The J. Edgar Hoover Building of the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) is seen in Washington, DC, April 03, 2019. Eric Baradat/AFP via Getty Images, FILE
(WASHINGTON) — The FBI has gotten involved following a surge in violent threats against the Colorado Supreme Court justices who ruled earlier this week that former President Donald Trump was disqualified from appearing on the 2024 primary ballot.
“The FBI is aware of the situation and working with local law enforcement,” the agency said in a statement to ABC News. “We will vigorously pursue —investigations of any threat or use of violence committed by someone who uses extremist views to justify their actions regardless of motivation.”
The threats to the justices come as Lisa Monaco, the number two ranking official at the Justice Department, told ABC News in an exclusive interview for This Week that in an extremely challenging terror threat environment – threats against public officials are also spiking to levels never before seen.
“Well, what we’ve seen is an unprecedented rise in threats to public officials across the board: law enforcement agents, prosecutors, judges and election officials. And we are seeing that and responding to it,” she said.
Monaco said this week alone, the FBI is investigating “cases involving threats to kill FBI agents, a Supreme Court justice, and three presidential candidates.”
(TACOMA, Wash.) — A jury has found three officers not guilty in the 2020 death of Manuel “Manny” Ellis while in police custody in Tacoma, Washington.
Christopher Burbank, 38, and Matthew Collins, 40, were each found not guilty of second-degree murder and first-degree manslaughter, while Timothy Rankine, 34, was found not guilty of first-degree manslaughter.
All three officers faced a maximum of life in prison if they had been convicted, according to the Washington Legislature.
“I want to start by thanking the jury and court staff for their service. I also want to thank the members of my legal team for their extraordinary hard work and dedication. I know the Ellis family is hurting, and my heart goes out to them,” Washington State Attorney General Bob Ferguson said in a statement after the verdict.
The jury began deliberating on Dec. 14, but the jury was asked to restart twice, as alternate jurors needed to be called in. On Monday, a juror’s status was changed “from seated to alternate because of their unavailability due to a family concern,” the superior court said, and an alternate juror joined the 11 other seated members to restart deliberations. Then on Tuesday, a juror tested positive for COVID-19, the court said, and an alternate juror was called.
Ellis, an unarmed, 33-year-old Black man, died on March 3, 2020, after he was restrained, beaten, tased and put in a spit mask by law enforcement, according to prosecutors. In a video of the encounter, Ellis can be heard pleading with the officers, saying, “Can’t breathe, sir, can’t breathe.”
Special prosecutor Patricia Eakes of Washington’s Attorney General’s Office had relied on eyewitness testimony and video evidence to present the state’s closing arguments. Eakes said Ellis didn’t have to die that night.
“He was a human who deserved the same dignity that we all do,” she said. “He deserved to be treated with basic human dignity.”
Eakes compared Ellis’ treatment to that of an animal, and the description him being hogtied with a hobble in her closing arguments caused tension during the court proceedings. A hobble is a restraining device used by police to secure the legs and ankles of a suspect.
Defense attorneys motioned for a dismissal, a mistrial, and objected to her references to Ellis as a human being several times.
The defense attorneys had maintained that while the death of Ellis was unfortunate, it wasn’t unlawful. Throughout the trial, they presented evidence of Ellis’ history of drug addiction and mental health issues as their main defense.
The county medical examiner ruled Ellis’ death a homicide due to “hypoxia due to physical restraint,” and later found the presence of methamphetamine in Ellis’ blood. The examiner said his death was not likely caused by drug intoxication, according to the probable cause statement.
Jared Ausserer, an attorney for Collins, who was first on the scene with Burbank, said during his closing argument there was no doubt that Ellis was a good son, uncle and brother, but added, “When he was sober.”
“We know when he was high on meth, he was a different person,” Ausserer said.
Wayne Fricke, Burbank’s attorney, justified the defendant’s use of force and blamed Ellis for his own death. He said Ellis “created his own death,” and the use of methamphetamine “caused him to be violent, unpredictable and paranoid.”
Rankine, who arrived with a second unit at the scene of the incident, was an officer for 14 months at the time of the incident, according to his attorney Mark Conrad’s closing statement. Conrad said he did not have hobble training and followed the superior officer’s orders that night.
“Officer Rankine responded to an emergent situation to assist other officers,” Anne Bremner, one of Rankine’s attorneys, said in a statement to ABC News. “We will ask the jury to not compound the tragedy of Mr. Ellis’ death with an unsupported and unjust verdict against Officer Rankine.”
The Tacoma police union told ABC News in a previous statement that they maintain their stance on this case, that the charges appear to be a “politically motivated witch hunt.”
“We certainly maintain our support for these officers and have not changed our beliefs on why they are charged,” Henry Betts, Tacoma Police Union Local #6 president, said.
ABC News had previously reached out to Ausserer and Fricke for statements but did not receive a response.
ABC News’ Tesfaye Negussie, Brittany Gaddy, Morgan Winsor and Kiara Alfonseca contributed to this report.
(NEW YORK) — At least 15 people were killed and 24 were injured in a shooting at Charles University in Prague on Thursday, according to Prague’s head of police.
The suspect — a 24-year-old student at the university — was “eliminated,” officials said. His body was found at Charles University’s faculty of the arts, the Prague head of police said.
There is no indication that there was any political or terrorism motive, police said.
No police officers were injured, officials said.
As chaos broke out, people fled from Prague’s Old Town, running across the iconic Charles Bridge.
Leo Menindez, from Mexico, told ABC News, “We started hearing the police sirens and ambulances from the Charles Bridge. Then we started hearing the shots and then everyone started to run.”
This is a developing story. Please check back for updates.
(NEW YORK) — Ten people were killed and many were injured in a shooting at Charles University in Prague on Thursday, according to Czech officials.
The suspect was “eliminated,” officials said.
Eleven people suffered serious injuries, eight have moderate injuries and five have light injuries, according to the city’s medical rescue service.
Police advised people in the area not to go outside, and said evacuations were taking place.
As chaos broke out, people fled from Prague’s Old Town, running across the iconic Charles Bridge.
Leo Menindez, from Mexico, told ABC News, “We started hearing the police sirens and ambulances from the Charles Bridge. Then we started hearing the shots and then everyone started to run.”
This is a developing story. Please check back for updates.
(NEW YORK) — California is getting hammered with rain and flooding, causing dangerous travel conditions as the holiday rush begins.
Rainfall totals could reach 10 inches in some areas.
Significant travel delays and road closures are likely due to flooded roads. Mudslides are also possible.
The storm, which will last from Wednesday to Friday, brought flooding to the Bay Area on Wednesday and is now dumping rain and gusty winds on Southern California.
Santa Barbara and Ventura counties are in the bull’s-eye for the heaviest rain and flooding on Thursday, with the National Weather Service issuing its second-highest flood threat forecast for the counties.
Oxnard in Ventura County recorded about one month’s worth of rain in just 40 minutes on Thursday morning. Some people were rescued from their cars after they became trapped on flooded roads.
By Friday morning, the heavy rain and potential flooding will move into Los Angeles and cities to the south.
The rain will also move into the Phoenix area on Friday. Flash flooding, hail and thunderstorms are possible.
U.S. citizens imprisoned in Venezuela pose for pictures upon arrival at Joint Base San Antonio Kelly Annex in San Antonio, Texas, on Dec. 20, 2023, after being freed amid a prisoner swap deal between the United States and Venezuela. (Suzanne Cordeiro/AFP via Getty Images)
(SAN ANTONIO) — Six of the 10 Americans who were released in the United States prisoner swap with Venezuela landed at an Airforce base in San Antonio, Texas, Wednesday night.
When asked by a pool reporter how it felt to be back on American soil, Savoi Wright quoted Martin Luther King, Jr.’s “I Have a Dream” speech.
“Free at last, free at last … Thank God Almighty, free at last,” Wright said to the reporter.
Wright told the pool reporter it “was very emotional,” and that he was extremely grateful to be coming home so soon.
“So much gratitude for the moment, for the United States of America and for the opportunity to come home,” he said.
“To come home so soon, so many people abroad are being held captive … to be able to come back home in a very fast manner, but to come back, to see such warm faces, so much love, I’m just very grateful,” Wright said.
Wright’s family said in a statement that they are “relieved that this ordeal has ended” and “forever grateful” for the efforts to secure his release from his Oct. 24 arrest.
Eyvin Hernandez, who the State Dept. said was “wrongfully detained,” said prison was the “most difficult thing” he had ever been through,
“I am incredibly grateful; I can’t even speak; I am incredibly grateful to be home. To my family, to my friends, to President Biden,” he said.
“Honestly, all you think about in prison is how you didn’t appreciate being free while you were free, there’s no way to understand what it’s like to be in prison unjustly and not have any way out … so it’s been a long time coming,” Hernandez continued.
Hernandez’s family called his release “an early Christmas present” in a statement Wednesday morning.
Hernandez, Jerrel Kenemore and Joseph Cristella were charged with illegally crossing the border into Venezuela from Colombia in 2022. The details surrounding their arrests remain unclear. Even less is known about the circumstances surrounding Wright’s arrest, which occurred in late October. Venezuelan officials have not spoken publicly about the allegations against him.
All six Americans were being transported for medical evaluations.
As part of the deal, the White House said that Venezuela has also allowed notorious fugitive Francis or “Fat Leonard,” the mastermind behind the worst corruption scheme in the history of the U.S. Navy, to be taken into U.S. custody, and that Venezuela will release a high-profile member of the country’s opposition party charged with treason, free another 20 political prisoners as well as suspend arrest warrants for other opponents to Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro.
Maduro’s ally, Alex Saab, is the only Venezuelan released by the U.S. in the exchange. Saab was arrested for money laundering in 2020 and had been awaiting trial.
(NEW YORK) — Federal agents are investigating allegations of racial discrimination after a South Carolina couple was accused of harassing and stalking their Black neighbors.
The Federal Bureau of Investigation said it executed “court-authorized law enforcement activity” at a residence in Conway on Wednesday.
“This action is related to an ongoing criminal civil rights investigation involving allegations of racial discrimination,” Steve Jensen, FBI special agent in charge with the Columbia division, said in a statement.
“We are working jointly with the U.S. Attorney’s Office, as well as our local and state partners, to thoroughly examine this matter, and we’re dedicated to ensuring equality and fairness within our communities,” he said.
No additional details on the ongoing investigation are being released at this time.
The FBI presence was seen at the home of a couple arrested last month for allegedly harassing their next-door neighbors.
The couple — Worden Butler, 28, and Alexis Hartnett, 27, who are both white — allegedly “harassed and stalked the victims with racially motivated words and actions,” according to a police report filed late last month.
Butler allegedly yelled racial slurs at one of the victims “in reference to her being Black,” the police report stated.
Over Thanksgiving weekend, Butler and Hartnett allegedly erected a cross facing the victims’ home and set it on fire, according to the police report. While the victims were being interviewed by responding officers, Hartnett allegedly used a racial slur directed toward the victims and “continued this behavior even after being advised [by] officers to go back inside her home,” according to the report.
“The victims feel that the suspects are a danger to their safety and the incidents are getting more frequent and threatening,” the report stated.
Butler also allegedly shared on Facebook a picture of the victims’ mailbox, which has their address on it, and posted, “summoning the devil’s army and I don’t care if they and I both go down in the same boat,” according to the police report.
Butler and Hartnett were arrested on Nov. 30 and charged with harassment in the second degree, a misdemeanor. Hartnett was also charged with assault in the third degree, a misdemeanor. They both were released the following day.
ABC News could not reach Butler and Hartnett and did not immediately receive a response from their attorney to a message seeking comment.
Horry County Police Department Chief Joseph Hil called the reported incidents “appalling and unacceptable.”
“Such hate and harassment will not be tolerated in Horry County,” Hill said in a statement last week. “The individuals responsible will be held accountable for their actions and the hurt they have caused the victims and the greater Horry County community. In concert with our local and regional partners, we will pursue justice to the fullest extent of the law.”
South Carolina does not have a law allowing extra punishment for hate crimes.
In the wake of the couple’s arrest, organizations including the NAACP and the Council on American-Islamic Relations have called for a hate crime bill in South Carolina.
(NEW YORK) — A Kenosha County Circuit Court dismissed charges against a couple who were forcefully arrested while eating dinner at an Applebee’s in Wisconsin with their 1-year-old child earlier this year.
The couple, Jermelle English, Jr. and Shanya Boyd, were dining with their son on July 20, when the police wrongfully suspected them of fleeing a nearby hit-and-run. The incident was caught on cellphone video.
In the video, obtained by ABC News, Kenosha police can be seen attempting to restrain English, while he still has his baby in his arms. In the viral video, an Applebee’s employee can be heard yelling, “Get the baby,” and “Careful, the baby’s head.”
After an employee successfully grabbed the baby from English, the officers tackled him to the ground and began to hit him several times, pinning him down, according to the video.
According to the original complaint obtained by ABC News, the officer was looking for “an African American male and African American female” with a baby who had “run toward Kohl’s or Menards,” the complaint says. The woman was described as wearing a red shirt with a bun on top of her head.
The officers later found the actual suspects hiding in the bathroom of the Applebee’s.
Despite not being the suspects officers were searching for, English and Boyd were both charged with resisting arrest and disorderly conduct, according to the charging docs. Boyd was also charged with possession of THC.
All charges against the couple were dismissed on Wednesday, court records show.
English was represented by Team Roc attorney Alex Spiro. Team Roc is a social justice organization and division of Roc Nation which is owned by Jay-Z.
In a statement to ABC News, Team Roc managing director Dania Diaz said English was the victim of racial profiling and should have never been charged in the first place.
“The officers’ treatment of Jermelle and his family was unacceptable, unethical and traumatic,” the statement said. “Our hope is that today’s development will allow Jermelle and his family to enjoy the holidays with some peace of mind and begin the process of healing after enduring such an incredibly painful experience.”
After the incident, Kenosha Police launched an internal investigation to determine whether the use of force was excessive.
Kenosha police announced in November both officers were found to have violated protocol. One officer received a four-day suspension and the other officer received a 10-day suspension, the statement said.
“The Kenosha Police Department is committed to providing the highest quality service to its citizens and guests. We strive to train our officers to the highest standard and will hold them accountable if they fall short of those standards,” Kenosha police wrote in a statement.
“In addition to the suspension time, both officers are receiving supplemental training to correct the deficiencies that were identified in their response to this situation,” the statement continued.
(WASHINGTON) — The Lincoln Memorial has been temporarily closed as cleanup crews have begun removing graffiti at the national monument that said “Free Gaza” in red paint, U.S. Park Police confirmed to ABC News.
Police are investigating the vandalism of the Lincoln Memorial in Washington, D.C., which was first discovered on Wednesday on the west side of the Reflecting Pool and Lincoln Memorial Circle. The memorial has since been temporarily closed to visitors.
The U.S. Park Service told ABC News Wednesday, “National Park Service conservators have begun the process of removing the paint this morning,” adding that the cleanup may require multiple treatments over several days to remove.
The incident is not the first display of vandalism on a landmark in the nation’s capital. In November, demonstrators spray-painted “Free Palestine” on several statutes in Lafayette Square, across Pennsylvania Avenue from the White House. That cleanup required specialized processes to remove the paint.
U.S. Park Police are still investigating the latest incident and are asking anyone with information to contact the United States Park Police tip line at (202) 379-4877, or email USPP_tipline@nps.gov.
(NEW YORK) — Two New York lawmakers are pushing to expand a law that prohibits convicts from profiting from their crime to also prevent spouses from profiting after the estranged wife of the Gilgo Beach murder suspect signed a deal with a production company.
New York’s Son of Sam law — named after the 1970s New York City serial killer David Berkowitz, who was known as Son of Sam — seeks to keep convicts from making money off of book and movie deals connected to their crimes.
New York has had the law on its books since 1977, but the U.S. Supreme Court deemed it and similar laws unconstitutional in 1991. The state amended the law in 2001.
Now, New York state Sen. Kevin Thomas and New York state Assemblymember Fred Thiele want to expand the law to cover spouses and other relatives of convicted criminals.
“With the alarming reality of media companies exploiting tragedy for profit, my hope is that victims are given the opportunity to receive the justice and compensation they deserve,” Thomas said. “New York has a long history of blocking people convicted of a crime from benefiting from their illegal activity. My legislation aims to take it a step further to ensure that media deals surrounding a crime are subject to the same transparency and accountability as the perpetrator themselves. No one should be profiting off a crime.”
The proposed legislation is expected to come up for debate in early 2024.
The lawmakers’ proposal comes as Asa Ellerup, the estranged wife of Gilgo Beach murder suspect Rex Heuermann, is under contract with a production company, according to her attorney.
She attended Heuermann’s most recent court appearance with a camera crew following her.
Ellerup filed for divorce six days after Heuermann was arrested in July for the murders of three sex workers.
Heuermann is accused of killing Melissa Barthelemy, Megan Waterman and Amber Costello, whose bodies were found on Long Island in 2010. He has pleaded not guilty.
Heuermann is also the prime suspect in the death of a fourth woman, Maureen Brainard-Barnes, who vanished in 2007, though he has not been charged in that case. Prosecutors said the investigation into Brainard-Barnes’ murder is ongoing.
