Murder Rates Spike Across US: Over 20 major U.S. cities have experienced large increases in homicides in recent months, new data shows. Eric Lichtblau and Gardiner Harris of the NY Times reports that Chicago's numerical increase in homicides in the first three months of this year was the most significant, with murder up to 141 from 83 over the same period a year ago. Other dramatic spikes were seen in Las Vegas, up to 40 from 22, and Dallas, up to 46 from 26. Other cities showing sharp increases include Jacksonville, Los Angeles, Memphis, Nashville, Newark, Phoenix and San Antonio. FBI director James Comey believes that the surges could be linked to less aggressive policing stemming from the "viral video effect," otherwise known as the "Ferguson effect."
Illegal Immigrant to Stand Trial for Quintuple Murder: A judge ruled Thursday that an illegal immigrant who killed five men in two states earlier this year will stand trial in Missouri. Fox News Latino reports that 40-year-old Pablo Antonio Serrano-Vitorino, a Mexican national, is accused of murdering his neighbor and three other men at the neighbor's Kansas City, Kan., home in early March and then killing another man 170 miles away in Missouri. He faces charges of first-degree murder, burglary and criminal action in the Missouri case, and Missouri prosecutors are seeking the death penalty. In the Kansas murders, he is charged with four counts of first-degree murder, though it isn't clear whether Kansas prosecutors will seek the death penalty. A motive for the killings has not been disclosed. Serrano-Vitorino was previously deported in April 2004 and illegally reentered the U.S. sometime after that. Despite legal run-ins since, including a battery conviction in Kansas last summer, he has avoided deportation.
Two NH Cops Wounded in Shooting, Suspect Caught: An armed suspect who shot and wounded two police officers in two separate location in Manchester, N.H., Friday morning is in custody following an intensive manhunt. Fox News reports that the shootings were connected to a robbery at a gas station. Authorities have not yet released the identity of the suspect. One of the wounded officers was already released from the hospital, while the other one remains there in stable condition.
Illegal Immigrant to Stand Trial for Quintuple Murder: A judge ruled Thursday that an illegal immigrant who killed five men in two states earlier this year will stand trial in Missouri. Fox News Latino reports that 40-year-old Pablo Antonio Serrano-Vitorino, a Mexican national, is accused of murdering his neighbor and three other men at the neighbor's Kansas City, Kan., home in early March and then killing another man 170 miles away in Missouri. He faces charges of first-degree murder, burglary and criminal action in the Missouri case, and Missouri prosecutors are seeking the death penalty. In the Kansas murders, he is charged with four counts of first-degree murder, though it isn't clear whether Kansas prosecutors will seek the death penalty. A motive for the killings has not been disclosed. Serrano-Vitorino was previously deported in April 2004 and illegally reentered the U.S. sometime after that. Despite legal run-ins since, including a battery conviction in Kansas last summer, he has avoided deportation.
Two NH Cops Wounded in Shooting, Suspect Caught: An armed suspect who shot and wounded two police officers in two separate location in Manchester, N.H., Friday morning is in custody following an intensive manhunt. Fox News reports that the shootings were connected to a robbery at a gas station. Authorities have not yet released the identity of the suspect. One of the wounded officers was already released from the hospital, while the other one remains there in stable condition.
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