PLEASE TAKE NOTICE that a Special Meeting of the Jackson Township Council will be held as follows:
Date: October 3, 2025
Time: 10:30 A.M.
Place: Jackson Township Municipal Building located at 95 W. Veterans Highway, Jackson, New
Jersey 08527
Agenda to extent known is:
Council will take any actions necessary to comply with the New Jersey Municipal Vacancy Law, NJSA 40A:16-7 and the Township’s Administrative Code.
Official action will be taken.
Sandra F. Martin, RMC, CMR
Municipal Clerk
Medford shopper snags $17K TAKE 5 jackpot at local convenience store
MEDFORD, NY – A routine lottery stop turned into a windfall for one lucky player this week after a TAKE 5 midday ticket sold at a local convenience store hit the game’s top prize, delivering a payday of over $17,000.
The winning ticket, worth $17,704, was sold for Wednesday’s midday TAKE 5 drawing at CHACHA PAPA, located at 2222 Route 112 in Medford, according to the New York Lottery. The winning numbers were drawn at 2:30 p.m.
TAKE 5 draws from a field of one through 39 and takes place twice daily—at 2:30 p.m. and again at 10:30 p.m.—with tickets available for just $1. Winners have up to one year from the date of the drawing to claim their prize.
The winner has not yet come forward publicly, and no additional identifying information has been released. All New York Lottery draw game prizes can be claimed at any authorized retailer, by mail, or by visiting one of the Lottery’s customer service centers across the state.
This win comes as part of the New York Lottery’s ongoing run as North America’s top-grossing lottery. In the last fiscal year, the Lottery generated $3.6 billion to support public education throughout New York State.
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Anyone experiencing gambling issues is encouraged to seek help by calling 1-877-8-HOPENY or visiting NYProblemGamblingHelp.org.
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Key Points
Teen charged in violent Montgomery County robbery and assault spree
Gaithersburg, MD — An 18-year-old from Saint Leonard is being held without bond after detectives linked him to a string of armed robberies, assaults, and thefts across Montgomery County spanning late 2023 into mid-2024, police announced Friday.
The Montgomery County Department of Police Major Crimes Division charged Joseph Tyler Jhingory IV with home invasion, armed robbery, false imprisonment, sexual assault, assault, vehicle theft, and related offenses.
Investigators said the crime spree began on December 1, 2023, when Jhingory allegedly broke into a Rockville home with a gun, tied up the residents, sexually assaulted a female victim, and fled in the family’s Volvo CX-40.
On February 8, 2024, two Bethesda homes were burglarized and a 2015 Mercedes GLK350 stolen. Just hours later, a gas station on Wisconsin Avenue was robbed, with the attendant tied up and cash and merchandise stolen. Days afterward, police say Jhingory attempted burglaries in Anne Arundel County before crashing the stolen Mercedes during a pursuit.
On February 17, he allegedly tried to rob a man outside a 7-Eleven, then fled onto Andrews Air Force Base, where he stole a car, crashed, and was arrested by military police. He was released shortly after.
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The investigation also tied him to a July 10, 2024, burglary in Potomac, where personal items and a 2014 Lexus were stolen. That vehicle was later recovered in Calvert County, where several other stolen cars had been abandoned.
Detectives eventually connected the crimes through evidence and served Jhingory with warrants on August 27, 2025, after he was transferred from a juvenile facility on unrelated charges.
He remains held without bond as the cases proceed.
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Key Points
CAMDEN, NJ — Once one of the murder capitals of America, the New Jersey city of Camden reported zero homicides this summer, marking the first time in more than five decades the city has gone through the season without a killing.
The milestone, which spanned June 21 through September 22, comes as officials credit community policing and neighborhood outreach for driving down violence.
The achievement, however, has been clouded by confusion. A viral claim by some conservatives online suggested that “under Trump, nobody was murdered in Camden this summer”, which while true, has been identified as misleading.
While Trump is the President, the decline in violent crime cannot be directly attributed to him.
County data show the city recorded 18 homicides in 2024. The years 2022 and 2023 each saw 28 killings. The summer 2025 streak marks a seasonal improvement, not an annual or multi-year trend.
Through mid-2025, violent crime in Camden has fallen roughly 12% compared with the same period in 2024, and homicides are down about 30%. Officials caution the homicide-free summer should be viewed as progress, not proof that violence has disappeared.
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Officials attribute the decline to a “unity policing” strategy, which emphasizes community engagement alongside law enforcement. Investments in technology such as drones and surveillance, combined with neighborhood events like block parties, cleanups, and youth programs, have helped strengthen ties between police and residents.
“Huge news: For the first time in over 50 years, the City of Camden has reported ZERO homicides over the summer,” Governor Phil Murphy touted. “This incredible progress is a testament to our multi-faceted approach to driving down crime: investing in strong neighborhoods and schools while supporting law enforcement.”
“A decade ago, Camden City had one of the highest homicide rates in North America. This summer, there were none. That progress shows what’s possible when you invest in community policing, work hand-in-hand with the community, and give officers the training and equipment they need to keep people safe. There is still more work to do, but Camden’s story proves the power of working together to build safer, stronger communities,” said Congressman Donald Norcross.
JACKSON, NJ – Small business owner, Chris Pollak, a karate instructor and owner of Hybrid Combat Karate school in Jackson Township, has announced he is running for town council in one of the “Trumpiest” towns in New Jersey.
Now, questions are being raised about his activist past after his ties to a radical anti-fascist group based in his hometown of New York City surfaced this week.
Pollak, a former member of several New York City superhero-themed street vigilante groups such as Real Life Superheroes, Ronin, and the New York City initiative, is also tied to the radical far-left anti-fascist group “Fags Fight Back”.
While a member of the New York Initiative superhero vigilante group, Pollak and his sidekicks formed a long-lasting alliance with Fags Fight Back, even marching in solidarity with them in the annual New York City Pride Parade. The New York City Initiative this week confirmed Pollak’s status in the organization, which to this day, remains united with Fags Fight Back.
The group, which formed to defend homosexual New Yorkers from discrimination aggressively, quickly evolved into an anti-fascist, anti-Donald Trump, and anti-conservative political mouthpiece.
It’s a far cry from the sleepy, predominantly conservative community of Jackson Township.
Jackson Township has been named one of the top 5 “Trumpiest” towns in New Jersey after winning a vast majority of votes in the 2016, 2020, and 2024 presidential elections.
@shorenewsnetwork7 Chris Pollak for Jackson marches with anyi-fascist gay rights group in NYC Pride parade. @chrispollak02 ♬ Gangsta's Paradise (feat. L.V.) – Coolio
Above: Video posted by Fags Fight Back, with Jackson council candidate Christopher Pollak marching, swinging a bat in the air at the NYC pride parade.
Now Pollak, a former urban street activist turned small business owner is hoping he can sway the majority Republican town to vote for him in November.
Pollak’s campaign is using far-left radical propaganda to create tension and anger in the community of 65,000 that includes a large growing Orthodox Jewish population.
He has been pitting neighbors against neighbors in order to divide the town, creating an enemies list to ‘fight’ against.
His opponent, Al Couceiro, a Republican, said there’s no reason for the town to be divided and pitted against each other.
“We are all fighting the same enemies, Trenton, and the Trenton legislature that has caused the problems in Jackson,” Couceiro said. “Our enemy is not our neighbor. We need to unite as a town if we wish to solve our problems.”
Couceiro said he is supporting Republican candidate for governor Jack Ciattarelli, and if they both win in November, they will fix the problem at the source, Trenton, together, with the town council, mayor and the residents of Jackson.
“Affordable housing mandates, cuts to school funding, housing shortages, illegal multi-family rentals…these are the problems the entire state is facing under eight years of Governor Phil Murphy,” Couceiro said. “Fighting amongst ourselves is not going to solve the problems that are changing Jackson from the town I grew up and am raising my children in.”
Pollak, on the other hand, has just recently moved to town and has not publicly endorsed a candidate for Governor in the New Jersey race, and continues to bash local elected officials for mandates being forced upon the township by Phil Murphy, the Democrat legislature, and the Department of Justice.
As for Pollak’s ties to Fags Fight Back, he has not commented on the matter.
We will continue our indepth look into both candidates running for council in Jackson, Stay tuned! Up next, Chris Pollak’s sordid past from a fallen Guardian Angel to his public apology for falsely accusing an innocent book author of being a pedophile and the real reason why Pollak left several superhero groups and the Guardian Angels on bad terms. Also, why all of his accounts were banned from Facebook. He blames the township council, but his former superhero mates told Shore News Network the real story of posts filled with hate, anger, antisemitism, false attacks, and threats, going back at least 10 years.
BERKELEY TOWNSHIP, NJ – From drunk driving crashes to a business burglary, Berkeley Township police officers stayed busy throughout August as they handled multiple arrests and investigations, according to the department’s latest blotter.
On August 2, officers responded to Moorage Avenue after a vehicle went airborne, slammed into two parked cars and caused major damage. The driver, Daniel Burke, 29, of Beachwood, showed signs of impairment and was arrested for DWI before being transported to a hospital for injuries. He was later charged with driving while intoxicated and contempt.
Three days later, on August 5, officers took custody of 26-year-old Devin Ayers of Waretown, who was being held at the Waretown Police Department on outstanding warrants totaling $1,000. Ayers was taken to the Ocean County Jail.
On August 8, police were called to Route 9 for a reported burglary. A business had its back window smashed, its interior ransacked and money stolen from damaged cash registers. Detectives are investigating and urged anyone with information to contact them.
On August 16, officers found a man slumped over behind the wheel at a Wawa gas pump on Route 9. The driver, Kenneth Heiser, 44, of Forked River, was determined to be under the influence and in possession of CDS and drug paraphernalia. He also had active warrants and was jailed after his arrest.
Two days later, on August 18, a two-car crash on Jamaica Boulevard led to the arrest of John Reeves, who police said was intoxicated at the time. Reeves was charged with DWI and several traffic offenses, including reckless driving and having open containers in his vehicle.
On August 24, patrol units and firefighters responded to Jamaica Boulevard for a small fire in a bathroom garbage can. Investigators determined a cigarette that had not been properly put out caused the blaze, which resulted in minimal damage.
The month closed on August 30 when officers stopped a gray Honda Accord on Central Avenue for aggressive driving. The driver, John Fox, 71, of Berkeley Heights, was arrested and charged with DWI, careless driving and reckless driving. He was later released pending court.
Key Points
From drunk driving busts to a break-in on Route 9, Berkeley cops had their hands full in August.
HACKETTSTOWN, NJ – A 12-year-old boy riding a modified e-bike sparked a chase through town Tuesday after refusing to stop for a police officer, authorities said.
The juvenile was spotted operating a Class 3 e-bike in violation of several New Jersey traffic laws when an officer attempted to pull him over, police said. Instead of complying, the boy bolted, ditching the bike in a resident’s shed before running off on foot. He later returned to the scene.
When officers inspected the bike, they found the pedals zip-tied to the frame and the chain removed, making the vehicle no longer a legal e-bike but an unregistered, uninsured motorized vehicle. Labels identifying it as a Class 3 bike with a 1500KW battery had also been removed, officials said.
The Hackettstown Police Department impounded the vehicle, noting it is subject to the same towing fees as a standard motor vehicle. The juvenile was released into his parents’ custody, but police said the parents will face the motor vehicle summonses tied to the violations.
Pending summonses include operating an unregistered motor vehicle, operating an uninsured vehicle, driving without a license, improper operation of low-speed electric bicycles, speeding across a sidewalk, and a local ordinance violation for use of unlicensed vehicles, police said.
Authorities urged parents to carefully check e-bike classifications and review the department’s e-bike flow chart to ensure compliance with state law.
Key Points
Trenton, NJ – New Jersey residents can expect a mix of sun and unsettled weather this weekend, with warm afternoons giving way to scattered showers and cooler evenings.
Friday morning started mostly cloudy, but skies are clearing through the day with sunshine pushing temperatures to around 82 degrees. Winds will stay light, shifting northwest at about 5 mph. Tonight, conditions remain calm with partly cloudy skies and lows near 60.
Saturday will bring a touch of instability, with a 20% chance of showers after 2 p.m. under partly sunny skies. Highs will top out near 77 before cloud cover builds. By Saturday night, showers become more likely, especially after 8 p.m., with up to a half inch of rain possible and overnight lows near 61.
Sunday looks drier, though a few lingering showers may pass before mid-afternoon. Skies stay mostly cloudy with highs around 75 and light northeast winds. The day will close with mostly cloudy skies and lows near 60, setting up for a cooler start to the new week.
Key Points
The Garden State’s weekend will shift from sun to showers before settling into a cooler, cloudier finish.
Newark, NJ – Drivers across New Jersey are facing a rough morning commute Friday, with multiple crashes, disabled vehicles and long delays hitting some of the state’s busiest highways and crossings.
At 8:00 a.m., a crash on Route 10 northbound near Tabor Road in Morris Plains shut down one of two lanes, backing up traffic in Morris County. Just minutes earlier, a disabled vehicle on the New Jersey Turnpike local lanes northbound near Exit 71 in Englewood blocked the right lane.
In Paterson, a disabled tractor trailer closed all eastbound lanes of I-80 just past Exit 58 at 7:36 a.m., creating one of the most severe disruptions of the morning. Another crash with injuries on Route 4 eastbound near River Road in Teaneck around 7:28 a.m. shut one lane, adding to Bergen County congestion.
Commuters are also dealing with delays at major crossings. Travel times on the George Washington Bridge reached 45 minutes on the upper level and 40 minutes on the lower level around 7:39 a.m. The Lincoln Tunnel reported 20-minute waits at both the center and south tubes, while the Holland Tunnel held steady at 20 minutes from the Turnpike Exit 14C.
The Garden State Parkway saw heavy slowdowns at multiple points, including southbound delays out of Bloomfield and Woodbridge, as well as a northbound backup between Cranford and Kenilworth. Turnpike traffic also stacked up on both the Eastern and Western Spurs near Newark with three-mile backups north of Interchange 15W.
Adding to the chaos, a water main break late Thursday night continued to close all lanes of Route 166 southbound near Mapletree Road in Toms River, forcing detours in Ocean County.
Other slow spots included Route 208 in Fair Lawn, Route 21 in Clifton, Route 1&9 in Jersey City, and Route 4 heading into Fort Lee.
With multiple incidents and volume-related delays, commuters are being urged to allow extra travel time throughout the morning.
Key Points
New Jersey drivers woke up to a full plate of traffic trouble Friday morning.
WASHINGTON, DC – The Justice Department filed lawsuits Thursday against six states, accusing them of failing to provide complete voter registration records as required under federal election laws.
The suits target California, Michigan, Minnesota, New York, New Hampshire, and Pennsylvania, alleging that officials in those states did not produce their statewide voter registration lists when requested by federal authorities.
“Clean voter rolls are the foundation of free and fair elections,” Attorney General Pamela Bondi said. “Every state has a responsibility to ensure that voter registration records are accurate, accessible, and secure — states that don’t fulfill that obligation will see this Department of Justice in court.”
Assistant Attorney General Harmeet K. Dhillon of the Civil Rights Division said compliance is essential to protecting the integrity of elections. “Clean voter rolls protect American citizens from voting fraud and abuse, and restore their confidence that their states’ elections are conducted properly, with integrity, and in compliance with the law,” Dhillon said.
The Justice Department cited its authority under the National Voter Registration Act (NVRA), the Help America Vote Act (HAVA), and the Civil Rights Act of 1960 (CRA) to demand voter list production, inspection, and analysis.
The lawsuits were filed Sept. 25 in the federal districts of the six states named.
Key Points
The fight over voter rolls is now headed to federal courtrooms in six states.
DOVER, DE – A 36-year-old Dover man has been charged in connection with a liquor store burglary after investigators linked him to two similar crimes in Kent County, Delaware State Police announced Wednesday.
On Sept. 17 around 7:57 a.m., troopers responded to Woodside Liquor Warehouse on South Dupont Highway after reports that a suspect forced entry through a window overnight and stole several bottles of liquor.
The following day, a similar burglary occurred within the City of Dover. Detectives from the Delaware State Police and Dover Police Department compared evidence and identified Robert Young Jr., 36, of Dover, as the suspect. A warrant for his arrest was issued.
On Sept. 24, Young was arrested while already being held at Sussex Correctional Institution on unrelated charges. He was arraigned in Justice of the Peace Court 2, where he was formally charged with burglary and related offenses. Although he was released on his own recognizance, Young remains incarcerated on his separate case.
Key Points
TRENTON, NJ – The New Jersey Republican Party is calling on Rep. Mikie Sherrill to release her full academic and disciplinary records from the U.S. Naval Academy, citing her admission that she was barred from participating in her class’s graduation due to involvement in a cheating scandal.
Sherrill was disciplined by the academy in one of the nation’s biggest cheating scandals, but says it was only because she didn’t narc on her shipmates.
Now, the NJGOP and Jack Ciattarelli are asking the Democrat candidate for governor to prove that she didn’t cheat.
So far, she’s not willing to do it.
This comes after a report by the New Jersey Globe that showed Sherrill was involved in one of the biggest cheating scandals in U.S. Naval Academy history.
Sherrill, the Democratic nominee for governor of New Jersey, acknowledged that she was barred from participating in her 1994 graduation ceremony at the U.S. Naval Academy as punishment tied to a massive cheating scandal that swept through her class.
A commencement program from May 25, 1994, obtained by the New Jersey Globe, does not list Sherrill’s name among graduates. More than 130 midshipmen were implicated in what remains one of the largest cheating and honor code scandals in the Academy’s history.
In a statement, Sherrill said her punishment stemmed not from direct involvement in the cheating but from failing to report classmates
She refuses to provide proof to back up her story that she was only looking out for her cheating classmates.
“I didn’t turn in some of my classmates, so I didn’t walk, but graduated and was commissioned as an officer in the U.S. Navy, serving for nearly ten years with the highest level of distinction and honor,” she said.
Things aren’t so cut and dry for Sherrill, whose past is just as mysterious as her father’s.
Sherrill reportedly lied about being involved in the scandal eight years ago when pressed. Her father, David, worked for the Central Intelligence Agency, leaving many to speculate that strings were pulled for his daughter at the time of the scandal to avoid punishment.
Additionally, Sherrill’s two daughters also attend the U.S. Naval Academy. Even that was marred by controversy. Earlier this year, Sherrill’s office issued a press release congratulating the three Montclair students for their acceptance.
“I am so proud of all the young men and women from NJ-11 who are reporting to the military academies or academy preparatory programs this summer. From my time at the Naval Academy, I remember how challenging the academy’s programs are — both academically and physically. Learning to work as a team and overcoming those challenges prepared me to lead service members as a military officer. I am grateful for these young men and women who are willing to serve our nation in uniform and I wish them the best of luck as they start their careers as future military leaders,” said Congresswoman Sherrill.
What she did not disclose in that release was that her two daughters, Lincoln and Margaret Hedberg (Sherrill’s husband’s last name), were among the only 22 New Jersey students accepted into the U.S. service academies in 2025, leaving many wondering if nepotism played a part.
Sherrill did graduate and went on to serve nearly a decade in the Navy. However, her campaign has rejected requests to allow public inspection of her sealed disciplinary records from the Academy. Only she can authorize their release.
In a statement Thursday, the NJGOP said Sherrill “was implicated and punished for involvement in the largest cheating and honor code scandal in the Academy’s storied history.”
Party officials argued that her bid for governor requires full transparency about the episode.
“Rep. Sherrill is now running for governor and owes the people of our state full transparency,” the NJGOP said. “She is not entitled to the benefit of the doubt.”
The demand comes amid reminders of another controversy in Sherrill’s political career: in 2021, she paid a fine for violating the federal STOCK Act after failing to properly disclose her husband’s stock trades. The law was designed to prevent insider trading among members of Congress.
Her husband, Jason Hedberg, is a stock trader at UBS Securities. Some of the trades that drew scrutiny involved UBS stock that Hedberg received as part of his compensation. At the time, Sherrill initially held individual stocks after entering Congress, later shifting to broader investment funds.
Her opponent, Jack Ciattarelli, also accused Sherrill and her husband of trading stocks tied to her tenure in congressional committees, where she earned $7 million on those transactions.
With Sherrill now a declared candidate for governor, Republicans are questioning whether the combination of the Naval Academy scandal and her past STOCK Act violation raises larger concerns about integrity.
Key Points
EVESHAM TOWNSHIP, NJ – A juvenile has been charged in connection with a string of vehicle burglaries on Carlton Avenue, following a two-month investigation that brought together several law enforcement agencies, police announced Thursday.
The case began on July 30, when residents reported that multiple unlocked vehicles had been entered during the overnight hours. Evesham Township Police officers processed the crime scenes, collected evidence, and reviewed surveillance footage, which ultimately led to the identification of a suspect.
On Sept. 25, with assistance from the New Jersey State Police, Camden County Metro Police Department, Medford Police Department, and the Camden County Prosecutor’s Office, investigators executed a search warrant at a home on Eutaw Avenue in Camden. The juvenile suspect was taken into custody without incident, and additional evidence tied to the burglaries was recovered.
The juvenile has been charged with burglary and released pending a first appearance in Burlington County Family Court.
Key Points
Quick collaboration across agencies brought closure to a summer crime spree.
BRICK TOWNSHIP, NJ – Members of the Brick Township Police Department traveled to Pennsylvania this week to stand in tribute at the funeral of three Northern York County Regional Police officers killed during the execution of a warrant.
Detectives Mark Baker, Cody Becker, and Isaiah Emenheiser were fatally shot on Sept. 17 while serving a warrant tied to a domestic abuse case, officials said. The tragedy has shaken law enforcement across state lines, prompting an outpouring of solidarity.
Brick Township’s Honor Guard joined officers from across the region in paying respects at the service, which drew hundreds of mourners.
“We extend our deepest condolences to the Northern York County Regional Police Department, and to the families, friends, and loved ones of our fallen brothers,” Brick Township Police said in a statement. “Their sacrifice will never be forgotten.”
The three detectives are being remembered for their commitment to public safety and their ultimate sacrifice in the line of duty.
Key Points
OCEAN TOWNSHIP, NJ – Residents who heard a series of loud explosions Thursday night in Monmouth County were not witnessing an emergency but a scheduled police training exercise, officials confirmed.
The Ocean Township Police Department said the noises came from the Ocean County Fire Academy, where law enforcement officers are carrying out live training drills. The exercises involve controlled explosions and will continue through next week, running daily between 9 a.m. and approximately 5:30 to 6 p.m.
“There is no cause for alarm and no danger to the community,” the department said in a statement, stressing that the training is part of regular preparation to keep officers ready for high-risk scenarios.
Authorities thanked residents for their patience, noting the exercises bring together officers from across the county and state to sharpen response skills.
Key Points
What rattled windows was nothing more than preparation shaking the ground.
MYRTLE BEACH, SC – City officials are bracing for the possible arrival of Hurricane Imelda, a developing storm with an uncertain track that could bring tropical impacts to the Carolinas early next week.
The Myrtle Beach Police Department said Thursday that emergency managers are closely monitoring the storm as forecasts continue to shift. While two possible scenarios remain in play, officials warned there is a growing chance that the region will feel effects from the system.
City agencies have begun routine preparations, and residents are being urged to review hurricane kits, stock up on essential supplies, and finalize evacuation or shelter plans in case conditions worsen. Authorities said a clearer forecast is expected by Friday afternoon.
“We encourage everyone to take this time to prepare, not panic,” the department posted on social media.
Tere is still a lot of uncertainty regarding the storm that will soon be named “Imelda”. However, as new data comes in there is an increased likelihood that we will experience tropical impacts to some degree. The two most likely scenarios are:
1. Imelda could continue moving north and move into the Carolinas as either a tropical storm or hurricane early next week – possibly Monday into Tuesday.
2. Imelda could stall off the Southeast coast for a day or two early next week before being pulled east away from the coast – possibly being absorbed by Hurricane Humberto. Humberto has NO THREAT of making landfall which would make this the best case scenario.
The storm, not yet a fully formed hurricane, is expected to strengthen as it moves through the Atlantic. Meteorologists said the next 24 to 48 hours will be critical in determining whether the East Coast faces a direct impact or glancing blow.
Key Points
UTICA, NY – A Utica man has been charged in connection with a shots fired incident earlier this week on Lansing Street near Morris Street, police announced Wednesday.
Investigators identified Kanye Holmes as the individual who discharged a firearm during the incident, allegedly firing at unknown people before fleeing the area. No injuries were reported.
As a result of the investigation, Holmes now faces multiple charges, including criminal possession of a weapon in the second degree, criminal possession of a firearm, and reckless endangerment in the first degree.
Police said the case remains active as detectives continue to gather additional evidence.
Key Points
Gunfire on a city street has now led to serious felony charges.
ANNAPOLIS, MD – A burst of gunfire near Tyler Heights Elementary on Wednesday morning triggered a swift police response that ended with two teenagers in custody on attempted murder charges.
The Annapolis Police Department said officers were dispatched around 10:56 a.m. to Janwall Street and Bricin Street after reports of shots fired. The incident unfolded just steps from the elementary school, but no students or staff were injured, officials confirmed.
Responding officers discovered a crime scene in a nearby apartment complex and secured the area. A witness told investigators they heard a “pop” and saw two suspects in the street before they ran off. Police later made contact with the individuals believed to be the intended targets.
Ballistic evidence confirmed a weapon had been fired. Detectives quickly identified two suspects, ages 17 and 14, who were taken into custody at approximately 5:07 p.m. the same day. Both juveniles are being charged as adults with first- and second-degree attempted murder as well as first- and second-degree assault.
“The successful and swift resolution of this case is a testament to the professionalism of our incredible detectives,” Chief of Police Ed Jackson said in a statement, adding thanks to surrounding agencies for their assistance and praising the patrol division’s quick action.
The case remains under investigation.
Key Points
Swift arrests brought an unsettling scene near a school to a close before nightfall.
WEST VIEW, PA – A woman was killed early Thursday in a two-vehicle crash at a West View intersection that remains under investigation by Allegheny County Police.
County 9-1-1 received a call around 6:10 a.m. reporting a collision at Highland Avenue and Cornell Avenue. First responders found an adult female driver dead at the scene. The male driver of the second vehicle was not injured.
According to preliminary findings, three cars were lined up in the left-hand lane of Highland Avenue when the third vehicle attempted to pass by moving into the oncoming lane. At the same time, the first car in line attempted a left turn onto Cornell Avenue. The two vehicles collided, causing significant damage.
Detectives said it is not yet clear which of the vehicles was making the turn and which was attempting to pass. The Allegheny County Police Department’s Homicide and Collision Reconstruction Unit is leading the investigation.
Anyone with information is urged to contact the County Police Tip Line at 1-833-ALL-TIPS. Callers may remain anonymous.
Key Points
A routine morning drive ended in tragedy at a busy intersection.
BUFFALO, NY – A man who reported a home invasion on Voorhees Avenue is now facing multiple felony charges after police determined the incident never occurred and instead uncovered drugs and a firearm in his possession.
Buffalo Police said the call came in shortly before 10 a.m. Wednesday, Sept. 24, when a man claimed two burglars were inside his home and had fired at him. Officers from D District arrived to find the caller outside, who told them he had a gun in his pocket. Police recovered a loaded Smith & Wesson 9mm handgun.
A search of the man’s bag revealed suspected narcotics and paraphernalia, including about 7 grams of cocaine, 22.6 grams of crystal meth, 9.5 grams of fentanyl, clear baggies, and a digital scale.
Investigators later determined there was no home invasion. The caller, identified as Lance Martin, 44, of Buffalo, was arrested and charged with:
Police noted the third-degree weapon charge applies because Martin has a prior conviction.
Key Points
A bogus emergency call instead exposed a cache of drugs and an illegal gun.
BEAR, DE – Delaware State Police have arrested a New Castle man accused of stabbing a co-worker at an Amazon delivery center last month, leaving the victim with serious injuries.
Troopers said the incident occurred around 11 a.m. on Aug. 28 at the Amazon facility on Bear Corbitt Road. A 23-year-old man was found suffering from multiple stab wounds. Officers provided first aid until medics arrived, and the victim was transported to a nearby hospital.
Detectives identified Taamir Smith, 35, of New Castle, as the suspect. An arrest warrant was obtained, and on Sept. 23, members of the Delaware State Police and U.S. Marshals located Smith near 24th Street in Wilmington. He was taken into custody without incident.
Smith has been charged with first-degree assault and possession of a deadly weapon during the commission of a felony. He was arraigned in Justice of the Peace Court 2 and committed to Howard R. Young Correctional Institution on a $200,000 cash bond.
Key Points
A workplace stabbing turned into a high-stakes manhunt that ended in Wilmington.
BRONX, NY – Police are asking for the public’s help in identifying a man wanted for a forcible touching incident that occurred earlier this week in the 42nd Precinct.
According to investigators, the incident happened around 2:05 p.m. on Monday, Sept. 22, near Clinton Avenue and Crotona Park South. A 30-year-old woman reported that an unidentified man approached her from behind and grabbed her buttocks before fleeing on foot southbound along Fulton Avenue.
No injuries were reported.
The suspect is described as a male with a medium complexion. Surveillance images of the individual have been released by the NYPD.
Anyone with information is asked to call the NYPD’s Crime Stoppers Hotline at 1-800-577-TIPS (8477). Tips can also be submitted online or via the Crime Stoppers app.
Key Points
A quiet afternoon walk turned into a police search for a fleeing suspect.
OWINGS MILLS, MD – Nearly 51 years after the body of Joyce Arcuri was discovered in a wooded area, Baltimore County Police are once again appealing to the public for help in solving her killing.
On the morning of Nov. 8, 1974, Arcuri was found dead off Bonita Avenue in Owings Mills. Her 1966 Chevy was later located parked near The Walters Art Gallery in Baltimore City.
Detectives said friends and family recalled that Arcuri had owed someone money before her death, though no suspect was ever identified.
The case remains open, and police are urging anyone with information to contact Metro Crime Stoppers at 1-866-7LOCKUP or the Baltimore County Police Department at 410-887-3943. Tipsters may remain anonymous.
Key Points
A decades-old mystery lingers, with investigators still seeking the missing piece.
BOSTON, MA – A Roxbury man was arrested late Wednesday night after officers caught him in the act of breaking into a downtown business, police said.
Around 10:30 p.m. on Sept. 24, officers from District A-1 responded to a report of a break-in at Going Bananas, a store located at 65 Salem Street. A caller described a man in a black hoodie and black jeans marked with graffiti attempting to force entry.
When officers arrived, they found a man crouched at the shop’s open doorway, stuffing items into his clothing before trying to walk away. The suspect, identified as Elvin Clayton, 24, of Roxbury, was quickly detained.
A witness told officers Clayton had approached her moments earlier asking for a screwdriver. Police recovered several stolen goods from him, including a sealed box of baseball cards and a box of chocolate concealed in his pants. Officers also found scissors, a fork, and a lighter inside his jacket, along with a seatbelt cutter discovered during booking.
Clayton was charged with nighttime breaking and entering of a building (felony) and possession of a burglarious instrument. He is expected to be arraigned in Boston Municipal Court.
Key Points
A late-night burglary ended with a suspect in cuffs and baseball cards stuffed down his pants.
GAITHERSBURG, MD – A Montgomery County woman is celebrating a six-figure lottery win after hitting the first top-tier jackpot on Maryland Lottery’s new FAST PLAY 20X Cash game.
The administrative assistant, who works for a house-painting company, visited Lottery headquarters on Sept. 24 to claim her $311,795 prize. She said her strategy is simple: try new games.
“I buy FAST PLAY tickets whenever I play, and I always look for games I haven’t played before. New equals lucky to me,” she said.
Her winning ticket was purchased at the Giant grocery store at 46 Bureau Drive in Gaithersburg, which will receive a $1,000 bonus for selling the jackpot winner.
The lucky player said she started dancing when she realized how much she had won. She plans to put the entire prize toward her long-term house fund, a savings effort she’s been adding to $10 at a time.
The $20 FAST PLAY 20X Cash game debuted less than a week before her win. Following the reset to $300,000, the progressive jackpot has already climbed past $333,000. Nineteen more progressive jackpots and dozens of $10,000 prizes remain in play.
Key Points
A quick pick at the grocery store turned into a life-changing leap toward homeownership.