City councilman at public meeting dares foes to 'make me step down' after drunk driving charge: 'l love a good f**king fight'



A Highland Park, Michigan, city councilman threw down in a big way during a public meeting Tuesday night, issuing four-letter words during a two-minute rant and daring his foes to "make me step down" following a drunk driving charge against him earlier this month.

Khursheed Ash-Shafii was arrested April 7 after refusing to take a breathalyzer test at the scene of a crash he was involved in, WJBK-TV reported, adding that officers suspected he had been drunk while driving.

'I don't give two s**ts if a person likes me or doesn't like me.'

When police arrived, Ash-Shafii told officers he didn't have vehicle insurance or registration, the station said, adding that bodycam video shows officers telling Ash-Shafii that if he refuses to take the breathalyzer test, a $200 civil infraction will result.

A police report notes that officers smelled alcohol before finding an open bottle of liquor in Ash-Shafii's vehicle, WJBK said, and that he became aggressive toward police while being taken to a hospital. He later complied with officer's orders and was taken to the Highland Park jail.

Ash-Shafii faces four charges: resisting an officer, obstructing police, operating while under the influence of alcohol, and driving with a suspended license, the station said.

During Tuesday's council meeting, a resident criticized Ash-Shafii over an interview in which he defended calling police officers "white Nazis" during an incident separate from his drunk driving arrest.

"I feel as what Khursheed did was very impolite and rude, and I think he needs to apologize and step down," the resident said, according to WXYZ-TV.

When it was Ash-Shafii's turn to speak at the council meeting, he went on a rant.

"In case you don't recognize who I am, in case you don't see the rage behind the face that you're looking at here, you want me to move? You want me to step down? Make me step down," he began angrily with a voice that growled at times.

"I'm not here for a popularity contest," he added. "I don't give two s**ts if a person likes me or doesn't like me."

He continued, "Now granted, the news hasn't been pretty. But anybody who can't see this for the setup that it is, is a flipping idiot."

Ash-Shafii added that "anybody who got a problem with me, tough. You want me to move, come move me. I'm sitting right here. And I'm gonna be here until my term is up or until the Lord calls me back, one of the two. So anybody that don't like Khursheed Ash-Shafii, that's just tough titties for you. Deal with it."

He concluded by saying that "you know they didn't do nothing but pour gasoline on an already enraged inferno. Revenge is a dish best served cold, and I love a good f**king fight. So pardon my language, and you all have a good evening."

You can view video reports here and here showing Ash-Shafii's arrest, as well as parts of his city council rant. You can watch his entire rant here.

Highland Park Mayor Glenda McDonald released the following statement to WXYZ:

"I do not condone the behavior demonstrated by Councilman Ash-Shafii. The language he used is unacceptable for any elected official and reflects a lack of professionalism and respect — both for the audience and for fellow members of the Council. There are always more constructive and appropriate ways to express disagreement or convey a point. Regarding his use of the word 'revenge,' I am unclear on who or what he was referring to. However, suggesting or threatening revenge in any context is entirely inappropriate for someone in public office."

In regard to Ash-Shafii's "white Nazis" statement, WXYZ said it was caught on police bodycam video during a March 10 argument with officers at the corner of Oakman Boulevard and Hamilton Avenue.

Police were in the area to ask a bar employee about a child found wandering nearby, WXYZ reported, adding that Ash-Shafii said he got a call to make sure citizens were treated fairly.

Last week, Ash-Shafii defended his "white Nazis" comment to WXYZ and said, "I stand by that statement."

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Illinois Gov. J.B. Pritzker says he does not think America's founders 'would've said that you have a Constitutional right to an assault weapon with a high-capacity magazine'



In the wake of a deadly mass shooting in Highland Park, Illinois, on Monday, Gov. J.B. Pritzker, a Democrat, said that he does not believe America's Founding Fathers would have said that citizens have a Constitutional right to own an assault weapon.

"A day dedicated to freedom has put into stark relief the one freedom we as a nation refuse to uphold: The freedom of our fellow citizens to live without the daily fear of gun violence," Pritzker said.

"Our founders carried muskets, not assault weapons. And I don't think a single one of them would've said that you have a Constitutional right to an assault weapon with a high-capacity magazine, or that that is more important than the right of the people who attended this parade today to live," he declared.

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So far, seven of the shooting victims have died. Many others were injured during the heinous attack. A 21-year-old man has been charged with seven counts of first-degree murder.

While Americans on both sides of the political aisle want to address the problem of mass shootings in the U.S., leftists continue to push gun control as a way to tackle the issue, while conservatives contend that gun control measures would infringe on the constitutionally guaranteed right to keep and bear arms.

The text of the Second Amendment reads, "A well regulated Militia, being necessary to the security of a free State, the right of the people to keep and bear Arms, shall not be infringed."

Democratic Rep. Eric Swalwell of California has tweeted, "We cannot stop working until we ban and buy-back assault weapons, require background checks, and have red flag laws."

Swalwell has claimed that GOP lawmakers "keep voting against our kids and voting for their killers."

\u201cI\u2019m so happy you\u2019re alive. I\u2019m so sorry this happened. I\u2019ll do more to stop this from happening again. But I know it will. We cannot stop working until we ban and buy-back assault weapons, require background checks, and have red flag laws. We have to change America, Lilli.\u201d
— Rep. Eric Swalwell (@Rep. Eric Swalwell) 1656992363

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Authorities release photos of 'armed and dangerous' person of interest in deadly Highland Park mass shooting, first victim identified, videos show chaotic scene



Six people were murdered and at least 31 were injured in the mass shooting that occurred during a July 4th parade in Highland Park, Illinois.

Videos have surfaced from the deadly mass shooting in Highland Park.

\u201cNOW - Multiple people shot at July 4th parade in Highland Park, IL.\n\nhttps://t.co/uJMkG2UhYF\u201d
— Disclose.tv (@Disclose.tv) 1656950373
\u201cMy video.. I was at #Highland Park parade.. Terrified people fleeing July 4th parade when shooting started.\u201d
— Lynn Sweet (@Lynn Sweet) 1656951524
\u201cA Lake County police officer walks through chairs and bikes left behind on the Central Avenue parade route sidewalk near the scene of the Highland Park mass shooting. \n\n\u2018It was chaotic,\u2019 reports of 6 dead, 2 dozen others shot during Fourth of July parade https://t.co/kWBnLbO2nS\u201d
— Brian Cassella (@Brian Cassella) 1656958964

Highland Park Police Cmdr. Chris O'Neill said, "The suspect is currently described as a male white, approximately 18 to 20 years old, with longer black hair, a small build, and wearing a white or blue t-shirt."

The FBI named a person of interest in the Highland Park shooting. Authorities named 22-year-old Robert “Bobby” Crimo III as a person of interest. He is said to be driving a Silver Honda Fit with the license plate "DM80653." Crimo is considered "armed and dangerous."

\u201cBREAKING: A 22-year-old \u201cperson of interest has been identified\u201d following mass shooting in Highland Park, Illinois, authorities say. https://t.co/K27Tjyz28I\u201d
— ABC News (@ABC News) 1656971933
\u201cFBI wanted poster:\u201d
— Brian Entin (@Brian Entin) 1656974653


\u201cBREAKING: Robert "Bobby" Crimo III has been identified as the person of interest in the deadly mass shooting in Highland Park, Illinois (near Chicago). Six were killed & dozens injured at the July 4th holiday parade massacre. #HighlandPark\u201d
— Andy Ng\u00f4 \ud83c\udff3\ufe0f\u200d\ud83c\udf08 (@Andy Ng\u00f4 \ud83c\udff3\ufe0f\u200d\ud83c\udf08) 1656974491


\u201c\u201cPolice identify person of interest in Highland Park parade shooting as Robert "Bobby" E Crimo, III. 22 years old. Believed to be driving a 2010 Silver Honda Fit, Illinois license plate DM80653\u201d\n\nInstagram has already been \u201cseized\u201d\n\nYoutube: https://t.co/lImXHUwCeK\u201d
— Shane B. Murphy (@Shane B. Murphy) 1656972533

Crimo is also known as "Awake the Rapper," according to Fox News.

IMDb describes Crimo as "an American rapper, singer, songwriter, actor and director from Chicago, IL. The hip hop phenom is mostly known for his hit song 'On My Mind' which was released on October 8, 2018. The track has amassed millions of plays so far across online streaming platforms."

The IMDb listing states that Crimo was born on Sept. 20, 2000.

Sgt. Christopher Covelli – from the Lake County Major Crime Task Force – said law enforcement recovered a rifle from the crime scene of the Fourth of July shooting. Covelli noted that the shooter appears to have been "shooting from a roof."

Covelli said Crimo is “from the area” of Chicago’s northern suburbs.

The ages of the victims ranged from eight to 85.

One of the alleged victims is Nicolas Toledo – who was reportedly 79 years old.

"We are all feeling pretty numb. We're all pretty broken inside," Toledo's granddaughter told WBBM-TV.

\u201cThe family of Nicolas Toledo tells me he was one of the people shot and killed at the Highland Park 4th of July Parade. \u201cWe are all feeling pretty numb. We\u2019re all pretty broken inside,\u201d his granddaughter said. She shared these photos with @cbschicago\u201d
— Tim McNicholas (@Tim McNicholas) 1656964299

The FBI asked for assistance from the public, "If you have any images or video related to the shooting that occurred at the Highland Park Fourth of July parade in Illinois, please submit them to http://fbi.gov/highlandpark."