LAUREL, Md. — The Prince George’s County Police Department is investigating a fatal shooting that occurred late Friday night in the unincorporated section of Laurel, leaving one man dead.

The victim has been identified as 33-year-old William Denard Askew of Greenbelt. Officers responded to the 13200 block of Laurel Bowie Road at approximately 10:20 p.m. on July 25, where they found Askew suffering from gunshot wounds in the roadway. He was pronounced dead at the scene.

Detectives are actively working to determine a motive and identify those responsible. No arrests have been made.

A reward of up to $25,000 is being offered for information leading to an arrest and indictment in the case. Anyone with tips is urged to contact the PGPD Homicide Unit at 301-516-2512.

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QUEENS, N.Y. — FDNY firefighters responded Monday morning to a 2-alarm fire at 46-40 Metropolitan Avenue in Queens, where heavy smoke and flames were seen rising from what appeared to be an outdoor industrial area.

The fire, reported shortly before noon, involved piles of debris and materials located between large concrete barriers, according to images released by the department. Crews in full gear were seen directing hoses toward the fire as thick smoke billowed into the air.

No injuries were immediately reported. The cause of the fire is under investigation.

FDNY crews are on scene at an active 2-alarm fire in Queens, working to contain heavy flames in an industrial debris area.

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TRENTON, N.J. — A new policy brief from the America First Policy Institute claims New Jersey spent $7.3 billion on services for an estimated 894,000 illegal immigrants, citing costs tied to health care, education, welfare, and law enforcement. The figure is based on a report from New Jersey Assembly policy staff and is presented as part of a broader critique of federal immigration policy under the Biden administration.

The report, authored by Richard J. Maher, asserts that New Jersey, like many states, is facing a growing financial burden from illegal immigration, fueled by rising border crossings and federal policy rollbacks since 2021. The study ties much of the spending surge to the repeal of Trump-era initiatives such as the “Remain in Mexico” policy and the expansion of humanitarian parole.

Nationally, the Federation for American Immigration Reform (FAIR) estimated the combined cost of illegal immigration to federal, state, and local governments at $150.7 billion as of early 2023, with $115.6 billion of that burden absorbed by state and local jurisdictions. FAIR’s calculations include expenditures on education, public safety, medical care, and welfare services—also extending to U.S.-born children of illegal immigrants.

According to FAIR’s breakdown, between fiscal years 2020 and 2022, states spent:

  • $73.2 billion on education
  • $21.8 billion on law enforcement
  • $18.6 billion on medical care
  • $2 billion on welfare services

The AFPI brief also references a failed proposal by New Jersey officials to issue $500 checks to tax filers using Individual Taxpayer Identification Numbers, which are frequently used by undocumented residents. The plan was dropped from the budget after public criticism.

In response to rising costs, the brief advocates for policy changes such as mandatory use of E-Verify, international wire transfer fees, and requiring hospitals to ask patients about immigration status when billing Medicaid—measures already implemented in Florida and Texas. It also highlights Louisiana’s executive order directing state agencies to assess and disclose the financial impacts of illegal immigration.

AFPI’s analysis concludes by urging states to adopt stricter measures, independent of federal action, to control costs and limit the economic incentives for illegal immigration.

A recent policy report claims New Jersey taxpayers are footing billions in costs linked to illegal immigration, fueling renewed debate over state and federal enforcement policies.

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BROOKLYN, NY — A lucky TAKE 5 player in Brooklyn is $33,496 richer after purchasing a top-prize ticket for the Friday evening drawing, lottery officials announced.

The winning ticket for the July 25 TAKE 5 Evening drawing was sold at New Far East Liquor, located at 767 Rockaway Ave. in Brooklyn.

TAKE 5 numbers are drawn from a field of one through 39, with drawings held twice daily at 2:30 p.m. and 10:30 p.m. Winners have up to one year from the date of the drawing to claim their prize.

The New York Lottery, which contributed $3.8 billion to public schools during the last fiscal year, remains North America’s largest and most profitable lottery.

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WASHINGTON, D.C. — The search for 73-year-old Frankie Jones Sr., who vanished last month from his Southwest D.C. home, ended in tragedy when his remains were discovered in a wooded section of Oxon Run Park in Prince George’s County on Monday.

Jones was reported missing by family members on June 24 after he was last seen leaving his residence. He was classified as a Critical Missing Person, and a public flier with his photo was distributed as search teams conducted multiple canvasses and deployed drones in the area over the following weeks.

The remains, found July 21 just across the D.C. line in Oxon Hill, were transported to the Maryland Office of the Chief Medical Examiner, which confirmed the identity as Jones. The cause and manner of death are still under investigation, but no foul play is suspected.

The case is now being handled as a death investigation by Prince George’s County Police.

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OCEAN CITY, Md. — The Ocean City Police Department is asking for the public’s help in identifying a suspect involved in an assault that occurred near 92nd Street on Thursday around 12:00 p.m.

Police released an image of the individual they believe was involved and are requesting assistance from anyone who may recognize the suspect or the clothing he was wearing at the time.

Those with information are urged to contact PFC Chaykosky at [email protected] or call 410-723-6610. Anonymous tips can be submitted at 410-520-5136 or online via the department’s website. The case number is 2025-00-2933.

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NUTLEY, N.J. — Nutley police are investigating a residential break-in that occurred early Saturday morning on Rutgers Place, where a suspect entered a home through a window in an apparent attempt to steal a key fob for a 2024 Range Rover parked outside.

The incident occurred around 5:40 a.m., when the suspect broke in and quickly fled through the same window after encountering a resident inside the home. No injuries were reported.

Police believe the attempted theft fits a broader pattern of similar incidents across New Jersey in which suspects break into homes to steal keys for high-end vehicles in driveways.

The Nutley Police Detective Bureau is leading the investigation. Authorities are urging residents to take preventative measures, including securing all doors and windows, locking vehicles, removing key fobs from cars, checking outdoor lighting and camera systems, and activating home alarm systems.

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BUFFALO, N.Y. — U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) arrested Jacobo Argueta Fuentes, a 33-year-old Salvadoran national, on July 23 in Ossining, New York, following his release from state prison. Argueta, who was in the country illegally, had been convicted of multiple felony sex crimes involving minors and is now in ICE custody pending deportation.

ICE said Argueta was convicted of a total of 18 charges, including:

  • Seven counts of rape
  • Two counts of using a child in a sexual performance
  • Four counts of sexual abuse
  • Two counts of promoting prostitution
  • One count of criminal sex act
  • Two counts of endangering the welfare of a child

“This criminal alien is a vile human who depravedly victimized and sexually exploited innocent children in the state of New York,” said ICE Enforcement and Removal Operations Buffalo Deputy Field Office Director Joseph Freden.

Argueta entered the U.S. unlawfully, crossing the southern border around 2011, according to a statement he made during a 2019 encounter with immigration officers at Riverhead Correctional Facility in Suffolk County. He was convicted in January 2020 and sentenced to six years in prison.

ICE had lodged an immigration detainer against him in May 2023. A judge issued a final order of removal on December 17, 2024.

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NEWARK, N.J. — U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) agents in Newark arrested four undocumented immigrants with convictions related to child sexual exploitation as part of an ongoing initiative known as Operation Apex Predator, the agency announced Monday.

The arrests occurred over four days and involved cooperation between ICE’s Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) and Enforcement and Removal Operations (ERO) teams based in Newark.

On July 21, agents apprehended Gerson Jose Saenz Umana, 27, a registered sex offender from El Salvador with a sealed conviction involving child exploitation, and Javier Garcia Nicolasa, 42, a Mexican national convicted in 2023 for endangering sexual conduct with a child by caretaker. Nicolasa was sentenced to three years in prison. Both individuals were found to be in the country illegally.

Just days earlier, on July 17, ICE arrested Juan Villatoro Valle, 45, of El Salvador, and Reyes Peralta-Salazar, 38, of Mexico. Villatoro Valle was convicted in 2019 of multiple offenses, including aggravated criminal sexual assault on a child under 13, and sentenced to five years in prison. Peralta-Salazar was arrested in 2023 and later sentenced to 180 days for criminal sexual conduct involving a child.

All four individuals are registered sex offenders in New Jersey and remain in ICE custody pending removal proceedings or immigration hearings.

Operation Apex Predator targets convicted criminal alien sex offenders residing in the U.S., as part of a nationwide effort by the Department of Homeland Security’s Cyber Crimes Center.

ICE says four convicted child sex offenders illegally living in New Jersey were arrested in just four days during the latest crackdown under Operation Apex Predator.

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BUFFALO, N.Y. — U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) arrested Wahota Allassane Ouattara, a 38-year-old citizen of Côte d’Ivoire, on July 23 following his release from the New York Department of Corrections and Community Supervision in Comstock. Ouattara, who was in the U.S. unlawfully, has a criminal record that includes nine convictions, among them arson and assault.

Ouattara entered the United States as a nonimmigrant but violated his visa terms by failing to depart by October 7, 2016. ICE first encountered him October 25, 2024, following his most recent incarceration. He was issued a notice to appear and placed in removal proceedings on January 8.

“This criminal alien not only violated our nation’s federal immigration laws, but he has repeatedly proven his complete disregard for New York State penal laws as well,” said ICE Enforcement and Removal Operations Buffalo Deputy Field Office Director Joseph Freden.

His U.S. criminal convictions include:

  • Two counts of third-degree assault and one count of second-degree aggravated harassment from February 9, 2022
  • One count of second-degree criminal trespass on September 9, 2022, and two additional counts on January 27, 2023
  • Third-degree assault on May 23, 2024
  • Third-degree arson and attempted robbery, both on July 25, 2024

Ouattara is currently being held in ICE custody pending the outcome of his immigration court proceedings.

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WOODBURY, N.J. — The Woodbury City Police Department is warning residents about a recent uptick in package thefts and is urging the community to remain vigilant as deliveries continue year-round.

Authorities say suspects may be driving slowly through neighborhoods, loitering near homes, following delivery trucks, or photographing residences during delivery times. The department is reminding residents to report any suspicious activity to their non-emergency line at 856-845-0064.

“See something, say something,” police said in a notice posted Monday.

To help prevent thefts, police issued the following safety tips:

  • Track deliveries and sign up for real-time alerts.
  • Request signatures for valuable packages.
  • Ship to work if permitted by your employer.
  • Use secure delivery options such as Amazon Lockers, package receiving services, or trusted neighbors.
  • Install doorbell or home security cameras to deter thieves.
  • Consider a lockable drop box if you receive frequent deliveries.

Police say community awareness and preventative steps can help reduce theft incidents.

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Whale washed ashore in Brigantine. Photo provided by NOAA.

ASBURY PARK, N.J. — A coalition of environmental groups is demanding the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) revoke its permits for the Empire Wind project, alleging the agency relied on outdated and faulty science that poses threats to endangered whale species.

The formal petition was submitted Monday by Save the East Coast Inc., Protect Our Coast–Long Island, and Green Oceans, citing a newly released analysis. The report claims NOAA’s harassment authorization permits for offshore wind development ignored modern acoustic science and underestimated risks to marine mammals, particularly the critically endangered North Atlantic right whale.

“This petition calls on NOAA to abrogate Empire Wind’s LOA due to substantial evidence that the permitted taking will have more than a ‘negligible’ impact on marine mammals,” said Thomas Stavola Jr., attorney for Save the East Coast.

The petition outlines six major findings, including:

  • Severe risks to North Atlantic right whales: Six concurrent wind projects could affect up to 76% of the population, violating the Marine Mammal Protection Act.
  • Underestimated acoustic threats: Independent testing showed sonar noise levels reaching 226 dB, far above NOAA’s 160 dB threshold, risking permanent damage.
  • Statistical link to whale deaths: Analysis using NOAA data and geospatial mapping found a strong correlation between offshore wind activity and increased whale mortality.
  • Dangers from pile-driving noise: Research indicates this noise is more harmful than sonar, dramatically increasing risks of auditory trauma.
  • Whale death case study: A humpback whale known as “Saint,” found dead in Long Branch in 2023, had no signs of trauma or disease but died amid 13,805 miles of nearby sonar activity. Analysts cited sonar as the primary cause.
  • Legal violations: The petition asserts that NOAA’s reliance on outdated research violates the Marine Mammal Protection Act and Endangered Species Act.

The petition further criticizes NOAA for not conducting or publishing full necropsies and for failing to adjust its harassment authorizations despite mounting evidence. It calls for the immediate suspension of Empire Wind’s Letter of Authorization and a halt to all related activities until NOAA updates its scientific evaluations.

“Permits authorizing harm and death to marine mammals must be rescinded before at-risk species are lost forever,” said Mike Dean, a board member of Save the East Coast Inc.

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NEWARK, NJ — U.S. National Guard dignitaries are scheduled to arrive in Newark’s North Ward on Monday for a regional visit to their offices, according to the Newark Department of Public Safety.

The city is warning residents that American soldiers will be present in their community.

The visit will result in a temporary National Guard presence in the area. Newark Police issued a public safety announcement advising residents to anticipate increased activity linked to the visit.

“Residents are advised to anticipate a temporary National Guard presence in the area,” the department stated in the announcement.

The alert comes after guardmen were deployed to the city during the Christmas season to deliver care packages to residents.

The Newark Department of Public Safety also reminded the public to report any criminal activity by calling their 24-hour Crime Stopper tip line at 1-877-NWK-TIPS.

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HAMILTON TOWNSHIP, NJ — A 17-year-old male from Mays Landing was hospitalized Saturday night after his Class 3 E-Bike collided with a Cadillac Escalade on Route 40 near Walmart Drive, police said.

The crash occurred around 9:08 p.m. as both vehicles were traveling eastbound. The teen, who was not wearing a helmet, sustained non-life-threatening injuries and was taken by ambulance to AtlantiCare Regional Medical Center in Atlantic City.

The driver of the Escalade, 55-year-old Khemchand Seepersad of Millville, was uninjured and wearing a seatbelt.

The roadway was closed for about two hours for investigation. Charges are pending.

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LAKEWOOD, NJ — He was identified as ‘A Red Bank Man’ by prosecutors, and he has been charged with two counts of vehicular homicide and assault by auto following a fatal crash late Saturday night that left a woman and an 11-year-old girl dead, and another child seriously injured.

Raul Luna-Perez, 43, was charged Sunday in connection with the collision, which occurred around 11:20 p.m. on July 26 at the intersection of Cross Street and Hearthstone Drive, according to Ocean County Prosecutor Bradley D. Billhimer.

In a similar fashion to “Maryland Dad”, Luna-Perez’s immigration status is being glossed over by Ocean County’s top law enforcement officials. Luna-Perez has no active ICE detainers, but his immigration status remains unclear as the OCPO does not comment on the immigration status of criminals under the directives set by the New Jersey Attorney General’s Office.

Shore News Network reached out to the Ocean County Prosecutor’s Office to confirm the suspect’s country of origin.

Investigators say Luna-Perez was driving a Dodge Durango eastbound on Cross Street when he crossed into oncoming traffic and struck a Nissan Sentra head-on. The female driver of the Sentra was pronounced dead at the scene.

An 11-year-old girl in the front passenger seat was taken to Monmouth Medical Center Southern Campus in Lakewood, where she was pronounced dead. A second 11-year-old girl, seated in the rear of the vehicle, remains hospitalized in serious but stable condition.

The two passengers riding in the Dodge Durango with Luna-Perez were treated for minor injuries and released from Jersey Shore University Medical Center in Neptune.

First responders noted signs of impairment from Luna-Perez at the scene, prompting a court-authorized blood draw at the hospital. The toxicology results are pending.

Luna-Perez was taken into custody and is currently being held at the Ocean County Jail pending a detention hearing.

Ocean County Prosecutor’s Office Major Crime Unit-Vehicular Homicide Squad, Lakewood Police, and the Sheriff’s Office Crime Scene Investigation Unit assisted in the investigation.

Raul Luna-Perez faces vehicular homicide charges after a head-on crash in Lakewood killed two people and injured a third child.

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FLINT, MI — Flint City Council failed to hold a meeting for the fourth consecutive time Wednesday night, as only four members appeared in chambers — well short of the quorum needed to conduct city business.

One of the absent council members was Leon El-Alamin, who was arrested earlier this month on a felony charge related to an alleged domestic violence incident. El-Alamin, a Democrat-endorsed councilman, faces one count of domestic violence and one felony count of assault with intent to do great bodily harm less than murder.

Prosecutors allege El-Alamin assaulted a woman at a residence in Mt. Morris Township by choking her, striking her in the face, and pulling her hair. The alleged incident occurred before his arrest on July 10.

According to court records, El-Alamin was arraigned last week in 67th District Court and released on a $7,500 bond. His next court appearance is scheduled for Thursday.

El-Alamin has not made any public comment on the charges and was not present for Wednesday night’s session, during which the meeting was gaveled out within minutes due to the lack of attendance.

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NEW YORK, NY — Three men have been arrested and charged in connection with the fatal stabbing of 33-year-old Jervey Barfield, who was attacked in Harlem in early May.

Barfield was found with multiple stab wounds to the back around 5:27 a.m. on Saturday, May 3, after police responded to a 911 call about an assault in progress at 2640 8th Avenue, in the 32nd Precinct. He was transported by EMS to NYC Health + Hospitals/Harlem, where he was pronounced dead.

Following an ongoing investigation, police have arrested three suspects in connection with the homicide.

Naquan Anderson, 37, of 306 East 171st Street in the Bronx, was taken into custody on June 9 at 2 p.m. He faces charges of murder, gang assault, and criminal possession of a weapon.

Trevor Carpenter, 42, of Roanoke, Virginia, was arrested on May 22 at 9:15 p.m. and charged with murder and gang assault.

Alvin Nelson, 44, of 2660 Frederick Douglass Boulevard in Manhattan, was arrested on May 16 at 11:26 a.m. He is charged with murder, gang assault, and criminal possession of a weapon.

All three arrests were made within the confines of the 32nd Precinct. Police have not released additional details regarding motive or the suspects’ alleged roles in the attack.

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BALTIMORE, MD — Maryland State Police are investigating the death of a woman found unresponsive and later pronounced dead inside a vehicle along I-695 in Baltimore County on Sunday morning.

The woman, whose identity has not yet been confirmed, was discovered shortly before 9:45 a.m. in the rear area of a black Jeep Wrangler with Maryland tags parked on the outer loop shoulder of I-695, just west of Perring Parkway.

According to Maryland State Police, a trooper from the Golden Ring Barrack stopped to check the vehicle and found the woman unresponsive. After several attempts to make contact, the trooper accessed the inside of the Jeep. Emergency medical personnel arrived and declared the woman deceased at the scene.

Her body was transported to the Office of the Chief Medical Examiner for an autopsy to determine the cause and manner of death.

Troopers from the Golden Ring Barrack, the Maryland State Police Crash Team, and investigators from the Criminal Enforcement Division responded to the scene. Crime scene technicians from the Forensic Sciences Division processed the vehicle, with assistance from Baltimore County Police.

Maryland State Police said the investigation is ongoing.

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TRENTON, N.J. — A heat advisory is in effect for much of New Jersey and parts of Delaware and Pennsylvania from 11 a.m. Monday through 8 p.m. Wednesday, as heat index values are forecast to soar as high as 104 degrees.

The National Weather Service issued the advisory early Monday morning, warning that “heat index values up to 104 degrees [are] expected” across several counties, including Middlesex, Mercer, Camden, Burlington, Ocean, and Somerset, among others.

Daytime highs across the region are projected to climb steadily through midweek. Monday’s high will reach near 93 degrees with heat index values peaking around 101. Tuesday is expected to be hotter, with a high near 96 and a heat index up to 102. By Wednesday, temperatures could top out at 97 degrees, with a slight chance of afternoon thunderstorms.

Nighttime lows will remain elevated, in the low to mid-70s, offering little overnight relief.

The advisory affects both urban and suburban areas including Trenton, Morristown, Camden, Cherry Hill, and Philadelphia. Authorities are urging residents to use caution, particularly during peak afternoon hours when heat stress is most likely.

A cold front is expected to bring some relief late Wednesday night, when showers and thunderstorms are possible, especially after 8 p.m., with rain chances around 40 percent.

The National Weather Service emphasized that “heat index values up to 104 degrees [are] expected,” underscoring the potential risk of heat-related illness.

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ALBANY, NY – A Schenectady man has been sentenced to eight years in federal prison after pleading guilty to drug trafficking and money laundering involving shipments of cocaine, fentanyl, and methamphetamine from California to New York.

Terence Butler, 36, received a 96-month sentence on Wednesday for conspiring to distribute controlled substances and laundering drug money, the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Northern District of New York announced Thursday.

Butler admitted to directing others to travel to Beverly Hills, California, to obtain narcotics, which were then shipped to various addresses in Schenectady. On January 4, 2023, law enforcement intercepted a package containing 1.65 kilograms of cocaine. On August 3, 2023, another package destined for Schenectady was seized before delivery; it contained approximately 10,000 fentanyl pills and 5,000 methamphetamine pills.

Prosecutors also said Butler coordinated the return of $350,000 in drug proceeds to his supplier over a three-week period between December 2022 and January 2023.

In addition to the prison sentence, United States District Judge Anne M. Nardacci imposed a four-year term of supervised release and ordered Butler to forfeit $77,427 in drug proceeds.

The investigation was led by Homeland Security Investigations Newark and prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Jonathan S. Reiner.

Authorities say Butler funneled dangerous drugs across state lines and has now been sentenced for his role in the interstate trafficking network.

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PHILADELPHIA, PA – Two men were fatally shot and a 7-year-old girl was injured Saturday night in a shooting on West Hunting Park Avenue, just hours before an unrelated firearm incident unfolded during a large gathering in Frankford, police said.

The first shooting occurred at approximately 8:22 p.m. on the 1900 block of West Hunting Park Avenue. Officers from the 39th District responded and found two men with gunshot wounds to the head. A 26-year-old man was discovered unresponsive on the highway and transported to Temple University Hospital, where he was pronounced dead at 8:37 p.m. A 29-year-old man was found unresponsive on a porch nearby and was later pronounced dead at 10:44 p.m.

Police said two additional victims arrived at Einstein Medical Center by private vehicle. A 26-year-old woman sustained a gunshot wound to the arm and is in stable condition. A 7-year-old girl, identified as the daughter of one of the deceased victims, suffered a graze wound to the scalp and was later listed in stable condition at Saint Christopher’s Hospital for Children.

Later that night, around 11:42 p.m., officers from the 15th District responded to reports of gunfire and a large gathering at a vacant lot on the 1600 block of Orthodox Street. Initial reports indicated roughly ten shots had been fired, and several individuals were seen fleeing the area.

Upon arrival, police encountered a man with a rifle who identified himself as private security for the event. According to preliminary details, an altercation had taken place in which another individual allegedly brandished a firearm and threatened the security guard, who then discharged his weapon.

Police later located the suspect and recovered a 9mm firearm. The individual was taken to a hospital with a gunshot wound to the leg and identified at the scene. A crime scene was established, and four fired cartridge casings were recovered. The Shooting Investigation Group was notified, and the incident remains under investigation.

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Police handcuffs and criminal fingerprints card

BRONX, NY – A Bronx man has been arrested in connection with a May 11 assault that left a 45-year-old man critically injured on a Tremont sidewalk and later dead, police said.

Peter Gonzalez, 37, was taken into custody and charged with reckless endangerment following the incident, which occurred around 1:16 p.m. in front of 760 East Tremont Avenue, within the 48th Precinct.

Responding officers found the victim, Jose Reyes, unconscious and unresponsive with head trauma on the sidewalk. He was transported by EMS to Saint Barnabas Hospital in critical condition.

Reyes, also of the Bronx, remained hospitalized for more than two weeks before being pronounced dead on May 27 at 12:00 p.m. Medical examiners later ruled the death a homicide.

Police have not disclosed what led to the incident or whether additional charges are pending. The investigation remains active.

A Bronx man is dead and another faces charges as police continue to investigate a fatal sidewalk assault ruled a homicide.

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MANHATTAN, NY – A 34-year-old man has been arrested in connection with the May 9 shooting death of a Bronx resident in Lower Manhattan, police said.

Michael Barbosa was taken into custody on May 21 at 10:19 a.m. within the 5th Precinct and charged with murder and criminal possession of a weapon, according to the NYPD.

The charges stem from an incident on May 9 at approximately 8:49 p.m., when police responded to a 911 call reporting an assault in progress at 388 Pearl Street. Upon arrival, officers found 35-year-old Gary Fitzgerald with a gunshot wound to the chest.

Fitzgerald, a Bronx resident, was transported by EMS to NYC Health and Hospitals/Bellevue, where he was pronounced dead.

Barbosa’s arrest follows nearly two weeks of investigation. Authorities have not released details about a possible motive or the circumstances leading up to the shooting.

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ROBBINSVILLE, NJ – The recently completed BAPS Swaminarayan Akshardham in Robbinsville has officially become the second largest Hindu temple in the world, with a footprint spanning 655,591 square feet, according to official figures released by BAPS (Bochasanwasi Akshar Purushottam Swaminarayan Sanstha).

Located in Mercer County, the sprawling temple complex is the largest outside of India and was built over more than a decade by a global network of volunteers, artisans, and devotees. The site blends religious significance with intricate architecture, cultural exhibits, and educational features, drawing visitors from across the country and beyond.

Construction of the temple relied on traditional methods and materials. More than 2 million cubic feet of stone—including Italian marble, Indian pink sandstone, and limestone—were hand-carved by artisans in India before being shipped to New Jersey for assembly. The design follows ancient Hindu scriptures, with no steel used in the structural core of the mandir (temple).

The central temple features intricately carved domes, pillars, and statues, with detailed depictions of Hindu deities, stories from sacred texts, and symbols of peace and devotion. The temple complex includes assembly halls, exhibition spaces, and landscaped gardens.

The Akshardham project was led by BAPS spiritual leader His Holiness Mahant Swami Maharaj and dedicated to Bhagwan Swaminarayan. It reflects both religious devotion and cultural heritage, according to organizers, and is intended to promote values such as peace, unity, and spiritual upliftment.

Thousands of volunteers from across North America and abroad contributed to the construction, including through labor, fundraising, engineering, and logistical support. The temple was built with significant input from Indian-American youth and community members.

The Akshardham in Robbinsville surpasses other major temple complexes in size, second only to Cambodia’s Angkor Wat. It now stands as a major religious and cultural landmark in the United States.

With its completion, BAPS Swaminarayan Akshardham has become a symbol of Hindu heritage and craftsmanship on a global scale.

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BRONX, NY – An 18-year-old woman was the victim of a chain-snatching robbery in broad daylight Monday afternoon in front of 16 West Fordham Road, police said.

The incident took place around 1:50 p.m., when the victim was approached by an unidentified individual who forcibly removed a chain from her neck before fleeing eastbound on Fordham Road.

The victim suffered a minor injury during the encounter but declined medical treatment at the scene.

Police said the suspect fled on foot and remains at large. No description of the individual was immediately provided.

The suspect fled down Fordham Road after ripping the chain from the young woman’s neck during the afternoon attack.

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