Authorities are on a manhunt for John C. Drake Jr., the estranged son of Nashville’s police chief, who is believed to have shot two police officers in La Vergne, Tennessee.

In a shocking event that has gripped Tennessee, two officers were investigating a stolen vehicle outside a Dollar General store in La Vergne when they confronted a suspect. The altercation escalated, resulting in the suspect drawing a handgun and opening fire. LaVergne Police Chief Christopher Moews identified the assailant as John C. Drake Jr., who, in a twist to the tale, is the estranged son of Metro Nashville Police Chief, John Drake.

The severity of the injuries to the officers varied. One officer suffered gunshots to the groin and right forearm, while his colleague was hit in the rear left shoulder. Both officers were promptly transported to Vanderbilt University Medical Center in Nashville. Fortunately, one of the officers was deemed fit enough to be discharged on the same day, while the other remained in the hospital under observation but was reported to be in stable condition.

In the wake of the shooting, the community was inundated with alerts and precautions. A shelter-in-place order was instituted by the La Vergne police, which was later lifted, albeit with a heightened sense of vigilance as the search for Drake Jr. continued. The incident evoked a myriad of responses, including a heartfelt statement from Mayor Freddie O’Connell who expressed his solidarity with Chief Drake and acknowledged the unpredictability of family members’ actions.

Source: NBC News

Lawyer Sidney Powell has confessed to reduced charges related to attempts to reverse Donald Trump’s 2020 election defeat in Georgia, marking the second individual in the extensive case to finalize an agreement with the prosecution.

Quick Facts:

• Guilty Plea: Sidney Powell admits guilt to six misdemeanors related to conspiring to intentionally disrupt election duties.
• Terms of Agreement: Powell will undergo six years of probation, pay a $6,000 fine, and pen an apology letter to Georgia and its inhabitants.
• Testimony Agreement: Powell has committed to providing truthful testimony against her co-defendants in upcoming trials.

Sidney Powell, previously charged alongside Donald Trump and 17 others for violating Georgia’s anti-racketeering statute, entered her plea just a day prior to the commencement of jury selection for her trial. The charges against her revolved around a broad scheme aimed at retaining Trump’s presidential status following his 2020 loss to Joe Biden. Prosecutors have also accused her of being involved in an unauthorized intrusion into election equipment in a Georgia county’s election office.

Powell’s decision to accept a plea deal is a significant reversal for an attorney who fervently promoted unfounded conspiracy theories about a rigged election, despite overwhelming evidence to the contrary. Her potential testimony could shed light on a press conference she attended on behalf of Trump and his campaign shortly post-election, as well as a White House meeting in December 2020 where strategies to influence the election outcome were discussed.

John Fishwick, a former U.S. attorney for the Western District of Virginia, labeled Powell’s plea as a “major victory” for Fulton County District Attorney Fani Willis. He emphasized Powell’s high-profile status and remarked on the significance of a lawyer at the heart of these allegations admitting guilt.

Q&A:

Who else is implicated in this case alongside Sidney Powell?
Donald Trump and 17 other individuals were charged alongside Sidney Powell, including former New York Mayor Rudy Giuliani and Mark Meadows, the former White House Chief of Staff.

What were the primary allegations against Sidney Powell?
Powell was accused of being part of a wide-ranging scheme to keep Donald Trump in power after his 2020 election loss and of participating in an unauthorized breach of election equipment in a Georgia county.

Has any other defendant in this case reached a deal with the prosecutors?
Yes, Sidney Powell is the second defendant to reach an agreement. Previously, bail bondsman Scott Graham Hall pleaded guilty to five misdemeanor charges.

Original article sourced from AP News.

In a shocking incident at a McDonald’s in North Dakota, a man brandished a firearm after a fellow patron declined his request for a Happy Meal and suggested he should “go get a job.”

Quick Facts

• Incident Location: McDonald’s, Bismarck, North Dakota.
• Suspect: George Demarrias, 33, was arrested outside the restaurant. He had concealed a 9mm handgun in his one-year-old daughter’s stroller.
• Victim: Trent Guthmiller, 43, was approached by Demarrias and asked to buy him a Big Mac and a Happy Meal.

On Saturday, responding to a “terrorizing report,” police apprehended George Demarrias outside the McDonald’s in Bismarck. The officers discovered a 9mm handgun that Demarrias had hidden in the stroller where his one-year-old daughter sat.

The incident began when Trent Guthmiller, on a break from work, was entering McDonald’s for lunch. Demarrias approached him, requesting him to buy a Big Mac and a Happy Meal. Guthmiller’s response was to advise Demarrias to find employment. As Guthmiller entered the restaurant and queued up, he was surrounded by other patrons, including children.

Demarrias allegedly followed Guthmiller inside and brandished his firearm. He accused Guthmiller of being “disrespectful” and proceeded to verbally abuse him. After the confrontation, Demarrias concealed the weapon in his waistband and exited the establishment.

Security footage from the restaurant confirmed Guthmiller’s account of the altercation. The incident left Guthmiller fearing for his safety and the safety of the other patrons present.

Demarrias now faces a felony charge of terrorizing with a dangerous weapon. He is currently detained in the Burleigh County jail with a cash bond set at $10,000. A court order prohibits him from contacting Guthmiller. Additionally, Elouise Flyingby, 27, who was with Demarrias, was arrested outside the McDonald’s for providing a false name to the police. She pleaded guilty to the misdemeanor charge and received a 10-day jail sentence.

Original article source: The Smoking Gun

In a tale that intertwines mystery, hope, and the resilience of familial bonds, the story of Kayla Unbehaun, an Illinois girl who disappeared six years ago, has reached a heartwarming conclusion. Now a teenager, Kayla has recently been discovered in North Carolina, marking the end of a long and arduous search.

The Abduction: An Unsettling Beginning

At the tender age of nine, Kayla Unbehaun was reportedly abducted by her non-custodial mother, Heather Unbehaun, in South Elgin, a suburb of Chicago, Illinois. This unfortunate event followed a critical juncture in Kayla’s life—her father, Ryan Iserka, had just been granted full custody of her earlier that year.

The unsettling mystery began to unfold on July 5th when Iserka, anticipating a routine pick-up of his daughter, discovered that Heather and Kayla never returned from what was supposed to be a harmless camping trip. The gravity of the situation escalated swiftly, leading to a felony warrant for kidnapping being issued for Heather Unbehaun later that month. The National Center for Missing & Exploited Children, a non-profit that aids families in search of missing children, joined the search, underscoring the breadth and severity of child disappearances nationwide.

Unraveling the Mystery: A Stranger’s Vigilance

Fast forward to a recent Saturday evening in Asheville, North Carolina, where an observant individual noticed Kayla at a local shop. This chance encounter wasn’t entirely left to fate. The individual recognized Kayla from an episode of Netflix’s “Unsolved Mysteries” series, which highlighted stories of parental abductions. Upon this realization, they promptly notified a store employee, who in turn contacted the police, setting the wheels of justice in motion.

Heather Unbehaun was arrested that same Saturday, and a bond was set at $250,000 as she awaited extradition. Despite the absence of specific charges being listed at the time, a court date was set for July 11. She was subsequently released on bond the following Tuesday morning.

A Joyous Reunion: A Father and Daughter Reconnected

In the midst of this whirlwind, Ryan Iserka expressed overwhelming joy at his daughter’s safe return. Through a statement released by the National Center for Missing & Exploited Children, he extended his gratitude to the organization and various law enforcement agencies for their relentless efforts in propagating the search for Kayla. Furthermore, he acknowledged the instrumental role of the followers of the ‘Bring Kayla Home’ Facebook page in keeping Kayla’s story alive and spreading awareness. As they prepare to rekindle their relationship, Iserka has requested privacy during this poignant period of readjustment and renewed beginnings.

The discovery of Kayla Unbehaun serves as a beacon of hope for countless other families in similar situations. It underscores the power of community awareness and the tireless efforts of organizations dedicated to reuniting families. As Kayla and her father step into a new chapter of their lives, their story leaves an indelible imprint on the hearts of many, a testament to the enduring strength of familial love and the resilience of the human spirit.

In a chilling case that has gripped the nation, Idaho mother Lori Vallow Daybell has been found guilty on all charges, including the murder of her two children and conspiracy to murder her new husband’s first wife. The verdict comes after the jury deliberated for six hours over two days.

Vallow Daybell, infamously known as the “doomsday mom,” was convicted of first-degree murder of her children – seven-year-old J.J. Vallow and sixteen-year-old Tylee Ryan. Prosecutors argued that Lori and her husband, Chad Daybell, were motivated by a twisted mix of money, power, sex, and doomsday beliefs in their violent acts.

The children’s remains were discovered on a property belonging to Chad Daybell after a prolonged search. The couple allegedly believed their children had become “zombies” and killed them based on these beliefs.

During the trial, the defense chose to blame Chad Daybell, a doomsday author, for the deaths. However, the jury found Lori guilty on all counts. The next step will be sentencing, scheduled for approximately three months from now. Given the gravity of the charges, Lori could face a life sentence without the possibility of parole.

Meanwhile, Chad Daybell is also set to face trial next year, charged with murder, conspiracy, and grand theft. As this disturbing saga unfolds, it serves as a grim reminder of the dark depths to which humanity can descend.

In the heart of New York City, a subway car became the stage of a tragic incident that ended a life and derailed another. The two men at the center of the story: Daniel Penny, a 24-year-old Marine veteran, and Jordan Neely, a subway performer known for his Michael Jackson impersonations.

Daniel Penny is currently out on a $100,000 bail, following charges of manslaughter tied to Neely’s death. A video that captured the disturbing events on the subway car showcases Penny applying a chokehold on Neely. Witnesses report that Neely was acting threateningly and intimidating passengers, but there was no clear sign of violent behavior.

Penny’s chokehold, according to prosecutors, persisted for several minutes, even after Neely ceased to move. This piece of evidence has led to a debate about the severity of the charges Penny should face. While prosecutors argue for manslaughter, Neely’s family insists it should be murder, as they believe Penny was aware of the possible fatal outcome.

Despite the charges, Penny’s defense remains optimistic about his chances for full exoneration. His attorneys released a statement emphasizing Penny’s intentions to protect his fellow passengers, labeling Neely’s death as “unintended and unforeseen.”

The story of Jordan Neely brings to light some of the city’s less visible issues. Known for his subway performances, Neely was struggling with homelessness and mental illness, a condition aggravated by the trauma of his mother’s death. The Manhattan district attorney stated that Neely should still be alive, hinting at the system’s failure to protect vulnerable individuals like him.

The core legal question here revolves around whether Daniel Penny recklessly caused the loss of Jordan Neely’s life, constituting second-degree manslaughter. If convicted, Penny could face up to 15 years in prison.

On the other side of the argument, Penny’s defense is likely to claim that their client’s fear for his life and the lives of others was not unfounded. They suggest that Penny wasn’t the only one who felt threatened by Neely’s behavior.

Yet, the case has extended beyond the realm of the courtroom, sparking broader societal discussions. It prompts questions about race, justice, mental health, and public safety, subjects that resonate with people across the country. However, it’s clear that a single prosecution can’t provide definitive answers to these multifaceted issues.

In the end, this case, followed by many, is a stark reminder of the complexities of our society. A public transit vehicle, a space that should represent safety and community, became a place of tragedy. It exposed the intersection of personal, societal, and legal challenges that many cities face today.

The untimely death of Jordan Neely and the uncertain future of Daniel Penny are stark reminders of the work that needs to be done. It’s a call to address the underlying issues of mental illness, homelessness, and public safety protocols that this case has highlighted.

As we await the court’s decision and continue the conversation, the hope is that this unfortunate incident can spur change and progress in addressing these pervasive issues.