(CHICAGO) — A 7-year-old boy was getting ready for bed when he was fatally shot in his own home in Chicago Wednesday night, according to authorities.
The boy was in his bathroom washing his hands when, at about 8:22 p.m., a bullet went through the window and hit him in the abdomen, Chicago police Detective Chief Ron Pontecore told reporters.
He was hospitalized in critical condition and later died from his injuries, according to police.
It’s believed no one in the boy’s home was the intended target, Pontecore said.
“It’s tragic. Any person that’s shot in this city is tragic. When it’s a young child like this, an innocent child, you know, allegedly under the safety of their own home, it’s direly tragic,” Pontecore said.
It appears the shots came from the alley behind the boy’s home, Pontecore said, adding that multiple shell casings were recovered in the alley.
Investigators are combing through video. Police asked for anyone with information or video to contact the department.
In a message to the gunman, Pontecore said: “Own up to what you did. This young child was in his own home. … Do the right thing and turn yourself in.”
(NEW YORK) — The World Anti-Doping Agency has sent a warning to Russia to resolve the ongoing doping case for teenage ice skating phenomenon Kamila Valieva, who tested positive for a banned substance ahead of the 2022 Winter Olympics.
Valieva, a former junior world champion and a top contender for a gold medal for the winter games in Beijing, was found to have tested positive for trimetazidine, a heart medication, in a sample taken on Dec. 25. The sample was taken by the Russian Anti-Doping Agency, known as RUSADA.
Witold Banka, the president of the World Anti-Doping Agency, tweeted on Thursday morning that the agency is “concerned” about the ongoing delay in the outcome of Valieva’s case and that RUSADA has been placed under formal notice that the matter will be taken to the international Court of Arbitration for Sport unless the matter is resolved promptly.
RUSADA said in a statement Friday it will not be releasing any information regarding the processes and procedures related to the investigation, including the charge and the final resolution of the matter, due to the “confidential” nature of the information.
The statement did not name Valieva but referred to a figure skater “who is a protected person.” Valieva was under the age of 16 at the time she took the test, which would have given her protected status under Russia’s under anti-doping rules.
“RUSADA does not intend to announce the date of the hearings, the decision or other details in the case of the figure skater-a member of the ROC team,” the statement read.
Last month, RUSADA told Russian News Agency TASS that the investigation had concluded and preparations were underway for a hearing.
Valieva, who was 15 at the time, won gold in the team ice skating competition before finding out that she tested positive for the banned substance before the Olympics began.
After an accredited lab for the World Anti-Doping Agency notified RUSADA of the positive test on Feb. 8, Valieva was provisionally suspended from competition. She was later cleared on Feb. 14 to continue competing by the the Court of Arbitration for Sport, which ruled that denying Valieva the opportunity would “would cause her irreparable harm.”
A medal ceremony was not held for the team event due to the uncertainty surrounding Valieva’s eligibility to compete. The international skaters waiting on the verdict include those on the American, Japanese and Canadian, which came in second, third and fourth place, respectively.
On Feb. 15, Valieva, finished first in the short program with a score of 82.16, topping her Russian teammate, Anna Shcherbakova, by just shy of 2 points. During the women’s single skating free skate program on Feb. 17, Valieva finished in fourth place after falling multiple times.
The minimum age for skaters at the Olympics has since been raised to 17 by the International Skating Union. The new rule will be in affect for the next Winter Olympics in 2026 in Milan.
ABC News’ Nadine El-Bawab and Alexandra Faul contributed to this report.
(MIDDLETOWN, Ohio) — An Ohio family is speaking out to share their son’s battle with three different viruses as respiratory infections spike in children across the country, filling up hospital beds.
It all started when the Jackson family, from Middletown — about 35 miles north of Cincinnati — returned from vacation to Walt Disney World the first week of September.
Their 2-year-old son, Wilder, tested positive for flu when they got back. The infection ran its course and he seemed to have recovered.
Wilder, however, started developing fevers again, his parents said. They would give him Motrin and Tylenol to feel better, but the fevers kept coming back, on and off again for about six weeks, they said.
When his fever spiked to 103 degrees on Friday night, the family went to the ER at Cincinnati Children’s but were told “it’s just a virus,” his mother, Ciara, told ABC News.
“They took his temperature twice and then sent us home — because his fever had broken — because we had given them Tylenol,” she continued.
By Sunday night, Wilder’s fever had reached 105, which was followed by fever dreams.
“He started actually hallucinating,” Ciara said. “Thinking he was outside. We were inside on the couch, and he was saying, ‘I want to go inside. I need to get away from the dinosaur.'”
She continued, “He would look at like spots on the ceiling and just start freaking out and crying and he was shaking. It was kind of like the parental instinct — we need to go in.”
That morning, the family took Wilder to Dayton Children’s Hospital, where doctors were puzzled by the fact that he had a recurring fever and no other symptoms.
Doctors ran tests and when they returned, they diagnosed Wilder with rhinovirus, enterovirus and adenovirus — all at the same time.
Although these common childhood viruses are usually mild, they can be more severe when they occur simultaneously.
“They think adenovirus was the virus that was wreaking havoc in him,” Ciara said.
Wilder was transferred from Dayton Children’s ER campus to the center’s main campus in downtown Dayton, where the family received the last bed.
“I asked, ‘Can we switch out the crib for a bed?’ And they said, ‘We are out of beds. Like you took the last one.’ We felt very fortunate that we got in,” Ciara said.
Some children’s hospitals are reporting they are operating at or near capacity due to a spike in respiratory infections among children across the country.
“My cousin who works [at Children Dayton’s] said they’re using pre op rooms for regular hospital rooms because they’re running out of space there,” Ciara said.
A Dayton Children’s spokesperson confirmed to ABC News this is accurate and is part of the hospital’s emergency planning.
Wilder was at the hospital until Wednesday morning, after being fever-free for 24 hours.
And it was only a few weeks ago when his 1-year-old sister Frankie was the one who was sick.
Frankie’s common cold was so bad her parents had to take her to the ER, where she stayed for six hours and received IV fluids.
“She tested negative for RSV, flu and COVID — so hers was really just respiratory, like a really bad cold,” Ciara said, adding that her daughter is doing better now.
On whether they have advice for parents, the Jacksons say trust your parental instincts. And wash your hands.
“Hand washing is a big thing,” Ciara said. “And then I would say to just trust your gut and make sure you’re your child’s advocate and just push for answers.”
Added Wilder’s father: “Follow your gut. You know, you know your kid.”
ABC News’ Mary Kekatos contributed to this report.
(BROKEN ARROW, Okla.) — Eight people are dead in a house fire in Broken Arrow, Oklahoma, police said Thursday.
The fire took place on the 400 block of South Hickory Avenue, police said.
“BAPD continues to investigate the circumstances surrounding the incident. It is a complex scene given the state of the house due to the fire damage,” the department wrote on Twitter.
The incident is under investigation, police said.
Broken Arrow is a suburb of Tulsa and is located about 125 miles northeast of Oklahoma City.
This is a developing story. Please check back for updates.
ABC News’ Marilyn Heck contributed to this report.
(PHILADELPHIA) — A former Philadelphia sheriff’s deputy allegedly illegally sold two firearms that were used in a deadly school shooting, according to federal prosecutors.
Samir Ahmad, 29, of Philadelphia, has been charged with firearms trafficking and selling firearms to a person unlawfully in the U.S., the Department of Justice announced Thursday.
Ahmad allegedly sold a confidential FBI informant who was unlawfully in the U.S. several firearms while he was employed as a deputy sheriff with the Philadelphia Sheriff’s Office, according to a criminal complaint unsealed Thursday.
One of the sales, for a revolver, occurred on April 27, according to the complaint. Prosecutors further alleged that he sold the informant two semi-automatic pistols for $3,000 on Oct. 13.
Law enforcement traced the two pistols to a recent shooting outside Roxborough High School in Philadelphia, according to federal prosecutors. Five high schoolers were shot, one fatally, after at least four people opened fire outside the school on Sept. 27, the DOJ said.
“Just two weeks later, the defendant obtained two of the guns used in that shooting then sold them to the informant,” prosecutors said in a motion for pretrial detention filed on Wednesday. “The fact that the defendant had access to these guns so quickly after they were used to commit such a horrific crime speaks volumes about the danger that this defendant poses to the community.”
The motion further alleges that Ahmad sold the informant another semi-automatic pistol, as well as more than 50 grams of methamphetamine, on Oct. 18.
Ahmad, who had been employed as a deputy with the sheriff’s office since February 2018, was fired and arrested on Oct. 19, the DOJ said. He faces a maximum sentence of 15 years in prison for the firearms trafficking charges and could face additional charges for the alleged drug and firearm sales on Oct. 18, according to the DOJ.
It is unclear if Ahmad has an attorney. Online court records do not list any attorney information.
“As alleged, Samir Ahmad abused his authority — to the greatest extent possible — as a sworn law enforcement officer,” U.S. Attorney Jacqueline Romero said in a statement, charging that the former deputy was “adding fuel to the already incendiary fire of deadly gun violence in the city of Philadelphia.”
The Philadelphia Sheriff’s Office said in a statement that Ahmad was dismissed “for repeated violations” of the office’s “directives, policies and procedures.”
“As always, the Office of the Sheriff will continue to cooperate with local, state and federal authorities,” the statement said.
(CINCINNATI, Ohio) — The city of Cincinnati is considering making trick-or-treating a weekend-only activity to keep children safer.
Council members Liz Keating, Reggie Harris, Scotty Johnson and Meeka Owens filed a motion Wednesday to move the popular candy-centric activity to early evening hours on a weekend since it gives more access to parents and guardians while avoiding rush hour traffic.
The city traditionally observes trick-or-treating on Halloween between 6 p.m. to 8 p.m., local time, which the council says creates visibility and safety issues since the sun sets earlier in the fall.
“Moving the time one or two hours earlier would provide daylight and visibility for all; adding significant safety measures for our children and youth throughout the 52 neighborhoods in our city,” The council members said in their motion.
Pedestrian fatalities are 43% higher on Halloween than on other days, according to a study from Jama Network.
Children between 4 to 8 years old see a 10-fold increase in pedestrian deaths on Halloween, the study said.
Last year, the Cincinnati Police Department released tips to keep people safe for Halloween, which includes:
• An adult should always accompany young children while they are out trick-or-treating.
• Older kids who do not need an adult should always trick-or-treat in groups.
• Make sure you choose bright-colored costumes for your kids and give them things such as glowsticks or flashlights to use when the sun sets.
• Make sure you use the sidewalk whenever possible and walk in well-lit areas.
• Teach your kids never to enter a stranger’s home.
• Always check your child’s candy before letting them consume any.
• If you are driving during Halloween, use extreme caution while on the roadways. Watch for excited children out trick-or-treating or those whose vision may be obstructed by a costume.
Yungblud and The Who vocalist Roger Daltrey interview each other for the latest installment of Rolling Stone‘s “Musicians on Musicians” series.
During the conversation, Yungblud reveals that before his career took off, he was approached by a label who wanted to have him compete on The Voice.
“I was like, ‘No f***ing way,'” “The Funeral” rocker says.
“I remember them saying, ‘We’ll put you on The Voice, and if you win it, we’ll sign you. But you can’t sing about politics,'” he continues. “I was starting to write about sexuality, fashion, gender…And I just said no.”
Daltrey also shares that he was asked to be a judge on the reality singing competition — presumably the U.K. version — but he declined, as well.
“I’m not gonna judge anyone’s singing,” Daltrey says. “You’re only gonna squash their spirit, whatever you say.”
Elsewhere in the interview, Yungblud and Daltrey talk about social media and their mutual love of Oasis.
“I wish [Oasis] would just get back together,” Daltrey says.
The Who‘s Roger Daltrey and contemporary British rocker Yungblud interview each other for the latest installment of Rolling Stone‘s “Musicians on Musicians” series.
During the conversation, Daltrey, 78, tells Yungblud he thought the 25-year-old singer’s latest album was “uplifting” and praises the way he uses “the crowd-singing sound” in his mixing.
Roger goes on to complain that a lot of popular music in recent years has lacked strong vocals and harmonies, then discusses why he loves The Beach Boys.
“When you listen to the songs of the Beach Boys and the harmonies and all that stuff, it truly lifts your spirits,” Daltrey notes. “We really need it these days. Too many solo voices singing mediocre lyrics.”
The rockers also share negative opinions about the reality singing competition The Voice.
Daltrey says he was asked to be a judge on show — presumably the U.K. version — but he declined.
“I’m not gonna judge anyone’s singing,” Daltrey insists. “You’re only gonna squash their spirit, whatever you say.”
Yungblud, meanwhile, reveals that before his career took off, he was approached by a label that wanted to have him compete on The Voice.
“I was like, ‘No f***ing way,'” he recalls.
“I remember them saying, ‘We’ll put you on The Voice, and if you win it, we’ll sign you. But you can’t sing about politics,'” he continues. “I was starting to write about sexuality, fashion, gender … And I just said no.”
Elsewhere in the interview, Daltrey and Yungblud talk about The Who’s influence on fashion during the 1960s, the way social media affects today’s artists and their mutual love of Oasis.
“I wish [Oasis] would just get back together,” Daltrey says.
(WASHINGTON) — The House Jan. 6 committee, in its last scheduled hearing, warned that those involved in what they called the attempted coup must be held accountable or history could repeat itself.
“With every effort to excuse or justify the conduct of the former president, we chip away at the foundation of our republic. Indefensible conduct is defended,” chair Bennie Thompson, D-Miss., said as the panel gaveled in on Oct. 13. “Inexcusable conduct is excused. Without accountability, it all becomes normal and it will recur.”
But has the committee succeeded in swaying public opinion? And will that be a factor in the midterm elections?
Polling indicates overall views have not changed much even after 10 public hearings — nine since June — in which the committee presented damning evidence about a plot to overturn the 2020 election.
Rep. Liz Cheney, R-Wyo., the vice chair of the committee, has told ABC News she’s working to “ensure that we do everything we can not to elect election deniers.”
But more than one-third of Americans said it would make no difference in their vote if a candidate said they believed the election was stolen from Donald Trump, an October ABC News/Ipsos poll found. A narrow majority of Americans said it would make them less likely to vote for that candidate, but just 3% said it would cause them not to vote in November.
At the center of the plot, committee members said, was former President Donald Trump. Trump was subpoenaed by the committee last week to produce documents and appear for testimony next month.
“That kind of drama is the stuff of history,” Ray Smock, a former historian of the U.S. House of Representatives, told ABC News.
Despite the made-for-television hearings, views on the Capitol attack and on Trump have remained consistent over the past several months.
A poll conducted by ABC News/Ipsos in mid-June, after three of the committee’s hearings, found 58% of Americans believed Trump bore a good or great deal of responsibility for the Jan. 6 attack. That number was unchanged from a poll ABC News and Ipsos conducted in January, well before the hearings began.
Just 9% of Americans said they were watching the hearings “very closely” while 36% said they weren’t following the events closely at all, the June survey showed. This was despite most Americans saying the committee was doing a fair and impartial job.
Monmouth University polling from June showed 65% of Americans considered the Jan. 6 attack on the Capitol a riot, 50% said it was an insurrection and 34% said it was legitimate protest. By the end of July, after eight hearings, those numbers were practically the same: 64% said Jan. 6 was a riot, 52% said it was an insurrection, and 35% said it was legitimate protest.
And while Trump undoubtedly has been the focus of the Jan. 6 hearings, he remains a top figure in the Republican Party. An October ABC News/Ipsos poll found 64% of registered Republican voters think Trump should have a great deal or good amount of influence on the future direction of the party.
Republicans in Congress — besides the two members of the committee — Cheney and Adam Kinzinger — have also largely brushed off the panel’s work as a partisan exercise.
Trump acolytes, including candidates who support and spread his election lies, have succeeded up and down the ballot this November. According to FiveThirtyEighty, 199 Republican nominees running for office have fully denied the legitimacy of the 2020 election despite no evidence of fraud.
At the. same time, the ABC News/Ipsos poll shows 58% of independent voters say that if a candidate says they believe that the 2020 presidential election was stolen from Trump, they are less likely to vote for that candidate.
While Democrats have tried to make the threat to democracy a focus of the midterms, with President Joe Biden framing the 2022 midterms as a referendum on extremist MAGA Republicans, surveys show the economy, abortion and crime are the top issues for voters. A New York Times/Sienna College poll found that while voters overwhelmingly believe American democracy is under threat, few call it the nation’s most pressing problem.
The House Jan. 6 committee has more work to do, including releasing a final report on its findings and recommendations. The panel is expected to complete the report by the end of the year.
There’s also the overarching question of whether the Justice Department will take action after the committee wraps up its investigation.
It’ll be up to Attorney General Merrick Garland to decide whether to take legal action against Trump. Garland has vowed to pursue charges for anyone criminally responsible for Jan. 6 and the department’s made more than 880 arrests so far in connection with its investigation, but hasn’t made any public indications about Trump’s fate.
A prosecution could affect public opinion about Jan. 6, Smock said.
“The full verdict on the impact of this committee is yet to be felt,” he told ABC News.
“They made the case but their work stops at the water’s edge and it now becomes the executive branch, through the Department of Justice, that has to take this up. If the Department of Justice does not take it up sufficiently or adequately, then this hearing will have a different view in history — that whatever the committee did, it didn’t resonate,” he added.
(PHOENIX) — The campaign headquarters of Arizona’s Democratic candidate for governor and current Secretary of State Katie Hobbs was burglarized earlier this week, according to her campaign manager and local police.
The Phoenix Police Department said it received a 911 call about a break-in at Hobbs’ downtown office in Arizona’s capital city on Tuesday afternoon at around 2 p.m. local time. Officers responded to the scene and learned that several items had been taken from the property the night before. Police did not specify what those items were, citing an “active investigation.” Investigators are reviewing footage from surveillance cameras in the area to try to identify suspects, police said.
Hobbs’ campaign manager, Nicole DeMont, said they “continue to cooperate with law enforcement as they investigate” the burglary and that they “are thankful to the men and women of the Phoenix Police Department for their work to keep us safe.”
“Secretary Hobbs and her staff have faced hundreds of death threats and threats of violence over the course of this campaign,” DeMont said in a statement Wednesday. “Throughout this race, we have been clear that the safety of our staff and of the Secretary is our number one priority.”
“Let’s be clear,” she added, “for nearly two years Kari Lake and her allies have been spreading dangerous misinformation and inciting threats against anyone they see fit. The threats against Arizonans attempting to exercise their constitutional rights and their attacks on elected officials are the direct result of a concerted campaign of lies and intimidation.”
With less than two weeks until midterm Election Day and early voting underway, Hobbs and Republican candidate Kari Lake are in a close and combative contest for Arizona’s governorship. Lake, 53, is a conservative former television news anchor with no political experience whose gubernatorial candidacy has been endorsed by former President Donald Trump. Lake has fervently echoed Trump’s false claims that the 2020 presidential election was rigged.
Hobbs, 52, has declined to debate her Republican opponent, saying she feels it wouldn’t be worthwhile. In response, Lake has taunted Hobbs to face her in a series of videos, painting the Democratic rival as having something to hide for refusing to debate.
DeMont said the intimidation “won’t work” and that Hobbs “will win this race.”
The Arizona Democratic Party was also quick to point the finger at Lake.
“Make no mistake — this is a direct result of Kari Lake and fringe Republicans spreading lies and hate and inciting violence — and it is despicable,” the party said in a Twitter post on Wednesday.
When asked for comment, Lake told reporters after a campaign event in Scottsdale on Wednesday that she bears no responsibility for the burglary and said it “sounds like a Jussie Smollett part two,” referring to a hoax the actor was implicated in.
“I can’t believe that she would blame my amazing people or blame me for something like that,” Lake added. “I don’t even know where her campaign office is. I’m assuming it’s in a basement somewhere because that’s where she’s been campaigning.”
