Two killed, three injured in Long Beach boat fire: Fire department

Two killed, three injured in Long Beach boat fire: Fire department
Two killed, three injured in Long Beach boat fire: Fire department
Long Beach Fire Department

(LONG BEACH, Calif.) — A boat fire in Long Beach, California, killed two people and injured three others, according to fire officials.

The fire broke out near the 200 block of Marina Dive at Alamitos Bay on a 35-foot pleasure craft on Saturday, the Long Beach Fire Department said.

The boat was near a fuel dock, fire officials said.

“The fire required multiple land-based and marine-based resources to extinguish the fire,” the Long Beach Fire Department said in a post on Facebook. “The fire has been extinguished, and resources continue to operate at the incident.”

The Long Beach Fire Department said five people were involved in the incident. The three surviving victims suffered burn-related injuries, and were treated and transported by paramedics to area hospitals.

Two women in their 60s died in the incident, authorities told ABC News Los Angeles station KABC.

The fire was extinguished with help from the Orange County Fire Authority, Long Beach fire officials said.

People aboard boats near the incident told KABC they heard a powerful blast. When firefighters arrived at the scene there were clouds of thick black smoke and flames.

“Initial reports indicated they were in the process of doing some type of refueling operation, or had just completed a fueling operation,” Long Beach Fire Department Capt. Jake Heflin said, according to KABC.

An investigation into what caused the fire is ongoing, authorities said.

Last month, two firefighters in New Jersey died while extinguishing a raging fire aboard a cargo ship docked in Newark.

The firefighters called in a “Mayday” after two of their own became trapped inside the burning vessel and were nowhere to be seen. That was followed by a second “Mayday” call 15 minutes later, Newark officials said at the time.

Two Newark firefighters — 45-year-old Augusta Acabou and 49-year-old Wayne Brooks — were ultimately found and subsequently taken to a hospital where they both died, according to city officials.

Three other firefighters from the Newark Fire Department, as well as two from the Elizabeth Fire Department, were injured during the incident, city officials said.

ABC News’ Aaron Katersky, Morgan Winsor, and Ivan Pereira contributed to this report.

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Glacial break causes major flooding in Alaska, officials issue emergency declaration

Glacial break causes major flooding in Alaska, officials issue emergency declaration
Glacial break causes major flooding in Alaska, officials issue emergency declaration
Salwan Georges/The Washington Post via Getty Images

(JUNEAU, Alaska) — City officials in Juneau, Alaska, have issued an emergency declaration as a glacier lake outburst flood wreaks havoc near the city, where structures have been destroyed.

The flooding is due to a break on Suicide Basin, a side basin on the Mendenhall Glacier, located about 12 miles north of Alaska’s state capital. A glacial lake outburst flood occurs when a dam containing a glacial lake breaks.

The flooding has destroyed several structures along the Mendenhall River, according to the National Weather Service. Two homes have been lost and another partially damaged and washed away, Rob Barr, deputy city manager of Juneau, told ABC News.

“A handful” of other residences, including a condo building that is “significantly undermined,” are at risk, Barr said.

Trees and debris are currently littering the river, according to the NWS, which described the flooding as an “extreme” event.

On the FEMA scale, there was less than a 1% chance of that level of flooding occurring, National Weather Service Juneau hydrologist Aaron Jacobs said.

“We didn’t even think that this was possible,” Jacobs said.

Video taken by resident Sam Nolan shows a multi-story structure collapsing into the river. Nolan watched for more than an hour as the home succumbed to the floodwaters, he said.

“It was really sad to see, but all we could do was stand there and watch,” Nolan said.

Other videos taken by residents show debris and trees floating in Mendenhall River close to Juneau International Airport.

The Mendenhall Lake level crested at 14.97 feet on Saturday around 11:15 p.m. local time, well above the previous record of 11.99 feet in July 2016. Significant flooding was reported in areas that previously have not seen flooding, and there has been significant erosion along the riverbanks, according to the NWS.

Waters have been falling at a rapid pace of .7 feet per hour, but flooding is ongoing, the NWS said.

The flooding has closed several roads in the region, including bridges, according to the city of Juneau.

City emergency operations urged residents to stay away from the river during the duration of the flood event.

Suicide Basin has been releasing glacier lake outburst floods that cause inundation along Mendenhall Lake and Mendenhall River since 2011, according to the National Weather Service.

The risk of flooding from melted glaciers to increase as climate warms, a study published in Nature Climate Change in 2021 found.

ABC News’ Helena Skinner and Samira Said contributed to this report.

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Severe storms, unrelenting heat affecting millions in these US states

Severe storms, unrelenting heat affecting millions in these US states
Severe storms, unrelenting heat affecting millions in these US states
ABC News

(CHICAGO) — Extreme weather is blanketing much of the United States as the weekend comes to a close.

The severe storms plaguing the Midwest on Saturday are now moving east.

Eight tornadoes were reported in Colorado, Iowa, Illinois and Nebraska on Saturday, according to the National Weather Service. Funnel clouds were spotted in Colorado Springs, Colorado, and injuries were reported in Loveland, Colorado, and Almena, Kansas, from people being struck by golf ball-sized hail.

Hail also damaged a camper and broke car and home windows in Almena, Kansas, according to reports to the NWS.

Active storms were occurring in Oklahoma on Sunday morning, with the possibility of alerts for dangerous wind and thunderstorms should a system become organized there.

The main area under threat on Sunday is eastern Missouri to western Virginia, with forecasts for damaging wind, large hail and isolated tornadoes, according to the NWS.

The threat will intensify on Monday as the system continues to march east.

More than 60 million people will be under the storm zone on Monday, with enhanced risk from Atlanta to Baltimore for damaging straight-line winds, tornadoes and large hail.

The strongest storms are expected to hit the Washington, D.C. area after 5 p.m., forecasts show.

Unrelenting heat is also continuing to affect much of the country.

Millions of Americans are under heat alerts from 11 states spanning the southern U.S. from Florida to California. The entire state of Louisiana is under an excessive heat warning due to scorching temperatures, with some regions topping the triple digits.

Austin, Texas, reached 106 degrees on Saturday, tying for the city’s daily record high. Sunday is expected to be Austin’s 30th consecutive day above 100 degrees, continuing its stretch past the 27-day record set in 2011.

The forecast in Austin calls for at least 105-degree temperatures through the week.

Elsewhere, record-high temperatures are predicted to occur on Sunday from Phoenix, Arizona, to Key West, Florida, including cities like Houston, Austin, Corpus Christi, New Orleans, Tucson and Albuquerque.

Triple-digit temperatures will be in place for much of the South on Sunday, with even higher heat indices. The feels-like temperature is expected to be in the 110 degrees and higher in places like Shreveport, Louisiana, Jackson, Mississippi and Dallas, forecasts show.

There is no end in sight for the heat dome situated in the South, with scorching temperatures predicted to last for at least another week.

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Influencer charged after chaos erupts in New York City’s Union Square

Influencer charged after chaos erupts in New York City’s Union Square
Influencer charged after chaos erupts in New York City’s Union Square
Fatih Aktas/Anadolu Agency via Getty Images

(NEW YORK) — Influencer and Twitch streamer Kai Cenat was charged with at least two counts of inciting a riot and unlawful assembly after thousands of people descended on Union Square in New York City Friday afternoon, police said.

Cenat was issued a desk appearance ticket for the charges, which include a felony charge of riot in the first degree causing public injury or damage. He was released from custody early Saturday morning.

The crowd was apparently responding to Cenat’s promise of free PlayStations, sparking a chaotic scene and a massive police response.

The NYPD made 65 arrests and 30 of those arrested were juveniles, Chief of Department Jeffrey Maddrey said in a Friday evening briefing.

The event was “unpermitted” and “not sanctioned” and grew rapidly to thousands of young people, who Maddrey said attacked officers instead of complying with orders to leave. The chief implored parents to step in.

“I had thousands of kids out there, I needed thousands of parents,” Maddrey said. “When it gets to the point where it’s disorderly, we want the parents to come and take control.”

Maddrey said a 17-year-old was hospitalized from what was initially believed to be a gunshot wound, but it ended up being a firework injury.

NYPD officers arrived in droves to try to quell the mayhem, which erupted after a post by Cenat went viral around 3 p.m., and the officers soon found themselves under attack, according to Maddrey.

“We were crushed, we were pushed,” Maddrey said.

The massive crowd caused the park and surrounding streets to become overcrowded. People ran through the streets and some were seen jumping on cars and a city bus. Some people took objects from a construction site in Union Square, including plywood, shovels and axes, according to Maddrey.

Police showed up in riot gear to disperse the crowd. A bus that was holding people in custody was attacked by others trying to pull individuals off the bus, according to Maddrey.

Fireworks set off in the crowd resulted in smoke and noise but police said they did not use any flash-bang devices and no shots were fired.

Maddrey called the gathering an “unlawful assembly” and “uncontrolled.”

“We’re not against young people having a good time, we’re not against young people gathering, but it can’t be to this level where it’s dangerous,” he said during a press briefing. “A lot of people got hurt today.”

Some officers sustained injuries in the incident, Maddrey said, adding that he personally was hit with “multiple objects.”

Six people were transported to area hospitals in connection with the incident, according to the FDNY.

The influencer’s intention had been to “create a positive experience” for fans, but “we’ve never experienced anything at the scale of what took place yesterday,” Cenat’s AMP group said in a written statement issued Saturday.

“We are deeply disheartened by the outbreak of disorderly conduct that affected innocent people and businesses, and do not condone that behavior,” the statement said. “We apologize to all of those impacted. We are fully cooperating with local authorities.”

NYPD has recovered evidence from social media that Cenat was out of his vehicle and interacting with the large crowd before he left Union Square, sources said.

Cenat, 21, posted in an Instagram story, “Please be safe,” while sharing news coverage of the incident.

“I love you guys to the fullest you guys are amazing,” he said.

A woman shopping in the area with her baby took shelter in an ATM lobby during the mayhem.

“Everything was just bombarded with people,” she told ABC New York station WABC.

“It was just hectic. The only thing I could think about was to keep my daughter safe,” she said.

New York City Mayor Eric Adams thanked police “for their quick work” in controlling the situation.

“I want our streets to be alive and full of joy. But they must be safe,” he said on social media. “That’s the most important thing.”

An NYPD official said they do believe there were a handful of PlayStation 5s that Cenat intended to distribute and the event would likely have turned out differently had he notified the department ahead of time

ABC News’ Mark Crudele, Josh Hoyos, Matt J. Foster and Reena Roy contributed to this report.

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Search continues for beloved teacher who went missing 1 week ago

Search continues for beloved teacher who went missing 1 week ago
Search continues for beloved teacher who went missing 1 week ago
WJLA

(GREENBELT, Md.) — The search continues for a beloved Maryland teacher who mysteriously vanished a week ago, as the community held a vigil praying for her safe return.

Mariame Toure Sylla, 60, was last seen near a park on July 29 around 8 p.m., the Greenbelt Police Department said.

She is considered a critical missing person, police said. Officials told ABC Washington, D.C., affiliate WJLA that Sylla takes medication.

Sylla is a teacher at Dora Kennedy French Immersion School in the Prince George’s County school district, where she is known by her students as Madame Sylla.

“We hope and pray for Mariame Toure Sylla’s safe return,” Prince George’s County Public Schools said on social media.

The search for the missing teacher has included Schrom Hills Park in Greenbelt, where she was known to take walks.

During a vigil and prayer event held at the park on Friday, attendees spoke about Sylla’s dedication to the community where she lives and teaches. One described her as a “really good woman” who “strived for a life of righteousness” and a veteran teacher who enjoyed her students.

Attendees canvassed the area and handed out flyers to spread the word about Sylla’s disappearance. According to the flyer, the teacher also goes by Mariam Toure and was last seen walking around the Greenbelt neighborhood in a long dress and head scarf.

“We continue to follow all leads that have come in to us,” Greenbelt Chief Richard Bowers said during the vigil. “We keep all of our possibilities open as to the cause of her disappearance.”

Sylla was described by police as a Black woman who is approximately 5’5″ and weighs 135 pounds. Anyone with information is asked to contact the Greenbelt Police Department at 301-474-7200.

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2 officers injured in shooting in Orlando, suspect dead: Police

2 officers injured in shooting in Orlando, suspect dead: Police
2 officers injured in shooting in Orlando, suspect dead: Police
Douglas Sacha/Getty Images

(ORLANDO, Fla.) — Two police officers were injured in a shooting in Orlando, Florida, on Friday night after they stopped a vehicle allegedly connected to a homicide, police said.

The suspected gunman was killed in a shootout with SWAT officers at a hotel Saturday morning, Orlando Police Chief Eric Smith said at a press briefing.

The incident began at about 11 p.m. local time, when officers stopped a vehicle wanted in connection with a homicide in Miami, according to Smith. While outside the vehicle during the traffic stop, the suspect shot and struck both officers, then fled in another vehicle, authorities said.

After an “extensive search,” police located the suspect at a Holiday Inn at about 6 a.m. Saturday, according to Smith. The hotel was safely evacuated, and the suspect barricaded himself in a room, Smith said.

“Several attempts were made to get the suspect to safely surrender,” Smith said.

Shortly before 9 a.m., the suspect shot at SWAT officers “multiple times,” Smith said. The officers returned fire, striking the suspect, who died, Smith said.

The suspect was identified by police as 28-year-old Daton Viel.

The officers injured in the traffic stop shooting were transported to Orlando Regional Medical Center in critical condition. They are expected to fully recover from their injuries, Orlando Health officials said on Saturday.

“Our officers are lucky to be alive and we ask that you continue to pray for them,” Smith said.

The chief called the incident a tragedy for the department.

“For some piece of crap to do this to them, because they don’t want to go back to prison, is ridiculous,” Smith said. “We’re not going to put up with it. We’re going to stay out there fighting crime and keep our communities safe.”

In a statement on social media, Orlando Mayor Buddy Dyer thanked law enforcement officers “who’ve ensured the suspect is no longer a threat to our community.”

Copyright © 2023, ABC Audio. All rights reserved.

Flash flood warnings continue for parts of Missouri, Illinois

Flash flood warnings continue for parts of Missouri, Illinois
Flash flood warnings continue for parts of Missouri, Illinois
ABC News

(ST. LOUIS) — Flash flood warnings continue Saturday for parts of Missouri and Illinois, as severe weather is forecast across parts of the U.S. over the next three days.

More than six inches of rain fell overnight, leading to flash flooding in northeastern Missouri, with water rescues needed for civilians and law enforcement in the Kahoka area.

Saturday’s storm threat extends from southeastern Colorado to southwestern Missouri where an enhanced risk is in place, mainly for damaging wind. Meanwhile, a chance for a tornado or two is likely in Indiana from Indianapolis to Evansville. Two people were reportedly displaced from their homes with minor injuries due to wind damage in Baring, Missouri, and there was also damage to railroad equipment, powerlines and several homes.

On Friday, there were three reported tornadoes in Missouri, with damage reported to homes near Knoxville and Russellville in Ray County. Power lines were reportedly brought down near Malta Bend in Saline County.

On Sunday, the weather pattern moves to an area from eastern Missouri to western Virginia and North Carolina where again the main threat will be damaging wind. On Monday, the threat for severe weather reaches the East where much of Appalachia will be under the threat for damaging wind and large hail, from Alabama to New York.

Severe heat

Worldwide, the last 32 days have been Earth’s hottest days on record based on preliminary analysis. Since crossing into new record territory on July 3, global temperature has yet to go back below that level.

Millions of Americans are under alert for dangerous heat on Saturday, with no end in sight for places in Texas and surrounding areas. Records continue to be possible this weekend in Houston, Austin, Dallas, San Antonio, Albuquerque, Phoenix and Tucson.

The heat index Saturday is reaching well into the 100s from Florida to Texas to Missouri and even the 110s are possible in multiple states.

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Husband of missing Georgia woman Imani Roberson charged with her murder

Husband of missing Georgia woman Imani Roberson charged with her murder
Husband of missing Georgia woman Imani Roberson charged with her murder
Rockdale County Sheriff’s Office

(CONYERS, Ga.) — The husband of Imani Roberson, a Georgia mother of four who disappeared last month, has been arrested and charged with her murder in what investigators said was a domestic incident, police announced Saturday.

Donell Anderson has been charged with felony murder, malice murder, aggravated assault and possession of a firearm during the commission of a crime, Rockdale County Sheriff Eric Levett said at a press conference Saturday. More charges are still possible.

The body of Roberson was found on Friday and Anderson was arrested in in an apartment in Atlanta, Levett said.

“When that body was found, it was our mission — especially mine — to make sure that we could convince our judges and/or the DA’s office that we had enough evidence to secure a warrant and to get him off the street,” Levett said.

Roberson was last seen by her mother on July 16 when Roberson went over for dinner. Roberson then went home with two of her children, leaving the other two with her mother.

After her mother was unable to reach her by phone and did not find her at her home, Roberson was reported missing on July 17.

Investigators searched several homes including the victim’s home, a car and cell phones. They found the victim’s blood in the home she shared with Anderson and her four kids, Levett said.

“Our investigation intensified and it was clear that foul play was evident in the disappearance of Imani,” Levett said.

During their investigation, police also found Roberson’s car burned.

Levett said another arrest will be made in this death, but did not identify the suspect, and said that the investigation is still ongoing.

“We’ve had about four to five murders this year, and every last one of them has been domestic family violence related,” Levett said.

“If there’s anyone that’s out here that is involved in a toxic relationship, whether you are receiving mental abuse, verbal abuse or physical abuse it is not worth keeping quiet and we need for you to step out and say something so we can end such tragedies like this. Especially tragedies like this that involves children. These are four kids now without a mother and unfortunately now without a father,” Levett said.

Roberson’s four children will be cared for by her parents, Levett said.

“Last night, my worst fears were confirmed and our family is devastated. Being here today is extremely difficult for us,” Clarine Andujar-White, the mother of the missing woman, said at the press conference.

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Mega Millions jackpot rises to record $1.55 billion for Tuesday’s drawing

Mega Millions jackpot rises to record .55 billion for Tuesday’s drawing
Mega Millions jackpot rises to record .55 billion for Tuesday’s drawing
IronHeart/Getty Images

(NEW YORK) — The Mega Millions jackpot is expected to rise to $1.55 billion in the next drawing, the highest-ever pot for the lottery, topping its previous record of $1.537 Billion in October 2018.

No jackpot-winning ticket was purchased with Friday night’s numbers, 11, 30, 45, 52, 56 and a gold Mega Ball 20, the lottery said.

The cash option for Tuesday’s drawing is estimated to be $757.2 million.

The lottery game’s jackpot had grown ahead of Friday’s drawing to an estimated $1.35 billion. That figure would have been the second-largest Mega Millions jackpot ever and the fourth-largest in U.S. lotto history when also factoring in Powerball jackpots.

A drawing of $1.55 billion would place the Mega Millions jackpot behind only two other U.S. lottery drawings, a $1.586 billion Powerball in January 2016 and a $2.04 billion Powerball jackpot in November 2022.

The jackpot has continued to climb since it was last won on April 18. Friday’s drawing marked the 31st in this current run.

“There’s always an air of excitement around the country when Mega Millions jackpots soar,” Georgia Lottery President and CEO Gretchen Corbin, lead director of the Mega Millions Consortium, said in a statement. “The growing jackpot is a source of entertainment and winnings for players while generating important dollars for the good causes supported by each lottery. We are grateful for our players, appreciate our hardworking retailers, and remind everyone to play responsibly.”

Players must match all five numbers plus the Mega Ball number to claim the jackpot. The odds of winning the jackpot are 1 in 302,575,350.

The previous four $1 billion Mega Million jackpots were won in 2018, 2021, 2022 and January 2023.

Mega Millions is played in 45 states, Washington, D.C., and the U.S. Virgin Islands. Tickets are $2 for one play.

 

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Teen charged with murder as hate crime in killing of NYC dancer O’Shae Sibley

Teen charged with murder as hate crime in killing of NYC dancer O’Shae Sibley
Teen charged with murder as hate crime in killing of NYC dancer O’Shae Sibley
Courtesy Ja’Michael De’Shawn

(NEW YORK) — A teenager has been charged with murder as a hate crime in connection with the fatal stabbing of New York City dancer O’Shae Sibley, police said.

The unidentified suspect lives in and attends high school in Brooklyn, NYPD Assistant Chief Joseph Kenny said at a press briefing on Saturday announcing the suspect’s apprehension.

Police previously said that a 17-year-old male was wanted in connection with the fatal stabbing of Sibley, a 28-year-old Black gay man, who was stabbed in his torso on July 29 around 11 p.m. at a gas station in Brooklyn.

The suspect turned himself in accompanied by an attorney, police said. He is charged with murder as a hate crime and criminal possession of a weapon.

Those charges are subject to change once the Brooklyn District Attorney takes over the case.

In a video posted to Facebook, Sibley’s friend Otis Pena said he and Sibley were among a group of friends that were voguing and dancing at the gas station while pumping gas when they were confronted by another group.

The group hurled homophobic slurs and anti-Black statements at Sibley’s group while demanding that they stop dancing, according to Kenny. After about four minutes, the confrontation then turned violent, Kenny said.

The perpetrator struck Sibley with a sharp object on the left side of his ribcage, “piercing his chest and damaging his heart,” Kenny said. The suspect fled the scene in a vehicle, but was quickly identified with the help of tips from citizens, officials said.

Sibley was pronounced dead at a local hospital.

“Parents lost a child, a child to something clearly that was a hate crime,” New York City Mayor Eric Adams said at Saturday’s press briefing.

“This is a city where you are free to express yourself, and that expression should never end with any form of violence,” he added.

The killing comes at a time of growing anti-LGBTQ+ extremism across the U.S.

Sibley was a beloved figure in the New York and Philadelphia dance communities. He was described by his friends as “a beautiful and sweet spirit,” with “spectacular” talents in singing and dancing.

“How is it even possible for someone’s life to be taken at such a young age — so talented, so kind,” said Ja’Michael De’Shawn, a fellow dancer who worked with Sibley.

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