Friday, 26 June 2026, 12:50
A 15-year-old boy has been charged with first-degree murder in the fatal shooting of 16-year-old Nyeruon Deng Biel, who was killed on June 3 in the parking lot of the Aliso Apartments in Kent. The suspect also faces four counts of first-degree assault for allegedly firing up to eight shots at other teenagers near the victim.
According to charging documents filed by King County prosecutors on June 24, the boy was attempting to shoot a rival gang member when the gunfire erupted.
The incident occurred at approximately 4:21 a.m. at 411 Alder Lane.
Officers responding to a 911 call of shots fired found Biel lying in the parking lot with visible head and facial injuries. Despite lifesaving efforts from police and medics, she died at the scene.
The King County Medical Examiner’s Office determined the cause of death was a gunshot wound to the torso and ruled the death a homicide.
King County Prosecuting Attorney’s Office spokesperson Casey McNerthney confirmed that prosecutors have requested a judge to allow the teen to be prosecuted as an adult. Under Washington state law, a 15-year-old charged with first-degree murder requires a judicial hearing to determine whether the case should be moved to adult court.
The 15-year-old is currently being held at the Judge Patricia H. Clark Children and Family Justice Center in Seattle.
According to court documents, the teen and another male were initially with a group of friends in a rear parking lot of the Park Place Apartments. When three males—one of whom was reportedly a rival gang member—arrived in a red Ford Fusion, a Tesla pulled up nearby.
Witnesses reported hearing multiple gunshots, and surveillance video captured approximately eight shots. The alleged shooter fired from an elevated Green River levee, and a male from the Fusion returned fire.
Detectives recovered four 9mm cartridge casings near the Green River Trail. Cellphone tower records placed the teen’s device in the area at the time of the homicide.
On June 18, Kent Police and Valley SWAT arrested the boy at the Taylor Creek Apartments in Seattle. He was found with a Glock Model 30 equipped with a 26-round extended magazine and a Glock switch, which converts the pistol into a fully automatic machine gun.
The teen has a prior criminal history, including convictions for second-degree assault with a deadly weapon, unlawful firearm possession, and reckless endangerment. He now faces additional charges of first-degree unlawful possession of a firearm and unlawful possession of a machine gun part.
An initial hearing on the motion to decline juvenile jurisdiction was held June 25. A status conference is scheduled for August 4, with a decline hearing set for September.
The teen has pleaded not guilty to the firearm charges.
Source: auburn-reporter.com
The Los Angeles County District Attorney's Office announced Thursday that it will retry a man on a murder charge stemming from a deadly shooting at a Trader Joe's in Silver Lake in 2018. The decision comes after a jury deadlocked earlier this year on the most serious count against the defendant, 31-year-old Gene Evin Atkins.
Atkins is accused of opening fire inside the grocery store on July 21, 2018, killing one woman and injuring several others. The shooting, which prompted a three-hour hostage standoff with police, resulted in the death of 27-year-old Melyda Corado, a store manager.
Authorities say Atkins entered the Trader Joe's after fleeing from police following a domestic dispute with his grandmother.
During the initial trial, which concluded in February 2024, the jury convicted Atkins on multiple counts, including attempted murder and assault with a firearm, but could not reach a unanimous verdict on the murder charge. The deadlock forced Judge Sam Ohta to declare a mistrial on that specific count.
Prosecutors have now signaled their intent to proceed with a retrial, which is expected to begin later this year.
Atkins' defense attorney argued during the first trial that his client did not intend to kill anyone and that the death of Corado was a tragic accident. However, prosecutors maintained that Atkins' actions were deliberate and that he bears full responsibility for the chaos and violence that unfolded inside the store.
The case has drawn significant attention due to the traumatic nature of the incident, which left shoppers and employees trapped inside the store as gunfire erupted. The retrial is set to take place in downtown Los Angeles, and a date has yet to be scheduled.
Atkins remains in custody without bail.
Source: theeastsiderla.com
Venezuelan residents in Fresno, California, are experiencing intense anxiety as they struggle to contact loved ones following a powerful earthquake that struck several regions of Venezuela. The quake, which caused widespread damage and triggered rescue operations, has left many families in Fresno County desperately seeking news from relatives in affected areas.
Local community members report hours of failed phone calls and messages, with communication networks down in parts of Venezuela. One resident described the helplessness of waiting for any sign that family members are safe.
Search and rescue teams continue to work through debris to locate missing persons, adding to the tension for Venezuelans abroad.
The Fresno Venezuelan community has organized informal support networks to share any updates received through alternative channels. The emotional toll is heavy, as many fear the worst for relatives in hard-hit zones.
Local authorities in Fresno have not issued specific guidance, but community leaders are urging residents to remain patient and use available technology to reconnect.
As the situation evolves, Venezuelans in Fresno hope for improved communication and express solidarity with those enduring the disaster firsthand.
Source: telemundofresno.com
Southern California Edison (SCE) de-energized electrical lines at approximately 3:00 a.m. this morning, initiating a Public Safety Power Shutoff (PSPS) in the Bear Valley area.
The move comes as a precaution against high winds and elevated fire danger forecasted for the region.
Bear Valley Electric Service (BVES) is working to restore and maintain power to as many customers as possible using its small power plant. However, BVES has very limited capacity, and some or all customers may experience outages during the period of concern, which runs from 12 p.m.
Friday, June 26th, through 12 a.m. Sunday, June 28th.
Residents whose power has been restored are urged to minimize electricity usage by turning off unnecessary lights and appliances, and reducing overall consumption. This conservation effort will help BVES provide service to the maximum number of customers while the PSPS remains in effect.
SCE has placed two of the BVES transmission lines on its Monitored Circuit List for potential PSPS activation due to high winds and critical fire conditions. The utility advises customers to take protective measures, such as using surge protectors for sensitive electronics and assembling an emergency kit with flashlights, a battery-operated radio, non-perishable food, water, a first aid kit, and other essentials.
In addition, residents should keep refrigerator and freezer doors closed as much as possible. Food in the refrigerator can stay fresh for about four hours, while food in a freezer can last up to 48 hours.
BVES continues to monitor the situation and will provide updates as conditions evolve.
Source: kbhr933.com
A suspected drunk driver crashed through a police blockade in San Diego early Saturday morning, injuring two San Diego Police Department sergeants. The incident occurred near the intersection of Market Street and 13th Street, where officers had set up a DUI checkpoint.
According to authorities, the driver, whose identity has not been immediately released, was traveling at a high speed when he ignored the checkpoint and drove directly into the officers. The two sergeants sustained non-life-threatening injuries and were transported to a local hospital for treatment.
The driver was arrested at the scene on suspicion of driving under the influence, a felony. Witnesses reported that the vehicle struck a patrol car before hitting the officers.
The area was closed for several hours as investigators processed the scene and interviewed witnesses. The SDPD has not yet released further details about the suspect's blood alcohol content or specific charges, but they confirmed that the investigation is ongoing.
This incident highlights the dangers faced by law enforcement during routine traffic enforcement operations. The two injured sergeants are expected to recover fully, and the department has expressed gratitude for the community's support.
Source: telemundo20.com
California Governor Gavin Newsom has signed an executive order aimed at accelerating and modernizing public transit across the state, directly countering proposed federal budget cuts from the Trump administration that threaten to slash funding for public transportation and clean energy programs. The order comes as Trump's Fiscal Year 2027 budget request proposes a 23% cut to federal public transit funding and an 82% reduction in passenger rail funding, eliminating billions of dollars in planned investments for transit systems nationwide.
According to industry analysis, the budget would also zero out funding under the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act for key clean transportation programs, resulting in multi-billion dollar losses for modern transit, passenger rail, and decarbonization projects across the country. In response, Newsom's order directs the California State Transportation Agency (CalSTA) and other state agencies to prioritize transit projects statewide, streamline project delivery, close service gaps, and modernize transit data and payment systems.
The order also supports the development of Bus Rapid Transit and bus-only lanes on state highways, and establishes a dedicated active transportation project delivery team within Caltrans. California Transportation Secretary Toks Omishakin stated, "California is continuing to build on Governor Newsom's vision for a transportation system that is safer, cleaner and more connected for all Californians." The order reflects recommendations from the SB 125 Transit Transformation Task Force Final Report and fulfills a requirement in SB 960 (Wiener, 2024) to establish a statewide transit policy.
It also aligns with the administration's ongoing efforts to invest more than $11.5 billion through SB 1 and the Cap-and-Invest program to support public transit, high-speed rail, and transit-oriented development. The executive order arrives at a time when the Trump administration's economic policies are squeezing American families.
Since the conflict with Iran began, American households have faced an estimated $62.4 billion in extra fuel expenses, or roughly $476 per household. New York Fed research shows low-income households cut gas consumption by 7% in March yet still faced a 12% spike in expenses due to rising prices.
Newsom's order aims to give every Californian a reliable, affordable alternative to the car, reducing reliance on fossil fuels amid global instability.
Source: gov.ca.gov