'Abandoned by the Biden administration': Rep. Cory Mills rescues 10 Americans from nightmare in Haiti



The days Rep. Cory Mills (R-Fla.) served with the Army's 82 Airborne Division and as a defense contractor may be behind him, but he's not letting his corresponding skill set go to waste. The Florida Republican took part in a Monday night rescue of a group of Americans trapped in Haiti, the rudderless Caribbean nation presently in the grips of cannibalistic gangs.

"I am proud to report that my team and I were successful in evacuating and rescuing a trapped, and at risk group of Americans from 'Have Faith Orphanage' in Haiti last night," Mills noted on X.

What's the background?

Haiti was already in rough shape before gangs started torching police stations, massacring civilians, and eating human flesh in broad daylight late last month. After all, the country's president was assassinated in 2021, and criminal elements have since taken full advantage of the resultant power vacuum.

In recent weeks, armed gangs have lain waste to the nation's capital, Port au Prince, and besieged the international airport. They've also taken control of the port and freed well over 4,000 convicts from the country's two biggest prisons, reported the Independent.

Haitian Prime Minister Ariel Henry traveled to Kenya in late February to beg for a United Nations-backed security force to stabilize his country. He has since announced he's throwing in the towel and resigning his post, as demanded by Haiti's terroristic gangs.

The State Department has advised Americans to get off the island, but that's now all but impossible.

State Department spokesman Matthew Miller reportedly said Monday that Americans unable to leave Haiti should register through the department's crisis intake form on the embassy's website.

The U.S. Embassy in Port au Prince states on its website that it "is not able to facilitate air travel for private citizens."

Mitch Albom, founder of a Haitian orphanage, told WDIV-TV, "There's no planes, no boats, there's no way out, and everything has been shut down by the gangs."

ABC News indicated that the land crossing into the Dominican Republic is similarly a no-go as the route is dominated by gangs.

Not waiting on Biden

Michigan Rep. Lisa McClain (R) told WDIV that she heard about Mitch Albom's troubles getting out of Haiti and reached out to him. Having elsewhere expressed doubt that the Biden administration was up the challenge, McClain reached out to Rep. Cory Mills.

"I said, 'I need your help. My constituents need your help,'" McClain reportedly told Mills.

Sure enough, Mills agreed to lead the rescue mission into the gang-ravaged island.

The Detroit News reported that the Florida Republican put together a crew and secured a helicopter and pilot in the Dominican Republic. After a first attempt was grounded by mechanical issues, Mills secured another chopper, then flew into Haiti, successfully evacuating Albom and nine others.

The 10 evacuees, eight of whom are from Michigan, were safely escorted to the Dominican Republic around 3:30 a.m. Tuesday.

Albom expressed gratitude for the rescue, noting in a statement, "A group of us from Have Faith Haiti, including my wife and myself, were evacuated overnight from Haiti, where we had been sheltering in place since a state of emergency was declared."

"I had a responsibility to bring home 8 wonderful volunteers who were working with us," continued Albom. "But my wife's and my hearts ache for our kids still there. Saying goodbye to them was horribly difficult. We pray for help in making their country safe for them again, and we will be back with them the moment it is possible."

There are apparently 60 children and 40 staff at the orphanage.

McClain announced at an Armed Services Committee Hearing this week, "Last night, I coordinated with Congressman Cory Mills to rescue several Americans trapped in Port Au Prince."

"Congressman Mills actually participated in the rescue of those Americans abandoned by the Biden administration and the State Department," added McClain.

— (@)

Mills noted on X, "This recent mission reiterates a disturbing reality that under President Biden's leadership American lives are continually jeopardized. I have conducted rescue/ evacs of Americans multiple times when Joe Biden has deserted them. There's a clear pattern of abandonment!"

"Americans at home and abroad are more unsafe under Biden than ever before," continued Mills. "We need President Trump back in the White House as the world can't afford 4 more years of Biden's failed administration."

I am proud to report that my team and I were successful in evacuating and rescuing a trapped, and at risk group of Americans from \u2018Have Faith Orphanage\u2019 in Haiti last night.\n\nThis recent mission reiterates a disturbing reality that under President Biden\u2019s leadership American\u2026
— (@)

Mills has a history of stepping in to help stranded Americans ostensibly left behind by the Biden administration.

Amid the Biden administration's botched 2021 withdrawal from Afghanistan, Mills — then a congressional candidate — reportedly helped another group of Americans get home safely.

Last year, the decorated combat veteran helped rescue scores of Americans who were left stranded in Israel following the Oct. 7 Hamas terror attacks, including a son of Rep. Bill Huizenga (R-Mich.).

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WATCH: Footage captures the exact moment Kansas City parade shooter was caught



Despite what you might think, “there are good people out there,” says Dave Rubin.

Thankfully, there was more than one Good Samaritan attending the Kansas City Chiefs Super Bowl parade. When more than one shooter opened fire on the crowd, resulting in one death and over twenty injuries, a couple of attendees took it upon themselves to detain one of the perpetrators.

Dave plays the footage of the exact moment bystanders tackled one of the shooters.

One of the main civilians involved in the gunman’s takedown was Paul Contreras, whom Dave calls “a true American hero.”

When interviewed, Contreras said that he “didn’t think about it” and just reacted.

“As I'm tackling him, I see his weapon either fall out of his hand or out of his sleeve,” he said. That’s when he knew he had “to take this guy down.”

“Just a good man who saw something and did something,” says Dave.

Unfortunately, “the media and the Democrats and everybody else will say, ‘We need to get rid of guns … we need more gun laws,’” he says.

To see the footage, watch the clip below.


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Christian students work with airman to save mother and children pinned under car: 'Oh, thank God, the kids are good'



A mother and her two children were run over by a car in the parking lot of a Christian school in Layton, Utah, last week. Between the initial trauma and the weight of the vehicle pinning them to the asphalt, the Ponson family was facing the possibility of a Christmastime tragedy; however, such was evidently not meant to be.

Nearby, there was an airman from Hill Air Force Base and dozens of capable kids, all ready to help.

"It's a miracle," Chris Crowder, associate pastor and CEO of the school, told KSL-TV. "We have just seen God do so many things here, and this is one of them."

The incident occurred just before 4 p.m. on Dec. 5 in the parking lot outside Layton Christian Academy and Christian Life Center. Bridgette Ponson was walking with her 2-year-old son, Archer, and her 3-year-old daughter, Brightly, when a driver headed west ran them over.

Police suggested it was likely an accident, indicating that the driver may have been unable to see the victims on account of the sun, reported KTSU-TV.

While the little girl was able to wriggle free, her mother and brother remained pinned under the vehicle.

Crowder indicated he summoned students inside the school to help the mother and child.

"I didn't really know what was going on," said Crowder. "I looked across the parking lot and noticed the car and they were screaming, and so I ran over there and I look under the car and I see mom and child underneath the car pinned. ... I immediately just ran into the building because I knew I had to get a lot of people to lift this car."

Around twenty kids answered the call to action.

Surveillance footage shows kids rushing out and attempting to lift the vehicle.

— (@)

"I walked out, there was a lot of commotion going on and people were just telling me to help and I just dropped my stuff and ran over," student Theophious Roach told KTSU.

Senior Airman Dominique Childress was picking up his children from the school when his son's kindergarten teacher alerted him to the commotion outside. Childress immediately bolted over and provided the rescue effort with some seasoned brawn.

"I noticed legs come out and I was like, 'Oh, my gosh, there's an actual child under this car,' so I was like, 'Hey, guys, switch it up, let's get the car high enough so we can get the kid out,'" Childress recalled. "Somebody came, pulled the kid out and mom was able to get out 15 seconds later."

One of the student rescuers, Junior Saripsat, said, "We did our best, and the moment I heard the kids crying I was like, 'Oh, thank God, the kids are good."

Archer Ponson was airlifted to Primary Children's Hospital. His mother and sister were taken to a hospital by ambulance.

KSL indicated the mother, who is said to have been protecting her little boy in her arms, had to have multiple surgeries. Her children, however, suffered no broken bones. All three are expected to recover.

A GoFundMe campaign set up on the family's behalf to help the Ponsons cover their medical expenses has nearly hit its $35,000 goal.

Crowder said, "The kids were heroes, as well as the gentleman that was there and pulled them out."

Layton Christian Academy stated, "We are so proud of the LCA student body. They leaped into action to save the lives of a mom and her two kids who were pinned under a car. Proud of you all."

The father of the children, Andrew Ponson, met with the students who saved his family Monday. The heroic kids were also surprised at school by members of the Utah Jazz, who gave them tickets to the Dec. 30 home game versus the Miami Heat, reported KTSU.

Childress, who similarly received tickets to the game as thanks for his hand in the rescue operation, stressed that the students "are the purest form of the word hero."

Layton Christian Academy notes on its mission and values page, "We instill a spirit of service and compassion in our students, encouraging them to use their talents and resources to make a difference in the lives off others." Mission accomplished.

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Video shows NYPD officer break into tears after talking man off ledge: 'Come back brother, come back'



A suicidal man had a good view of the sunset over the Hudson River from his perch on the side of a Manhattan overpass earlier this month. It would likely have been the last thing he'd ever see — apart from the pavement below — were it not for New York Police Department officers Carl Fayette and Eleodor Mata.

The NYPD released body camera footage this week showing the officers' dramatic intervention on Oct. 5 along with their subsequent efforts to process this victory over death, noting, "Police Officers frequently interact with people having the worst day of their lives."

In the video, a distraught man can be seen leaning over the edge of a raised portion of Riverside Drive in Manhattanville near West 130th Street, several stories above the ground below and partitioned from officers by a railing and a fence.

Fayette calmly told him, "I've been in your shoes man. I've been in your shoes man, right. It's not worth it, right. ... There is solutions. There is a way to actually get out of this situation."

"I believe that you're a good man. You're a good man," continued Fayette. "And I promise you, brother. I promise you: We will do anything in our power to help you. Please, listen to me. I've been in your shoes, brother."

"I care about you and I care about your life," added the officer. "Life is beautiful. The sun is beautiful. ... Don't give up on me, brother."

Mata repeatedly reinforced Fayette's words of support, saying, "There's plenty of resources out here for you. ... We're here for you. Everybody's here for you. We're gonna help you. You are stronger than this, like Carl told you many times. You are. You can defeat this with our help. Just come back brother, come back."

The officers carried on with their impassioned pleas for nearly 40 minutes until harnessed Emergency Service Unit officers were finally able to rescue the man.

After the ESU secured the prospective jumper, Fayette retreated into the road, audibly overwhelmed by the incident. He took a knee and sobbed, ostensibly shedding happy tears in the company of fellow officers.

The 26th Precinct said in a statement on Meta, "Both officers demonstrated great compassion and care while keeping the male engaged, allowing ESU Officers an opportunity grab the man & bring him to safety."

On X, the precinct noted the officers had spoken to the suicidal man with "genuine empathy."

Police Officers Fayette and Mata responded to a suicidal male who wanted to jump from an overpass. \n\nThey spoke to the man with genuine empathy to let him know they cared and that help was available, & with the assistance of our @NYPDSpecialops, they got him help.\n\nAmazing work!
— NYPD 26th Precinct (@NYPD 26th Precinct) 1697062013

The 988 Suicide and Crisis Lifeline is a free, confidential help line available across the United States. It is offered in hundreds of languages and can be utilized via phone, text or chat. Those in need just have to dial or text 988.

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Off-duty Florida firefighter on way to son's soccer practice saves deputy from fiery wreck: 'This is what we do'



An off-duty Florida firefighter may have been late in getting his son to soccer practice Saturday morning, but he was right on time when it came to saving the life of a 33-year-old Seminole County deputy.

The Seminole County Sheriff's Office indicated that Deputy Matthew Luxon suffered a medical emergency around 10:30 a.m. near Orange Boulevard and Wayside Drive in Sanford, Florida, where he then crashed into a concrete pillar.

The medical incident and the resultant crash may have been the beginning of Luxon's problems, but they certainly weren't the last. His patrol car caught fire and quickly became an inferno.

Lt. Benjamin Wootson of the Orlando Fire Department happened to be in the neighborhood, rushing his son to soccer practice.

The off-duty firefighter told WFTV, "We were running late getting to my son’s soccer practice. ... Typically, we try to get there 30, 45 minutes early so they can do the warm-up. My son was dragging his feet, taking his time. As we were turning left onto Orange, I noticed a patrol car coming toward us."

Wootson noted he has a "habit of always looking in my mirrors."

Sure enough, when he checked his rearview, he saw Luxon's patrol vehicle hammer the overpass support.

"I immediately pulled a U-turn at the next intersection and rushed back," said Wootson. "By the time i got on scene, there was a little bit of flames on the underneath of the vehicle, the engine compartment was already on fire."

Wootson told WOFL-TV, "As I was pulling him out there were probably two golf ball-size flames where his legs were."

Wootson managed to get the disoriented deputy out of his seatbelt and ultimately out of the blaze. No sooner had the firefighter disentangled Luxon from the wreck than the patrol vehicle burst into flames, along with the ammunition in the trunk.

As bullets sounded off and the fire burned, Wootson used the deputy's radio to call for "an officer down scenario."

While he tended to Luxon, Wootson's neighbor arrived on the scene to tend to the firefighter's son. Another onlooker moved the firefighter's car to get clear of the heated display.

Image composites consists of Seminole County Sheriff's Office photos

The SCSO indicated that Luxon was taken to a local hospital where he underwent successful surgeries and was stabilized.

According to WFTV, the deputy is still in the hospital.

Sheriff Dennis Lemma said in a statement Sunday, "Matt had successful surgeries into the late hours on Saturday but make no mistake; he has a long road to recovery ahead of him. The support of our Seminole County, and the greater Central Florida community, will help Matt pull through now and into the immediate future."

One of Luxon's coworkers started a fundraiser for the injured deputy and his family, which has already secured in excess of $22,000.

As for Wootson's heroics, Sheriff Lemma said, "I also spoke with Orlando Fire Department Lieutenant Benjamin Wootson, who heroically rescued Matt from his patrol unit moments after his crash and just before the unit caught fire. Lt. Wootson, who was off duty and also very kind when we spoke, simply reminded me that 'this is what we do.'"

Lemma added, "I thank God that he was there at that time, and I expressed my gratitude and shared commendation to OFD Chief Charlie Salazar as well."

Wootson reckons his delay and his son's apparent tardiness Saturday morning were providential: "God put me in a place where [my son and I] were running late on purpose. I was in the right place at the right time to save an individual."

The firefighter emphasized to WESH-TV, "If you're ever in a circumstance and you see something, don't just sit back and watch. Get out, do what's right, make a change because those little things could be a long impact lasting, it could be generational changes."

Off-duty firefighter saves Seminole County deputy from burning car youtu.be

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Walmart employee hailed as hero after saving wounded woman from deranged shooter who returned to finish the job



Another Walmart became the scene of a grisly shooting on Thursday in Evansville, Indiana. Things might have turned out a whole lot worse had it not been for the apparent bravery of one employee, said to have rescued a wounded woman from certain death.

An execution foiled by stealthy heroism

The Associated Press reported that 25-year-old Ronald Ray Mosley II stormed the breakroom of a Walmart off Red Bank Road just before 10 p.m..

Although there were roughly 40 employees and 40 shoppers in the Walmart at the time, Mosley reportedly had a particular target in mind: 28-year-old Amber Cook.

Cook's mother Jenny Couch told WFIE-TV that the gunman targeted her daughter because he was in love with her boyfriend. According to Couch, the alleged gay obsessive couldn't handle having his affections unreciprocated.

"He kept sending my daughter messages, anonymous, everything. He kept calling her, telling her that he was going to kill her, that he watched her walk her dog," said Couch.

The Evansville Police Department said that Mosley previously worked for Walmart and had been arrested in May for multiple counts of battery charges against fellow employees. He was subsequently fired and those who who had been subjected to his violent outbursts were awarded restraining orders.

The EPD noted, "Based on the information at hand, we believe that Mosley was targeting employees at this particular Wal-Mart store."

Mosley reportedly busted into the breakroom where employees had gathered for a meeting, armed with a handgun. According to police, he ordered all of the employees to stand against the back wall, and told Cook and a male employee to remain in the center of the room.

During the execution preamble, an employee named Heather managed to escape unseen.

According to the EPD, Mosley then shot Cook in the face. The male singled out for execution was, however, able to bolt out of the room. Mosley reportedly gave chase.

Before the suspect could inflict more harm, police arrived on the scene, drawing the gunman's attention away from his would-be victim.

Mosley reportedly took aim at police police, firing multiple shots on multiple occasions inside the store.

While the gunman and police exchanged shots, Cook lay bloodied and alone in the breakroom, after all of the other employees ran for their lives — all but one.

The crackle of gunshots and the threat of death apparently did not dissuade Heather from returning to the breakroom.

Heather rendered aid to the wounded woman and took her into an adjacent room.

The EPD noted that Mosley returned to the breakroom "looking for the female victim but did not find her."

The gunman attempted to flee via the parking lot, but was confronted by police outside, whom he shot at before retreating back into the building. Back inside the store, he resumed firing at officers, but was bested.

Police have released some bodycam footage of the gun battle:

RAW: Police bodycam from Walmart shooting in Evansville youtu.be

Officers fired back, dropping the suspect. Mosley was pronounced dead at the scene, 12 minutes after the first 911 call was made and four minutes after police made their entrance.

The female victim survived the ordeal and was taken by helicopter to a hospital in Indianapolis in stable condition.

Cook's mother told WFIE, "For a few days they’re not going to be able to do anything. They’re going to see if the swelling and stuff goes down some, and then they’re going to talk about the surgeries she’s going to need."

Heroic Heather

Evansville Police Chief Billy Bolin said during a press conference, "I have no doubt that he was going back to finish what he started and we would probably have a dead victim today instead of one that’s alive."

Bolin noted that Heather had called 911, took the victim into another room, locked the door, turned off the lights, and hid behind some equipment.

The police chief said Heather was an "absolute hero" on account of her quick thinking and selfless actions, as were the law enforcement officers who rushed into the building to restore order.

"I don’t throw the hero term around. Just wearing the badge or the uniform don’t make you a hero. But, when there’s an active shooter trying to kill people and you go running in, and you risk your life, that’s what we go in means," said the chief.

"I watched a lot of video [of the incident] last night and everything I saw made me proud of the Evansville Police Department [and the] Vanderburgh County Sheriff's Office," said Bolin. "You see things from across the country that aren't so heroic. Everything I saw here was exactly what we would want out of a professional police force."

According to the EPD, officers "had to clear over 200,000 square feet while they were searching for Mosley and victims even during times when they were taking on gunfire."

Gunman killed by police after shooting in Indiana Walmart youtu.be

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Scary video: Raccoon attacks young girl on doorstep — then victim's 'very heroic' mother turns into 'momma bear' just in time



An outdoor video camera captured the scary moment when a raccoon attacked a young Connecticut girl last week — after which the girl's mother turned into "momma bear" just in a nick of time and saved the day.

What are the details?

The raccoon latched itself onto the girl's leg at 7:45 a.m. Friday just outside the front door of her family's home in Ashford, WTIC-TV reported.

Naturally, the girl began screaming and tried in vain to kick the animal off her leg.

Within seconds, the girl's mother ran outside and grabbed the raccoon by the neck, the station said.

"Go inside! Go inside!" the mom yelled to her child as she held her daughter off the ground with her left arm against her left leg while holding the raccoon at bay with her right hand.

Soon the girl got inside the house, and the mom — on her second try — managed to toss the now-squealing raccoon into the front yard, after which it scampered away.

Raccoon attacks girl in Connecticut, mom flings it away | Caught on camera youtu.be

The station said the mother posted a video of the ordeal to Facebook later that morning, noting her girl wanted to "show everyone what the raccoon did," WTIC said.

"I can’t tell you how proud I am of this brave girl!" the mother said of her daughter, the station added.

An update to the Facebook post indicated the mom and daughter both got rabies shots following the raccoon's "unprovoked" attack, WTIC reported.

'Very heroic'

"The mother behaved in a way that was very heroic," Geoff Krukar, a wildlife biologist for the Department of Energy and Environmental Protection, told the station. "I think she did everything correctly by avoiding getting bit and warning the neighbor to stay back and getting the child to safety."

Krukar added to WTIC that the raccoon appeared to be sick.

He also told the station that if folks see the nocturnal animal during the day, that doesn't necessarily mean it has rabies — instead it's the animal's behavior that matters.

"If they see a raccoon that is acting abnormally, that could be frothing at the mouth, pursuing them, getting in close proximity, they should definitely report that to the authorities," Krukar recommended to WTIC.

Ashford Animal Control added to the station that the raccoon in question hadn't been captured.

Minnesota mother asks police if they saved her four toddlers from a carjacker who had driven away with them. No, 'your husband did.'



A car thief snuck into a Minnesota couple's truck and sped off on Wednesday night. The carjacking might have been a success had the suspect not also taken off with the couple's four kids, still inside the car. Thanks to the father's quick thinking and heavy foot, the suspect didn't make it too far.

Not waiting for the cavalry

Around 8:40 p.m. on Nov. 30, Derek and Deanah Gotchie parked their GMC Yukon near a residence on the 800 block of Russell Avenue North in Minneapolis. Inside the vehicle were the couple's four children, all under the age of five.

KSTP reported that Deanah Gotchie had been unloading items from the family's vehicle and dropping them off at her friend's house. Her husband, Derek Gotchie, had quickly stepped out of the vehicle to close the back door.

With both parents temporarily out of the vehicle, a suspect seized on the opportunity, climbed into the truck, and drove off with couple's children still inside.

"I turn around, and I'm like, 'What?'" Derek Gotchie of Deer River told KSTP.

Derek said he looked out the door "and I see our tail lights leaving."

In addition to seeing the suspect drive off with his toddlers, Derek Gotchie spotted the suspect's abandoned van, which police later determined to have similarly been stolen. Since the van was still running, Derek Gotchie figured he could still run down the suspect.

"I'm jumping in there, I'm going after my kids," said Derek Gotchie.

The father did just that: He got into the van and put the pedal to the metal.

Come to Daddy

Derek Gotchie barreled after the stolen GMC Yukon while his children reportedly pleaded for the suspect to slow down.

The father gained on the suspect just blocks away, near the intersection of Plymouth Avenue N and Penn Avenue N. That's where Derek Gotchie saw his way to bringing the chase to an end.

Gotchie told KSTP that he "hit the back of my truck and pushed [the suspect] into this alleyway to pin him against this fence."

It may not have been a textbook PIT maneuver, but what the father did worked. The family's truck was brought to a stop.

Rather than suffer a father's righteous fury, the suspect bailed and fled on foot.

While the family truck's rear bumper was damaged, the Gotchie children were uninjured.

KARE reported that EMS personnel soon arrived on the scene. Forensic scientists with the Minneapolis Police Forensic Division similarly turned up to collect evidence.

When Deanah Gotchie arrived and was reunited with her terrified babies, she reportedly asked a police officer, "Did you find them?"

The officer responded, "Your husband did."

The mother told KSTP that although initially taken aback, after hearing the full story, she was "not surprised at all."

"I'm like, 'Yup, that sounds like my husband,'" she said.

No arrests have been made. Fox News Digital indicated that the Minneapolis Police Department is still investigating the incident.

Minneapolis, run by Democrat Mayor Jacob Frey, has a score of 2 on Neighborhood Scout's crime index, with 100 being the top score. The chances of becoming a victim of a violent crime in the city are 1 in 84.

According to the city's crime dashboard, there have been 5,656 motor vehicle thefts in 2022, 1,836 more than last year.