LATHAM, NY – Major Dennis Schager, Commander of Troop G, led a memorial service today at the Troop G Headquarters in Latham. The ceremony was held to honor the memory of fallen officers and to support the families they left behind.
During the event, Major Schager emphasized that the fallen heroes are not forgotten and remain an integral part of the State Police family and the esteemed long grey line. The State Police used their Facebook page to reflect on the significance of the ceremony and to reaffirm their commitment to remembering their lost colleagues.
- Queens teen charged after fatally shooting 13-year-old in Dunkin’ parking lot
Teen charged with murder after 13-year-old shot in head outside Dunkin’ in Queens
Queens, NY – A 16-year-old from South Jamaica has been charged with murder in the second degree after allegedly shooting a 13-year-old boy in the head during a school morning dispute outside a Dunkin’ in Cambria Heights, Queens.
According to the Queens District Attorney’s Office, the deadly incident unfolded just after 8:15 a.m. on Monday outside the Dunkin’ at 208-15 Linden Boulevard. The victim, identified as 13-year-old Sanjay Samuel, was on his way to school when he encountered the defendant, who approached on a scooter. The two teens exchanged words before the altercation escalated.
Prosecutors say the teen suspect pulled a loaded semi-automatic handgun from the pocket of his sweatshirt and struck Samuel in the face. The 13-year-old punched back, prompting the older teen to aim the weapon and fire a single round into the victim’s head before fleeing south on Nashville Boulevard.
Samuel was rushed to a nearby hospital, where he remained in critical condition until he was pronounced dead two days later.
The 16-year-old suspect turned himself in to police at the 105th Precinct on Friday morning. He was arraigned Saturday before Judge Eugene D. Bowen on charges of second-degree murder and two counts of second-degree criminal possession of a weapon. He was ordered held without bail and is due back in court on September 29.
If convicted, the teen faces a maximum sentence of 25 years to life in prison.
The case is being prosecuted by Deputy Bureau Chief Barry Frankenstein and Assistant District Attorney Andres Sanchez, under the supervision of Bureau Chief Jonathan Sennett of the Violent Criminal Enterprises Bureau and Executive Assistant District Attorney for Investigations Gerard Brave.
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Key Points
- A 16-year-old has been charged with murder in the fatal shooting of 13-year-old Sanjay Samuel in Cambria Heights
- The shooting happened after a verbal altercation outside a Dunkin’ as the victim was heading to school
- The teen suspect fled but later surrendered and faces up to 25 years to life if convicted
- Knife-wielding woman shot by Buffalo cop after stabbing man in the head
Buffalo police shoot knife-wielding woman after she stabs man in early morning chaos
Buffalo, NY – A woman armed with a knife was shot by a Buffalo police officer early in the morning after stabbing a man in the head during a chaotic encounter on Donovan Drive that ended with both individuals hospitalized.
The incident began around 2 a.m. when officers responded to a call about “unknown trouble” in the area and found a woman behaving aggressively while holding a knife. According to the Buffalo Police Department, officers attempted to defuse the situation verbally, ordering the woman to drop the weapon. She refused and began moving toward a group of individuals she appeared to threaten.
As the woman advanced, one officer used pepper spray, but she continued forward and stabbed a man in the head. A second officer then fired his service weapon, striking the woman in the shoulder. Officers quickly administered first aid on the scene.
Both the woman and the man were transported to Erie County Medical Center with injuries described as non-life-threatening.
Officials said the involved officers have been placed on paid administrative leave, which is standard procedure, and the Erie County District Attorney’s Office is now investigating. Body-worn camera footage is expected to be released in the coming days, the department noted in a statement.
Buffalo Police have not released the identities of those involved. A confidential tip line has been made available for anyone with additional information regarding the incident.
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Key Points
- Buffalo police shot a knife-wielding woman after she stabbed a man in the head
- The woman ignored commands and was pepper-sprayed before being shot in the shoulder
- Both individuals are hospitalized with non-life-threatening injuries as investigation continues
- State Says Unlikely a Mountain Lion is Roaming Around Ocean County College
TOMS RIVER, NJ – Rumors of mountain lions roaming New Jersey have persisted for decades, but state officials are once again making it clear: there is no confirmed evidence that the big cats call the Garden State home.
We like website clicks as much as the next guy slinging news on the internet, but there has to be a line between clickbait and substantial truth, people.
Official stance
The New Jersey Department of Fish and Wildlife maintains that mountain lions, also known as cougars, have been absent from the region since the late 1800s. The eastern cougar population was officially declared extinct in the eastern United States, and biologists say there is no verified evidence of a return.
“Despite periodic reports, we have not documented any physical proof such as tracks, DNA, or confirmed photos,” the agency has stated.
Coyote The sightings are likely small deer, coyotes, or large foxes, according to experts, which are all common in the woods of Ocean County and Toms River.
Sightings and speculation
Public reports of possible cougar sightings surface every year, with residents from the Pine Barrens to North Jersey claiming to spot the elusive predator. Local outlets, including Cat Country 107.3, have tracked the stories, but none have led to verified evidence or any warnings issued by local or state wildlife officials.
Experts note that in a densely populated state with widespread use of trail cameras and smartphones, the absence of clear photographic proof makes the case for wild mountain lions highly unlikely.
What else people may be seeing
Bobcats are native to New Jersey. Officials believe most sightings can be traced to bobcats, a species native to New Jersey. Bobcats are much smaller than mountain lions but can appear similar at a distance.
Other possible misidentifications include large domestic cats or even wild dogs.
For now, state wildlife officials stand firm: New Jerseyans may encounter bobcats in the woods, but they won’t be running into cougars.
Key Points
- State wildlife experts confirm no evidence of mountain lions in New Jersey.
- Eastern cougar population is considered extinct in the eastern U.S. since the 1800s.
- Reported sightings are likely bobcats or misidentified animals.
In New Jersey, the cougar remains more myth than mountain cat.
- Philadelphia DA Krasner Goes on Unhinged Rant Calling Trump Supporters Fascists at the Park
PHILADELPHIA, PA – A heated exchange between Philadelphia District Attorney Larry Krasner and a young conservative activist erupted in a city park this week, with the progressive prosecutor labeling President Donald Trump a “fascist” and comparing his supporters to backers of Adolf Hitler. The encounter, captured on video, has since gone viral.
Clash in the park
During Larry Krasner’s unhinged exchange yesterday, he brags that his father served in the military while repeatedly calling his critic un-American. He does know he’s running against a former Army paratrooper, right? pic.twitter.com/1PI0xilVZC
— Brian Hart (@BrianHartPR) September 27, 2025The video shows Krasner sparring with 22-year-old Frank Scales, a Republican activist who runs a small outlet called Surge Philly. The discussion quickly turned tense when Scales pressed Krasner on his repeated claims that Trump is a fascist.
“You’re un-American, Frank. You’re un-American,” Krasner said, repeating the phrase as Scales asked why he was being labeled that way.
At one point, the exchange was interrupted by a fan of Scales’ who said she loves his work.
“Is she a fascist too?” he ased Krasner.
Scales responded: “I’m a resident of this city who cares about public safety. Why are you calling me un-American?”
Krasner fired back, “Because you support people who support hate. You don’t understand what it means to be a fascist, what people like Adolf Hitler do, how spreading hate, which is something that, frankly, the people you admire do, gets us closer to that.”
Personal barbs exchanged
During the back-and-forth, Krasner also dismissed Scales as “a 22-year-old who knows nothing” and branded Surge Philly a “fake, non-existent paper.”
The video did not make clear whether Scales had planned the confrontation or if it unfolded by chance in the park. What is clear is that the footage spread quickly across social media, sparking debate over Krasner’s choice of words and tone.
At one point, Krasner asked whether or not Scales was breastfed.
Political backdrop
Krasner, a progressive prosecutor often backed by national liberal groups, has faced criticism from conservatives who argue his policies contribute to crime. He has previously warned Trump not to interfere with Philadelphia’s crime response, calling the former president a threat to democracy.
Key Points
- Philadelphia DA Larry Krasner was recorded in a viral park confrontation calling Donald Trump a “fascist.”
- Krasner told young activist Frank Scales he was “un-American” and accused him of supporting hate.
- The clash adds to ongoing political battles surrounding Krasner’s tenure and outspoken criticism of Trump.
In Philadelphia, thxe park debate turned into a political firestorm.
- Ciattarelli vows to defend parental rights on LGBTQ studies while Sherrill supports forced curriculum
Trenton, NJ – New Jersey’s governor’s race took a sharp turn this week after a highly publicized Naval Academy cheating scandal for Mikie Sherrill, but Jack Ciattarelli isn’t letting that news distract from bigger issues facing New Jersey residents.
Democratic candidate Mikie Sherrill declared she would require LGBTQ curriculum in state schools without offering parents an opt-out — a stance her Republican rival Jack Ciattarelli immediately weaponized in a new campaign ad.
The ad, released this month, features Sherrill’s own words on the issue before pivoting to Ciattarelli’s attack lines. The spot claims Sherrill is “too extreme for New Jersey” and urges voters to “save girls’ sports and parents’ rights” in November.
Ciattarelli highlights Sherrill’s voting record
In the ad, Ciattarelli links Sherrill’s position on the LGBTQ curriculum to her voting record in Congress. The Republican points to Sherrill’s votes against the “Protection of Women and Girls in Sports Act,” which sought to restrict transgender athletes from competing in women’s sports, and against the “Parents Bill of Rights Act,” which would have required parental consent if a student sought to change their gender identity at school.
The ad also highlights Sherrill’s 2021 vote to remove gender-specific terms such as “man,” “woman,” “mother,” and “son” from official House rules. Ciattarelli argues those positions show Sherrill is aligned with progressive activists rather than New Jersey families.
Key Points
- Jack Ciattarelli released a campaign ad targeting Mikie Sherrill’s LGBTQ curriculum stance.
- The ad highlights Sherrill’s votes against parental rights and sports-related legislation in Congress.