Minnesota trooper charged in 'full throttle' crash that killed high school cheerleader weeks before graduation



A Minnesota state trooper has been criminally charged for allegedly causing a three-vehicle crash that injured five and killed a high school cheerleader just two weeks before her graduation.

Around 5:45 p.m. on May 18, Trooper Shane Roper of the Minnesota State Patrol was involved in the car crash. The 32-year-old trooper reportedly T-boned the passenger side of a Ford Focus "at full throttle" at an intersection in Rochester, Minnesota.

The Olmsted County Attorney's Office said Roper collided with the Focus at 83 mph in a 40 mph zone.

"Trooper Roper maintained a full throttle without lights or sirens," the office stated in a press release. "Investigation revealed that Trooper Roper did not come off the full throttle until the Focus started into the intersection, approximately 1.4 seconds before impact. Trooper Roper’s vehicle violently impacted the Focus."

The Ford Focus was being driven by 21-year-old Angelina Bartz, and her passengers were 19-year-old Katarina Bartz and 18-year-old Olivia Flores. The friends were on a “fun outing for Katarina’s birthday” and driving to the mall when the car accident happened, according to a GoFundMe set up for the Bartz sisters.

The car crash took the life of Flores, who succumbed to her injuries a day after the accident, according to a statement by the Rochester Police Department.

Angelina reportedly suffered a fractured rib, traumatic brain injury, bruised liver, lacerated kidney, sprained wrist and finger, whiplash, and extensive bruising. Katarina sustained a shattered pelvis requiring surgery, a fractured rib, traumatic brain injury, and severe bruising.

A third car, a Toyota Rav4, was involved in the accident, and two passengers were allegedly injured.

A ride-along passenger in Roper's cruiser was also wounded, according to police.

A law firm representing Flores' family – Restovich Braun and Associates – said Roper has a "documented history of shocking, dangerous, and unlawful driving conduct while on duty."

The firm claimed Roper was disciplined for four previous crashes "due to excessive speed, inattentive driving, or both."

Olmsted County Attorney Mark Ostrem said in a statement, "Trooper Roper, violating his duty in such a gross fashion, caused the death of a young lady celebrating her impending graduation from high school. Several other persons suffered serious injuries. Roper’s conduct violated the State Patrol’s Core Values. As with any other person driving recklessly and without regard to very basic rules of the road, Mr. Roper’s conduct cannot be tolerated."

Trooper Roper reportedly hit speeds as high as 135 mph — 99 mph over the speed limit — without using his emergency lights and sirens during one of the four times he was speeding on May 18 before smashing into the side of the Focus.

On July 9, Roper was charged with second-degree manslaughter and criminal vehicular homicide in connection with her death, the Olmsted County Attorney’s office said in a statement.

Flores was a cheerleader for the Owatonna High School Huskies and was set to graduate in two weeks.

A separate GoFundMe set up for the Flores family said of her parents, "Instead of planning Olivia’s graduation party and celebrating her next chapter in life, Steph and Carlos are left picking up the pieces of this tragedy."

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Illegal immigrant allegedly stabs 2 children to death in Wisconsin



An illegal immigrant is accused of stabbing his two children to death and injuring his wife in Wisconsin. The Mexican native accused of murdering his daughters had been living in the United States illegally, according to reports.

Victor Manuel Gomez Acosta was charged with two counts of first-degree intentional homicide and attempted homicide. If convicted on the charges, he could face up to life in prison.

Acosta Gomez remains in custody at the Clark County Jail on a $1 million bond. He also has an immigration detainer filed by Immigration and Customs Enforcement that will hold him in custody.

According to WEAU, police responded to an emergency call that a woman had been stabbed around 1:40 a.m. on July 5 in Abbotsford, Wisconsin. The woman told investigators that she was sleeping when the stabbing occurred.

Police discovered two children with fatal stab wounds at the crime scene.

WQOW-TV reported that one of the children suffered 20 stab wounds to her chest, back, neck, hand, and arm. Some allegedly appeared to be defensive wounds. The other girl was stabbed 16 times, mostly in the chest and neck area.

The mother of the children was also stabbed multiple times, but she survived and needed critical medical treatment.

The mother of the children was stabbed roughly 17 times, including slicing her vocal cords and another was extremely close to her jugular vein. She required emergency surgery.

Police officers allegedly surrounded the trailer home where Acosta Gomez had been residing and the standoff lasted about 30 minutes until he surrendered.

Acosta Gomez reportedly had self-inflicted stab wounds and was transported to the Marshfield Medical Center for his injuries before being medically cleared to be transported to the Clark County Jail.

The Colby-Abbotsford Police Department said in a press release that a motive for the stabbing "has not been identified at this time."

An investigation into the fatal stabbings has been launched by the Colby-Abbotsford Police Department, Clark County Sheriff’s Office, Wisconsin Department of Justice Division of Criminal Investigation, Wisconsin State Crime Lab, Wisconsin State Patrol, Clark County District Attorney’s Office, Clark County Coroner’s Office, and the Marathon County Sheriff’s Office.

Citing ICE officials, Fox News reported that Gomez Acosta entered the U.S. legally at the port of entry in Laredo, Texas, in September 2016. However, he allegedly violated the terms of his entry conditions.

Colby-Abbotsford Police Department Police Chief Alex Bowman informed Just the News that Gomez Acosta entered the U.S. on a six-month work permit but overstayed the legal time period he was allowed to work.

The police department said Gomez Acosta was previously arrested for Operating While Intoxicated/Impaired (OWI) by an outside jurisdiction and arrested for another OWI offense in Colby-Abbotsford.

Bowman told the outlet that it has been extremely difficult to get ICE to take custody of illegal immigrants who commit crimes since 2020.

“Prior to 2020, it was a lot easier to work with ICE and immigration and now their hands are tied on a lot of things,” Bowman said. “I can tell you that even felons we’ve arrested for felony crimes and stuff, immigration still hasn’t come and gotten them.”

“I used to see immigration [officials] all the time over here,” he added. “Now, I haven’t heard from ICE in four years. It’s terrible.”

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New York man arrested by arson bomb squad for giving 11-year-old son fireworks that set houses on fire



A New York man was arrested by an arson bomb squad for giving his 11-year-old son a firework that set two houses on fire, according to authorities.

According to a press release from the Nassau County Police Department, officers responded around 8:50 a.m. on the 4th of July to reports of a house fire in Levittown, New York.

Police determined that a 33-year-old father gave his 11-year-old son a firework and instructed him to light it. The explosive allegedly malfunctioned and soared into a nearby shed, which caused it to go up in flames.

The blaze in Long Island quickly spread to the defendant's home and then to a neighbor's house.

A single mother renting part of the first home to catch fire was reportedly forced to flee for her life from the burning house.

The Wantagh Fire Department responded and was able to extinguish the fires. However, both homes suffered extensive damage. No injuries were reported.

The Nassau County’s Arson Bomb Squad was also called to the scene and arrested Karamjit Singh without incident.

Singh was charged with second-degree arson, fourth-degree reckless endangerment, unlawfully selling of fireworks to someone under 18, unlawfully possessing fireworks, and endangering the welfare of a child.

Singh was released from jail without bail on Friday after pleading not guilty at his arraignment.

Singh's son was allegedly released to a family member.

Nassau County Fire Marshals launched an investigation into the fiery fireworks accident.

In nearby Suffolk County, a 21-year-old man reportedly severed three fingers on his left hand, damaged two fingers, and suffered burns on his leg in a fireworks accident on July 4th.

A 66-year-old Long Island man from Brentwood lost a hand and several fingers of his second hand after a fireworks explosion on Saturday night, according to WNBC.

As Blaze News previously reported, a South Carolina man was killed after putting a lit firework on top of his head while "showboating" during a 4th of July neighborhood block party. Video caught the last moments of the 41-year-old man's life as he was dancing in an Uncle Sam costume before his tragic, sudden death.

Blaze News also reported on a fatal fireworks accident on Independence Day in Tennessee. A 35-year-old man suffered a large chest wound and died after a firework exploded in his hands.

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Tragic video shows last moments of South Carolina man in Uncle Sam costume who died after placing large firework on head



A South Carolina man died suddenly on the 4th of July after placing a large firework on his head. Video shows the final moments of the man dressed in an Uncle Sam costume who was killed by the explosion.

Around 10:30 p.m. on Thursday, Allen Ray McGrew was enjoying the 4th of July festivities at a local neighborhood block party in Summerville, about 35 minutes north of Charleston.

The 41-year-old father had allegedly been drinking that day and placed a large firework on his head. His wife initially thought he was merely posing with the firework in an attempt to entertain onlookers.

"He was holding this firework over his top hat. I thought he was just showboating before he set it on the ground. I didn’t realize he had already lit it," McGrew's wife told the New York Post.

The firework exploded on McGrew's head and he was said to have died instantly from the injuries from the explosion.

The last moments of McGrew's life were caught on video and posted on social media. The video shows McGrew dressed in an Uncle Sam costume and dancing in a yard.

Allen's wife, Paige McGrew, told the Post and Courier that he was a "patriot" who loved Independence Day and was excited over the recent marriage engagement of his son.

"He was a patriot; he was proud of his son and he was excited to have a new daughter-in-law. He was living his best life last night," Paige explained.

She recalled the moments before his sudden death, "Just before the incident happened, he hugged me and his son and said ‘You are my rock, and you are my heart. Me being his rock and his son being his heart."

McGrew was described as a kind neighbor who regularly mowed the lawns of about five neighbors.

A neighbor said of Allen, "He was the nicest guy. He was the kind of guy you want for a neighbor."

Another man died from a fireworks accident on July 4th in Greenback, Tennessee.

The man – 35-year-old Matthew Sellars – was reportedly holding a lit firework in his hand when it exploded and caused a large chest wound around 10 p.m. on Thursday.

"I saw a large hole in Mr. Sellars' chest and a cut on his right hand. Mr. Sellars was pronounced deceased at 2230 hours and was transported to Blount Memorial Hospital by AMR," the incident report from the Blount County Sheriff's Office read.

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Georgia school employees and 'ride or die' friends in each other's weddings accused of sexually abusing students



Two Georgia school employees are accused of sexually abusing students. The pair were self-described as "ride or die" friends, who were involved in each other's weddings.

Former Calhoun City Schools employee Railey Greeson was indicted on Thursday on two counts of sexual contact by employee or agent in the first degree for having sex with two different male students between October 2021 and January 2022, according to WXIA-TV. Brooklyn Shuler was indicted on one count of the same charge for having sex with a different male student between October 2021 and January 2022.

Under Georgia law, a conviction for a first-degree improper sexual contact by an employee or agent charge is punishable by at least one year in prison and as many as 25 years. However, if the victims are under the age of 16, the sentences range between 10 to 30 years in prison.

The ages of the alleged victims were not released.

The women were processed at the Gordon County Jail and have been released each on a $10,000 bond.

The roles of the two women at the school district were not disclosed.

Both suspects are no longer employed by Calhoun City Schools, but it was not specified if they resigned or were terminated.

The Calhoun Times reported that Shuler is currently a fourth-grade teacher at Red Bud Elementary School, which is in a different school district.

Greeson described her as her “best friend” and her “ride or die,” according to the New York Post.

Shuler was a bridesmaid at Greeson’s wedding in October 2023, according to a wedding website that has since been deleted. Meanwhile, Greeson was Shuler's maid of honor at her wedding in November 2022.

Greeson was reportedly a member of Calhoun High School's class of 2019 and graduated Kennesaw State in 2023.

The Daily Mail reported that both women are around 23 years old. The outlet noted of Shuler, "It appears she's no longer with the man she married in November 2022, since he has a child with a new wife, according to his Facebook profile."

Calhoun City Schools did not respond to a request for comment from the New York Post.

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Death of Hollywood actor's daughter ruled suicide, parents suspect something far more sinister: 'Her body tells a different story'



Authorities ruled that 20-year-old Daelena Mackay died by suicide on May 23. However, her Hollywood actor father believes something far more sinister happened to her daughter a month before her 21st birthday.

A man claiming to be Daelena's boyfriend called 911 to report that he discovered Mackay lifeless at her apartment. Daelena was allegedly hanging from the shower curtain rod by a red scarf.

The man said he untied the scarf and took her down before starting CPR until paramedics arrived, but he could not revive her.

She was pronounced dead by paramedics just after midnight.

The unnamed man told investigators that the couple had an argument around 8 p.m. that night and returned to her apartment to find her dead, according to the police report.

However, Daelena's family claims that the couple broke up in January.

The Los Angeles County Medical Examiner-Coroner ruled her death a suicide by hanging and said an autopsy "was not required" due to an "external examination and the circumstances of her death being conclusive," according to the Daily Mail.

Daelena's father – Hollywood actor Dwayne Adway — suspects that his daughter's death was not by suicide.

“I’m trying to apply pressure to the LAPD,” Adway told the New York Post on Saturday. “They are dead set on staying where they are and not looking more into the case. This seems to be happening a lot in LA with black and brown girls who die and are written off as suicides.”

The LAPD said the case was thoroughly investigated.

Daelena's mother – Elaine Mackay – is also suspicious of the way her daughter died.

"Her body tells a different story than what police are telling us, with bruises and bleeding from two puncture wounds approximately an inch apart that go from the front of her body straight through to the back and other bleeding,” Mackay told the Daily Mail.

Mackay added, “All of these findings that I found because I was left no choice but to have to examine her body myself, the county coroner left out of his report. Only toxicology was done by county coroner, no autopsy.”

Adway said he is against doing a private autopsy after he consulted with two forensic pathologists who told him that if she was strangled, their autopsy results would be similar to that of the medical examiner's.

“The issue is not that she was strangled, but the manner in which she was strangled is the question,” Adway said. “The pathologists would not be able to determine that. That is up to the LAPD and both the mom and I have been to see them about investigating this case more.”

The distraught mother vehemently disagreed, "This autopsy is crucial in the case and I don’t understand why her father would choose to forgo the autopsy when he knows it’s vital. All because I don’t have ‘my half’ when he has money, more than enough to just pay for it in full. Why would he do our daughter like this she’s just been sitting at the mortuary since June 18?”

Mackay insists that her daughter did not commit suicide.

“My daughter was not suicidal, she saw a therapist the day before and [they] said there was zero clinical indication of depression or suicide, that my daughter was full of life, very much excited about life,” Mackay stated. “She was so excited about winning a poetry contest and her upcoming 21st birthday, she was actively pursuing modeling and acting after her parents’ footsteps.”

Adway told KNBC, "I am heartbroken and grieving the loss of my beautiful smart and talented daughter," said her father, actor Dwayne Adway. "I am seeking a full investigation from LAPD in hopes of finding the truth and justice."

Adway has 43 acting credits to his name, including popular TV shows such as “CSI,” “NYPD Blue,” “ER,” and “Sons of Anarchy.” He also appeared in Hollywood movies "Bad As I Wanna Be: The Dennis Rodman Story," "Soul Plane," and "Into the Blue." His IMDb page does not show any acting roles since 2015.

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Video shows 70 flash mob looters ransack Oakland gas station, took police 9 hours to respond: 'Things have to be fixed somehow'



A flash mob of roughly 70 looters ransacked a California gas station convenience store, which cost approximately $100,000 in losses. The owner said it took Oakland police about nine hours to respond to the looting.

Around 4:30 a.m. on Friday, a flash mob looted the 76 Gas Station & Mini Market near the San Francisco Bay Oakland International Airport.

The owner, Sam Mardaie, said there were two employees working at the time and the looting lasted around 40 minutes. The business was only offering window service at the time of the pillaging. However, the looters broke into the market through the front door.

“Shelves were ripped apart, all the grocery items were torn or stepped on or vandalized,” Mardaie told KTVU.

The owner released video of the flash mob ransacking his gas station convenience store. Surveillance video shows the looters going behind the counter and stealing food and products.

None of the employees were harmed in the flash mob looting.

The looters snatched approximately $25,000 in cash from the store’s register and ATM. The owner said the criminals were not able to steal the safe.

Mardaie and his family took over the business in August 2023.

“This is the hardest thing you could ever go through…especially if you’ve been put in sweat and tears day in and day out,” Mardaie said. “Building yourself for the last ten months and then you’re back to square one.”

"Things have to be fixed somehow," Mardaie said. "The citizens of Oakland have to have some sort of security."

The owner said he knew the area was known for crime, but added: "I did not know it is this terrible."

The 76 gas station is located in the same area of Oakland where an In-N-Out fast food restaurant closed in March because of out-of-control crime. The location was the Southern California-based burger chain's only restaurant in Oakland.

The Oakland Police Department told KTVU that officers were responding to a sideshow near the airport that had more than 100 vehicles at the scene. The department said officers responded to the gas station robbery about 90 minutes after receiving a call. However, there were no suspects at the 76 gas station. Police marked the crime as a Priority 2, which means that the incident can be reported online. However, police upgraded the robbery to a Priority 1 crime after seeing the surveillance video.

No arrests were made in relation to the flash mob looting.

District 7 City Councilmember Treva Reid, who represents the area where the crime occurred, said she continues to "advocate and work to secure increased public safety resources and response." Reid urged Oakland Mayor Sheng Thao to prioritize her district's demands.

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'Mess around and find out': Thief tries to rob the wrong car, gets 'butt whipped' by 66-year-old Florida man



A Florida man suffered a demoralizing comeuppance when he attempted to carjack the wrong person, according to police.

A car thief reportedly attempted to steal a vehicle that was parked outside a residence early Thursday morning. The owner heard a commotion outside his home and called 911 after seeing a man attempting to break into his car.

The suspect – identified by police as 29-year-old Blake Robinson – was confronted by the 66-year-old owner of the vehicle before law enforcement arrived at the crime scene.

Authorities said the pair got into a physical altercation and Robinson knocked the owner to the ground and then kicked him in the head. However, Robert Polk fought back and was able to incapacitate Robinson until police arrived.

The Brevard County Sheriff's Office said in a post on Facebook, "Welcome to Brevard County, where we proudly support… 'Play stupid games…win stupid prizes.'"

Brevard County Sheriff's Office deputies arrived at the crime scene and arrested Robinson, who allegedly had blood around his mouth and "was seemingly having a tough time getting up off of the ground, after getting his butt whipped by a 66-year-old man!"

The sheriff's office wrote, "That’s right Mr. Tough Guy, Robinson, got manhandled by a 66-year-old man who thankfully only required brief medical treatment and was left without any serious injuries!"

Deputies noted Polk's face was red and swollen, and one of his ears was covered in blood.

Robinson needed to get medical attention after being beaten up by the owner, according to police.

The Brevard County Sheriff's Office wrote, "As for Robinson, he was fortunate enough to be in Brevard County where he won a few prizes for being stupid including a chauffeured ride to a local medical facility to check his injuries before arriving at his less than luxurious accommodations at 'Ivey's Iron Bar Lodge! At the lodge he was given a freshly washed 2 piece ensemble to get comfortable in, before being shown to his sleeping area in our open floor plan."

Robinson was charged with burglary of an unoccupied conveyance and felony battery on a person over the age of 65. He was booked in the Brevard County Jail on a $30,000 bond.

Sheriff Wayne Ivey said the suspect "got an enhanced charge for hitting someone over the age of 65 who ended up whooping his punk butt!"

Ivey added, "As we like to say here in Brevard County, 'Mess Around and Find Out!'"

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Florida man in critical condition after 'severe' shark attack on a boat, deputy who saved victim said to be a hero



A Florida man is in critical condition after a shark attack on the east coast of the Sunshine State.

Around 11:15 a.m. on Friday, the Nassau County Sheriff's Office Marine Unit responded to a distress call from a boat reporting a shark bite that caused a "critical injury." The boat was off the coast of Fernandina Beach – which is roughly 35 miles north of Jacksonville.

The Nassau County Sheriff’s Office posted a video on Facebook revealing the details of the attack and how the deputy saved the man.

The man was on a fishing trip and had been bitten by the shark on the boat.

The man, who was said to be in his 40s, suffered a "severe" shark bite to his right forearm and had "lost a lot of blood."

A Nassau County Sheriff’s Office deputy boarded the boat and applied a tourniquet to stop the heavy bleeding.

The Nassau County Sheriff’s Office said the deputy piloted the boat to the Dee Dee Bartels boat ramp – where Fernandina Beach Fire Rescue was waiting.

The victim was immediately airlifted to the nearby UF Health Jacksonville Medical Center.

The shark attack victim is currently listed in critical condition. The man is said to have been alert and expected to recover.

Sheriff Bill Leeper of the Nassau County Sheriff's Office called the deputy a "hero" for the quick-thinking assistance that he provided to the distressed victim.

There had only been eight confirmed shark attacks in Nassau County since 1882, according to the Florida Museum of Natural History’s International Shark Attack File.

Nassau County is approximately 150 miles north of Volusia County, which is considered to be the "shark bite capital of the world."

There have been 351 confirmed shark attacks in Volusia County since 1882, including 17 bites in 2021.

There were 16 shark attacks in the state of Florida last year, or 44% of all of the attacks in the entire United States and 23% of the worldwide total.

In June, there were three swimmers who were attacked by sharks in two different incidents in the Gulf Coast of Florida.

One woman had to have her arm amputated and suffered "critical injuries" to her hip in the shark attack that happened in Walton County – which is located in Florida's northwest panhandle.

On the same day, two teenage girls were victims of a shark attack near Seacrest Beach, about four miles further east of the first attack.

One of the girls suffered "significant injuries to the upper leg and one hand," while the other endured minor injuries on one of her feet, according to officials.

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Oregon woman, 24, killed in freak boating accident, family blames 'reckless' driver for her death: 'No simple accident'



A young Oregon woman died after a crazy freak accident while boating, according to officials.

The odd news emerged just before 8 p.m. on June 22 that a young woman had been severely injured in a boating accident.

Kaileigh Seidel – who was riding on an inflatable device towed by boat – reportedly begged the driver of the boat to slow down. The boat driver allegedly continued to drive the vessel in a zig-zagging motion despite her requests to be more careful.

During the boating adventure, there was reportedly a tubing accident near the Hawthorne Bridge on the Willamette River in Oregon.

The victim was allegedly flung into another boat, according to witnesses.

"The driver who was driving very fast and recklessly, he just drove her into another boat. She hit the boat, and she died immediately, to my knowledge," said Aliyah Seidel – Kaileigh’s younger sister.

The Multnomah County Sheriff's Office informed Fox News that a 911 caller "reported that they had witnessed a woman getting struck by another boat."

The sheriff's office stated, "The woman was transported to a local hospital, but was pronounced dead after she arrived."

Seidel was rushed to the local hospital after being pulled from the water, but the family told KGW that she most likely died at the scene.

"She was so innocent and taken so violently because of someone else’s decision to be reckless. We definitely feel her not being here. It’s a hole in all of our hearts, it’s so quiet," Aliyah Seidel –Kaileigh's sister – told FOX 12'

Kaileigh's aunt, Rachelle Hunsperger, said, "That just seems so unlike her. She was always like, ‘Let’s go, let’s have fun.’ If she was telling somebody to slow down then she was probably scared. This was no simple accident. I feel that there is somebody definitely at fault and hopefully that comes out."

Aliyah added, "She had a beautiful smile, and she just touched so many lives."

A GoFundMe fundraising campaign had raised over $45,000 by Sunday morning.

The Multnomah County Sheriff’s Office River Patrol unit is currently investigating Kaileigh's sudden death.

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