news
-
NY Mother Pleads Guilty to Killing 8-Year-Old Disabled Daughter
Veronica Cirella, from Plainview, N.Y., pleaded guilty to manslaughter Thursday for asphyxiating her 8-year-old disabled daughter in July 2011, the New York Daily News reports. Cirella’s daughter, Julie Cirella, had cerebral palsy and was supposed to be the flower girl in a wedding on the day she died. Her mother originally told authorities that Julie…
-
Cops Pepper-Spray 10-Year-Old Boy During Protest in Minn.; Police Launch Investigation
Minneapolis police are investigating an incident in which an officer pepper-sprayed a 10-year-old boy during a protest Wednesday night, the Star Tribune reports. Approximately 100 people were protesting news that a white police officer who fatally shot Tony Robinson—an unarmed 19-year-old African American—would not be charged. According to the Star Tribune, the protest got “unruly”…
-
Waiting While Black: University Student Accused of ‘Harassment’ for Wanting to Talk to Adviser
Kevin Bruce, a student at Kennesaw State University in Georgia, just wanted to talk to his academic adviser. After numerous attempts to schedule an appointment with her, he finally went to the office to see her in person. While he was waiting patiently, however, a staff member came up to Bruce and told him that…
-
2 Md. Corrections Officers Charged With Looting During Baltimore Protests
Two Baltimore corrections officers allegedly took advantage of the unrest during the protests over Freddie Gray’s death last month and looted a downtown convenience store. Tamika Cobb and Kendra Richard were charged Wednesday with looting a 7-Eleven on the evening of April 25. According to the Maryland government’s website, the Department of Public Safety and…
-
Ga. Principal Who Went Viral After Racially Charged Comments Has Been Fired
The principal of a private, nontraditional high school in Stone Mountain, Ga., who went viral after footage showed her shouting, “Look at who’s leaving, all the black people,” during a graduation ceremony, has been fired, the Atlanta Journal-Constitution reports. According to the newspaper, the TNT Academy board of directors voted to fire Nancy Gordeuk, who…
-
Ariz. High School Track Star Commits Suicide on Campus
A high school in Tempe, Ariz., is mourning the loss of a student who committed suicide on campus on Tuesday, KPHO reports. Marcus Wheeler, an 18-year-old senior who ran cross-country and track for Corona del Sol High School, tweeted that there would be a “suicide in the school right now” before taking his own life,…
-
White Fla. Pub Owner Held Black Couple at Gunpoint Over Drink Beef: Report
Florida couple Kayla Davis and Darien Elwin were celebrating Elwin’s 20th birthday Saturday when they decided to stop at George & Dragon British Pub in Orlando for dinner, since they had a coupon. Davis, who turned 21 a few months ago, asked the owner of the pub, Kim Bruns, for a drink recommendation. Bruns made…
-
Autopsy Reveals Ga. Man Found Hanging From a Tree Committed Suicide
Roosevelt Champion III’s death has been ruled a suicide by local authorities, 11 Alive reports, putting to bed the notion that the 43-year-old Georgia man had been hanged from a tree by a racially motivated perpetrator. The Georgia Bureau of Investigation said Tuesday that autopsy results pointed to suicide. Champion was found dead Monday morning…
-
Medgar Evers College Dean of Students Among Those Killed in Amtrak Derailment
Derrick Griffith, a 42-year-old doctoral student and dean of student affairs at Medgar Evers College in New York City, was one of seven individuals who died Monday night when an Amtrak train derailed in Philadelphia, PIX11 reports. Griffith had just defended his dissertation in urban education one month prior at Brooklyn’s Medgar Evers College and was…
-
9-Year-Old Md. Student Was Beaten While Bus Driver Looked On
The family of a 9-year-old Prince George’s County public school student is demanding answers as to why the school bus driver did not intervene as other students brutally beat the child, WJLA reports. Cellphone footage captured the moments when Saraia Collins begs the other children to leave her alone as they tease her. “Get out…