged 92, succumbed to his injuries and was pronounced dead on December 17, 2023.
After a thorough investigation, Eggleston was apprehended on June 8, 2024. He faces charges of Failure to Return & Remain at the Scene of an Accident Involving Bodily Injury, among other traffic-related offenses. Following his arrest, Eggleston was held without bond at the Baltimore County Detention Center.
- Interstate Burglary Suspects Captured in New York, New Jersey, Pennsylvania Rampage
GALLOWAY, NJ — In a significant crackdown on commercial burglaries spanning New York, New Jersey, and Pennsylvania, Galloway Township Police, in conjunction with multiple law enforcement agencies, have successfully apprehended two key suspects. The arrests occurred early this morning as part of a coordinated multi-jurisdictional operation.
Devin J. Arnold, 22, was arrested at his residence in Galloway Township after a brief attempt to flee from police. Laqua A. Tucker, 20, was taken into custody at his home in Pleasantville, NJ, where he surrendered without incident. The police action followed extensive inter-agency investigations that identified the duo as suspects in a series of commercial burglaries across the three states.
Chief Richard D. Barber highlighted the operation's success, stating, "Today’s operation is a prime example of how multi-agency efforts and cooperation can lead to successful outcomes. Galloway is proud to work with our fellow law enforcement partners to investigate and solve crime that affects the public throughout New Jersey."
Both Arnold and Tucker were processed on outstanding warrants from various jurisdictions and are currently held at the Atlantic County Justice Facility, awaiting future court proceedings. This arrest marks a pivotal moment in ongoing efforts to combat commercial burglary and underscores the effectiveness of collaborative law enforcement operations.