Year: 2024

The NYPD’s Sergeants Benevolent Association (SBA) sent a damning letter calling out far-left Democratic leaders in New York City for their anti-police and soft-on-crime policies and telling them to stay away from the funeral of slain Officer Jonathan Diller.

The 31-year-old father died Monday after a violent ex-con with 21 prior arrests allegedly shot him in the stomach when police approached the car where the suspect was sitting in the passenger seat.

“I’m sure that many elected officials will attend PO Diller’s funeral, shed a few crocodile tears, and prominently seat themselves for a good photo opportunity,” SBA President Vincent Vallelong wrote in a letter to union members. “The sad reality is we don’t want them there.”

Law enforcement sources told Fox News Digital that a number of NYPD officers who were planning to attend Diller’s memorial services have been called into work for President Biden’s security detail for a fundraiser at Radio City Music Hall with former Presidents Bill Clinton and Barack Obama.

Former President Trump, on the other hand, did attend Diller’s wake Thursday afternoon, calling for an end to soft-on-crime policies afterward.

“The Diller family will never be the same – you can never be the same,” Trump said outside the funeral home. “And we have to stop it. We have to get back to law and order.”

Vallelong said he found it infuriating to see city politicians who have supported movements to “defund” police and let criminals out of jail posting politically motivated condolences on social media.

“Their presence is more than a distraction,” Vallelong continued. “It is a stain on the legacy of a true hero who made the ultimate sacrifice, as well as the scores of dedicated and committed public servants who will carry on his mission despite their constant criticism, cynicism, negativity, and frivolous accusations.”

In an interview with the New York Post, the union leader took it a step further and called out City Council Speaker Adrienne Adams and Public Advocate Jumaane Williams by name.

“They detest cops and have no appreciation for what they do,” he told the paper. “They should stay home and not pretend they are grieving.”

When Williams wrote on X about Diller’s death earlier this week, many of the replies contained harsh criticism.

“I like how this post doesn’t address the need to get criminals off our streets,” one user

Williams, a former City Council member who was elected the city’s public advocate in 2019, has previously described himself as a democratic socialist and in 2020 argued that $1 billion in NYPD budget cuts wouldn’t go far enough to “defund” the police.

Adams in January helped override a veto from Mayor Eric Adams, no relation, for a bill that requires police officers to perform increased paperwork after encounters with the public.

“Despite their admonitions to the contrary, the ‘leadership’ in the Council has failed city residents, workers, and visitors at every turn,” Vallelong wrote. “They are blinded by their own hatred and twisted ideology.”

Without naming names, Vallelong’s letter also accused “many prosecutors” of being also to blame for “this utter destruction of civilized society in New York.”

“They would rather see the city burn and countless lives lost rather than correct their legislative mistakes and at least give the city a chance at survival or a resurgence,” he wrote.

Guy Rivera, a 34-year-old man with 21 prior arrests, nine of them for felonies, allegedly shot and killed Diller during a stop in Far Rockaway on Monday evening.

Other officers returned fire and Rivera was still in police custody at the hospital Thursday morning, according to Queens prosecutors.

A friend in the same vehicle, Lindy Jones, 41, was convicted of attempted murder in 2002, served time in prison and was somehow out on the streets despite a pending felony firearms case from last year, according to the Queens District Attorney’s Office.

He racked up more weapons charges when police allegedly found a handgun with the serial number filed off in his glove box.

“The Council members who are vehemently and inexplicably against public safety are responsible for the carnage in the streets and the heartbreak brought about by PO Diller’s completely avoidable death,” Vallelong wrote.

“Those in the Council who have declared war on the police should be the ones put under a microscope and investigated by an outside agency for every legislative mistake and misstep they make.”

It comes weeks after the state’s Democrat Attorney General Letitia James faced jeers and boos when she appeared at a promotion ceremony for members of the FDNY.

The interruption came shortly after James successfully sued former President Trump in an effort to crack down on his New York businesses. Firefighters chanted, “Trump! Trump! Trump!”

Diller will be laid to rest Saturday in Massapequa. His wake services begin Thursday afternoon.

A container ship rammed into a major bridge in Baltimore, causing it to snap and plunge into the river below. Several vehicles fell into the chilly waters, and rescuers were searching for survivors.

Two people were rescued from the waters under the Francis Scott Key Bridge, one in serious condition, according to Baltimore Fire Chief James Wallace. He said authorities “may be looking for upwards of seven people” but said that number could change. It was not clear if the two rescued were included in the seven.

It was not immediately clear what caused the cargo ship to crash into the bridge long before the busy morning commute in what one official called a “developing mass casualty event” in a major American city just outside of Washington.

The ship crashed into one of the bridge’s supports, causing the structure to snap and buckle at several points and tumble into the water in a matter of seconds — a shocking spectacle that was captured on video and posted on social media. The vessel caught fire, and thick, black smoke billowed out of it.

“Never would you think that you would see, physically see, the Key Bridge tumble down like that. It looked like something out of an action movie,” said Baltimore Mayor Brandon Scott, calling it “an unthinkable tragedy.”

Sonar has indicated that there are vehicles in the water, where the temperature was about 47 degrees Fahrenheit (8 degrees Celsius) in the early hours of Tuesday, according to a buoy that collects data for the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration.

Earlier, Kevin Cartwright, director of communications for the Baltimore Fire Department, told The Associated Press that several vehicles were on the bridge at the time of the collapse, including one the size of a tractor-trailer truck. The bridge came down in the middle of night when traffic would be lighter than during the day when thousands of cars traverse the span.

Cartwright called the collapse a “developing mass casualty event,” though he didn’t know at the time how many people were affected.

He added that some cargo appeared to be dangling from the bridge, which spans the Patapsco River at the entrance to a busy harbor. The river leads to the Port of Baltimore, a major hub for shipping on the East Coast. Opened in 1977, the bridge is named for the writer of “The Star-Spangled Banner.”

Maryland Gov. Wes Moore declared a state of emergency and said he was working to get federal resources deployed. The FBI was also on the scene.

Synergy Marine Group — which owns and manages the ship called the Dali — confirmed the vessel hit a pillar of the bridge at about 1:30 a.m. while two pilots were in control. It said all crew members, including the pilots, were accounted for and there are no reports of any injuries.

The Dali was headed from Baltimore to Colombo, Sri Lanka, and flying under a Singapore flag, according to data from Marine Traffic. The container ship is about 985 feet (300 meters) long and about 157 feet (48 meters) wide, according to the website.

In 2001, a freight train carrying hazardous materials derailed in a tunnel in downtown Baltimore and caught fire, spewing black smoke into surrounding neighborhoods and forcing officials to temporarily close all major roads into the city.

A container ship struck Baltimore’s Francis Scott Key Bridge, causing a “catastrophic collapse,” sending vehicles and people into the water, officials in Maryland said.

“At this time, itis an active search and rescue mission,” said Maryland Secretary of Transportation, Paul Wiedefeld. “We know there were individuals on the bridge at the time of the collapse, working on the bridge.

At a press conference early the morning officials said two people were rescued, with one of those people said to be is in very serious condition. The other person did not need medical treatment.

The U.S. Coast Guard is conducting search and rescue for those who remain unaccounted for as a result of the bridge collapse.

What to know about the collapse

“I can confirm at 1:35 a.m., Baltimore City police were notified of a partial bridge collapse, with workers possibly in the water, at the Francis Scott Key Bridge,” the Baltimore Police Department said in a statement. Officials have since said the bridge has “fully collapsed.

The Maryland Transportation Authority said the collapse occurred “due to ship strike.”

The 948-foot container ship Dali, a Singapore-flagged vessel owned by Grace Ocean Private Ltd, struck the bridge at about 1:30 a.m., according to a ship-tracking company.

“All crew members, including the two pilots have been accounted for and there are no reports of any injuries,” Synergy Marine Group said in a statement.

The company said the 22 crew members, including the pilots, were based in India.

The cause of the crash is “yet to be determined,” the statement said.

The vessel appears to have hit one of the supports of the Francis Scott Key Bridge, causing the roadway to break apart in several places and plunge into the water, according to a video posted on X, formerly known as Twitter.

Multiple vehicles plunged from the bridge at the time of the collapse, the Baltimore City Fire Department said. Divers were searching for at least seven people in the water, the department said.

Response boat crews from Coast Guard Stations Curtis Bay and Annapolis have crews deployed to the incident for active search and rescue, according to USCG. A Coast Guard Air Station Atlantic City MH-65 Dolphin helicopter crew and Coast Guard investigators and pollution responders are also en route to the incident.

“An Urgent Marine Information Broadcast is issued regarding the incident and there has been a 2000-yard safety zone issued for the surrounding waters. Mariners are urged to avoid the area,” USCG said.

The bridge, which is part of Interstate 695, opened in 1977 and crosses the Patapsco River in Baltimore’s harbor. It is a vital artery, that along with the Port of Baltimore, is a hub for shipping on the East Coast.

It is named for the writer of “The Star-Spangled Banner.”

“This is a dire emergency,” Kevin Cartwright, director of communications for the Baltimore Fire Department, told The Associated Press. “Our focus right now is trying to rescue and recover these people.

Emergency responders were searching for at least seven people believed to be in the water, Cartwright said, though he said it’s too early to know how many people were affected. He called the collapse a “developing mass casualty event.”

He added that some cargo appeared to be dangling from the bridge.

He said agencies received 911 calls around 1:30 a.m. reporting that a ship leaving Baltimore had struck a column on the bridge. Several vehicles were on the bridge at the time, including one the size of a tractor-trailer truck.

The temperature in the river was about 47 degrees Fahrenheit (8 degrees Celsius) in the early hours of Tuesday, according to a buoy that collects data for the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration.

From a vantage point near the entrance to the bridge, jagged remnants of its steel frame were visible protruding from the water, with the on-ramp ending abruptly where the span once began.

Mayor Brandon M. Scott and Baltimore County Executive Johnny Olszewski Jr. posted that emergency personnel were responding and rescue efforts were underway.

“All lanes closed both directions for incident on I-695 Key Bridge,” MDTA officials said in a statement at about 2 a.m. “Traffic is being detoured.”

Governor declares state of emergency

Maryland Gov. Wes Moore has declared a state of emergency following the collapse.

“We are working with an interagency team to quickly deploy federal resources from the Biden Administration,” Moore said in a statement.

Detours and logistics

Drivers are being told to avoid I-695 southeast corridor and use I-95 and I-895 as alternatives.

“I-695 is being detoured southbound at exit 43 (Peninsula Expressway) and northbound at Exit 2 (Route 10),” Wiedefeld said.

Vessel traffic into and out of the Port of Baltimore is suspended until further notice, however, officials said the port is still open for truck transactions.

White House ‘closely monitoring’ bridge collapse

The White House said early Tuesday it was “closely monitoring” the situation in Baltimore, where a cargo ship struck a major bridge.

“Our hearts go out to the families of those who remain missing as a result of this horrific incident,” a White House official said.

There was no indication of “any nefarious intent,” an official said.

Senior White House officials have been in touch with the Maryland governor and Baltimore mayor to offer any federal assistance they need, the administration said.

Secretary of Transportation Pete Buttigieg also said he has spoken to Maryland’s governor and Baltimore’s mayor, offering USDOT support.

FBI Baltimore personnel are also at the scene to assist.

“We are aware of the incident in Baltimore. The priority is ensuring the safety of those affected as a search and rescue operation is underway. We expect an investigation report will be submitted to IMO in due course,” the International Maritime Organization said in a statement.

In 2001, a freight train carrying hazardous materials derailed in a tunnel in downtown Baltimore and caught fire, spewing black smoke into surrounding neighborhoods and forcing officials to temporarily close all major roads into the city.

A 12-year-old boy has been charged in connection with a stabbing in Texas that left a woman hospitalized in critical condition, officials said.

The boy, whose identity has not been made public because of his age, has been charged with aggravated assault, Harris County Sheriff Ed Gonzalez said on social media.

The charge comes after a 59-year-old woman was found with a stab wound at a residence on April Valley Court in Harris County shortly after 2 p.m.

She was subsequently transported to a hospital by life flight in critical condition.

Two boys, 12 and 7, were suspected of being involved in Saturday’s stabbing. Authorities said the brothers both fled the scene, but they were located later in the day.

“I’m sorry to the family. I’m very sorry that my sons committed the incident. And I’m praying for your health, for your wellness,” the mother told KPRC-TV.

Gonzalez said the 12-year-old was charged in the stabbing but that the seven-year-old was not culpable by law.

“I am very remorseful because I wouldn’t want that to happen to nobody,” the mother said. “We just gotta keep our prayers up for both my family and their family.

Child Protective Services have been contacted, the sheriff said.

The sheriff’s office previously said they believe the boys returned to the home on April Valley Court following a verbal confrontation with the woman.

“From what I’ve gathered, it was just a verbal altercation,” sheriff’s office spokesperson Sergio Torres told KPRC-TV on Saturday. “The female appeared to have several stab wounds to her abdomen area.

A neighbor said the woman’s brother ultimately found her inside her home.

“Her brother came and checked by just to check on her; he checks on her daily. At that point, he just came at the right time, opened the door, and saw she was stabbed,” Torres said, ABC13 reported.

The incident remains under investigation.

By day, Domonique Brown was a history teacher at Taylor Preparatory High School in the Detroit area, but in her off hours the educator worked as an aspiring rapper named Drippin Honey.

That is until she was let go from her job.

Brown told FOX 2 that a parent complained that she was a “bad influence” on her students because she’s a rapper, despite being voted teacher of the month in December.

She said she never received a complaint in writing and asked the administration, “Could we ask the parent to come in and see professionalism, see me in a classroom, see me after school, see me at all the games, see me dropping kids off every day, buying food, doing all these things? Can they come see me in my element before they try to say I’m unprofessional?

Brown said the parent remained anonymous and didn’t go into detail about what they found objectionable about her rapping.

“Music is part of the culture. We’re from Motown. This is what we do,” she added.

This week, after her firing, Brown posted a music video on her social media that she made with some of her students.

In the video, “Drippin 101,” Brown danced with her students and rapped about “Motown, baby, going crazy like the ‘80s.”

In a message alongside her video, Brown announced that she had been fired over her rapping, adding, “What troubles me most about this situation is the lack of consideration for the impact and influence I have had on my students’ lives.”

She continued, “My dedication, professionalism, and passion for education have always been unwavering, regardless of any personal pursuits I may have. It is worth noting that when I was hired as a teacher, my involvement in the music industry as a rapper did not hinder my candidacy. I was judged based on my qualifications, experience, and potential to positively impact the lives of my students. Yet, now, my commitment and contributions seem to be overshadowed by arbitrary judgments about my personal life.”

She said she has been teaching for seven years and has more than 200 signatures from students and parents who support her.

Taylor Preparatory High School didn’t immediately return Fox News Digital’s request for comment.

The school told FOX 2 in part: “Student well-being remains at the forefront of everything we do, and we will continue fostering a distraction-free teaching and learning environment focused on student success.”

Brown said she plans to take legal action against the school.

Nashville, Tennessee, police said on Friday they found the body of Riley Strain, a University of Missouri senior who went missing on March 8 after going out downtown.

Authorities said Strain’s body was recovered from the Cumberland River in West Nashville on the morning, about 8 miles from downtown. Police said on X that no foul play-related trauma was observed, and an autopsy is pending.

The 22-year-old finance student was visiting Nashville for his fraternity’s spring formal trip when he vanished. He had been out on Broadway drinking with friends at Luke Bryan’s downtown bar, called Luke’s 32, when staff asked him to leave.

Police say his phone pinged for the last time around Gay Street, part of which borders the Cumberland River.

Nashville police released a video of Strain greeting a police officer on Gay Street while the officer was checking parked vehicles for signs of a reported vehicle burglary just before the college student disappeared.

“Shown was Riley’s brief exchange of greetings w/ Officer Reginald Young on Gay St., south of the Woodland St. Bridge, on the night of 3/8. Riley did not appear distressed. Officer Young was there on a vehicle burglary call & remained on that portion of Gay St. for 45 min,” police said on X. “No video has been discovered that shows Riley away from Gay St after the 9:52 p.m. timeframe.”

Luke’s 32 said in a statement that bartenders served Strain one drink before staff asked him to leave.

“At 9:35 p.m., our security team made a decision based on our conduct standards to escort him from the venue through our Broadway exit at the front of our building,” the bar said in a March 15 statement. “He was followed down the stairs with one member of his party. The individual with Riley did not exit and returned upstairs.”

TC Restaurant Group indicated that they were working closely with authorities in the search for the missing college student.

After leaving the bar, Strain told his friends that he would head back to their accommodations at Tempo by Hilton, which is about five blocks away from Luke’s 32, as FOX 17 first reported.

When his friends did not see him again at their hotel later that evening, they filed a missing persons report, Strain’s cousin, Chelsea Strain, previously told Fox News Digital.

Strain’s family flew to Nashville and became involved in the search immediately after his friends reported him missing.

A body found in a river in West Nashville has been confirmed to be that of missing University of Missouri student Riley Strain, the Metropolitan Nashville Police Department confirmed

“The body of Riley Strain was recovered from the Cumberland River in West Nashville this morning, approximately 8 miles from downtown,” police said on social media.

Police added that no “foul play-related trauma was observed” and an autopsy is pending. 

Strain, 22, disappeared while on a fraternity trip to Nashville, and was last seen on March 8, shortly after being kicked out of Luke’s 32 Bridge, a bar owned by country singer Luke Bryan.

In recent days, the search for Strain has focused on area waterways after his debit card was found along a Nashville river. Officials first focused on Cumberland River’s downtown section before expanding the search to include more of the river, including the Cheatham Dam, which is about 40 miles from downtown Nashville. The search has involved helicopters, boats and ground crews. Police also shut down the dam to inspect debris that floated to the surface, CBS affiliate WTVF reported.

The Metropolitan Nashville Police Department has been working with the Cheatham County Sheriff’s Office to conduct downriver operations. The United Cajun Navy, a volunteer disaster relief organization, has also participated in the search. It’s not clear which agency found the body discovered.

The Cumberland River is a major waterway that runs over 680 miles through Kentucky and Tennessee. Multiple dams dot the river.