Afternoon Briefing: Man acquitted in shooting death of 7-year-old
A Cook County jury has acquitted a man of shooting and killing 7-year-old Natalia Wallace, making him the second defendant to be found not guilty in the slaying on the Fourth of July in 2020.
Davion Mitchell was found not guilty of murder and other felonies a week after jury selection began on April 4. In December, Cook County Judge Joanne Rosado found a co-defendant, Kevin Boyd, guilty of murder, but she acquitted the alleged getaway driver, Reginald Merrill. Charges are still pending against a fourth man, Boyd's brother, Terrell Boyd.
Here's what else is happening today. And remember, for the latest breaking news in Chicago, visit chicagotribune.com/latest-headlines and sign up to get our alerts on all your devices.
People with disabilities struggle to find space in Chicago's homeless shelters
The Disability Rights Action Coalition for Housing has a lawsuit against the city winding its way through federal court alleging the city doesn't operate or design the emergency shelter program 'in a manner that would provide equivalent services' to individuals with mobility disabilities. Read more here.
Loretto Hospital reports data breach
The personal information of more than 500 people may have been compromised in a hacking incident at Loretto Hospital on the city's West Side, according to the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services. Read more here.
More top business stories:
Josh Giddey and Lonzo Ball injuries create uncertainty and 'a problem' for Chicago Bulls in play-in tournament
The potential of losing all three point guards for two knockout games places the Chicago Bulls at a steep disadvantage as they attempt to return to the playoffs. Read more here.
More top sports stories:
What to know about tonight's WNBA draft, including how — and who — to watch and when the Chicago Sky pick
Chicago Bears and CB Kyler Gordon agree to a contract extension worth a reported $40 million over 3 years
CSO gives a sneak peek of its big Amsterdam trip with upcoming Mahler concerts
The hottest festival ticket happens just once a generation, if not once a lifetime. That would be the Mahler Festival, a musical G20 summit of sorts celebrating the life and legacy of Gustav Mahler. Read more here.
More top Eat. Watch. Do. stories:
What to know about Pennsylvania Gov. Josh Shapiro and the alleged arson at his official residence
A man is facing charges after authorities say he broke into the Pennsylvania governor's mansion in the middle of the night, set a fire that left significant damage and forced Gov. Josh Shapiro, his family and guests to evacuate the building during the Jewish holiday of Passover. Read more here.
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Fox News
15 hours ago
- Fox News
Third girl dies nearly week after barge strikes Miami sailing camp boat
A third child has died, nearly a week after suffering critical injuries when a barge struck and sank a sailboat that was part of a sailing camp in Miami, the U.S. Coast Guard said Sunday. The Coast Guard confirmed the death of a 10-year-old girl, though they did not provide her identity. "Our hearts continue to mourn with all those impacted by Monday's tragic incident, especially with the passing of another one of Miami's children today," said Capt. Frank Florio, commanding officer of Coast Guard Sector Miami. The former mayor of Bal Harbour, Florida, Gabriel Groisman, later identified the 10-year-old as his cousin, Arielle Buchman, in a post on X. "On the saddest day of the Jewish calendar, my family mourns the loss of our 10-year-old cousin Arielle, who passed away as a result of a tragic sailboat accident that occurred early in the week," he posted Sunday, referencing Tisha B'Av, a Jewish day of mourning commemorating the anniversaries of the destruction of the first and second Temple's in Jerusalem. All six people on the sailboat were pulled from the water after the barge struck the sailboat at 11:30 a.m. on July 28 in Biscayne Bay, and four children were rushed to a hospital. A 7-year-old girl, identified as Mila Yankelevich, and 13-year-old Erin Ko Han were pronounced dead shortly after arriving at the hospital. Mila was the granddaughter of an award-winning Argentinian TV producer, Cris Morena, according to La Nacion. The Argentine Consulate in Miami confirmed her identity with Fox News Digital. An 8-year-old girl was in critical condition as of Tuesday. A 19-year-old woman and a 12-year-old girl were rescued but not hospitalized. Officials did not immediately reveal a cause of the crash. Salvage operations began Tuesday. "The Coast Guard remains committed to conducting a thorough investigation to ensure all facts are uncovered," Florio said. Florio said in a Tuesday evening press conference that the young girls were wearing life vests at the time of the collision. Florio said the tugboat captain's alcohol level was tested after the crash, which is standard procedure. He did not disclose the test results or details of the captain's statement to investigators. The popular sailing program, started in 1927, boasts of summer camps in a "very secure area at the Biscayne Bay," their website says. Biscayne Bay is a heavily trafficked waterway, serving commercial shipping, recreational boating, sailing camps and clubs, and fishing and diving.
Yahoo
16 hours ago
- Yahoo
'We can't allow it': Thousands gather in Tel Aviv protesting A-G Baharav-Miara's possible dismissal
Demonstrators gathered to support the attorney-general and call the government's decision a 'political and illegal attempt to remove her by those seeking to dismantle Israeli democracy.' Thousands of people gathered outside Attorney-General Gali Baharav-Miara's home on Sunday night in support for her in the build-up to the anticipated vote on her dismissal, in what demonstrators called 'the political and illegal attempt to remove her by those seeking to dismantle Israeli democracy.' Violence appeared to break out between Israel Police officers and protesters in footage shared by Israeli public broadcaster KAN. 'This is a dramatic moment in the path of (Finance Minister Bezalel) Smotrich, (National Security Minister Itamar) Ben-Gvir, and (Prime Minister Benjamin) Netanyahu to remove all checks and balances,' protesters emphasized. 'The people who abandon the hostages and soldiers in a senseless war, who back suspects of aiding the enemy during wartime, and appoint suspects of rape to head committees, will not stop themselves. They will do everything in the name of their fanatical, extreme ideology.' The protest attracted several high-profile speakers, including Professor Avishay Braverman, former president of Ben-Gurion University of the Negev, and retired High Court judge Ayala Procaccia. Braverman started the round of speeches by saying: 'You must understand that now is the time to act immediately and without hesitation.' 'The responsibility for stopping this process of destruction is on us, and each one of us must take this responsibility upon ourselves. We are on the eve of Tisha B'Av. We remember the destruction of the Temple, which marked nearly two thousand years of exile and the lack of independence for the Jewish people. 'We remember the destruction because it is happening before our eyes once again. We must remind ourselves that destruction is a process, and it happens when there are not enough people to stop it in time,' he added. Finally, he described Gali Baharav-Miara as 'a brave woman, serving a path, not a patron,' and concluded, 'Tomorrow, we must not let the evil government fire Gali Baharav-Miara.' Procaccia: 'A government of disgrace, led by a defendant in criminal cases with convicted officials' Procaccia also addressed the public with a speech that described the current government as a 'disgrace.' 'Led by a defendant in criminal cases, with convicted officials who have served prison sentences, heads of committees where one is a criminal defendant and the other was appointed while being suspected of serious sex offenses,' she said. 'I see a leadership that has declared war on the proper democratic processes…harm to the independence of the gatekeepers turns the government into a single authority controlling its citizens without checks,' she added. Activist Yaya Fink entered the stage with a can of food and said: 'I want to remind the negligent government: the can of food I'm holding is the only thing (Gaza hostage) Evyatar David ate last week. And tomorrow, you are holding a government meeting with rich refreshments, which won't discuss Evyatar or any of the hostages, but will focus on the dismissal of the legal advisor and increasing security for the most protected family in the world.' 'Do you have no shame?' he asked and slammed: 'Do you think you can fast for the destruction of the two previous temples, and the next day continue to destroy the third one? Have you forgotten what it means to be Jewish?' Solve the daily Crossword
New York Post
a day ago
- New York Post
Israel arming anti-Hamas Gaza clans, including leader accused of looting aid trucks: reports
Israel is arming local gangs in the Gaza Strip to weaken Hamas, but the efforts are propping up a man accused of looting aid trucks, according to a new report. Yasser Abu Shabab, whose 'Popular Forces' militia is active in southern Gaza, has openly challenged Hamas and touted himself as a liberator overseeing the humanitarian aid distribution within his territory. 'He has a full-glide militia up and running, fully backed by Israel,' a UN official told the Washington Post. 5 Yasser Abu Shabab, who operates a militia inside Gaza, has openly challenged Hamas and polices aid as it arrives in his territory. Yasser Abu Shabab/Facebook 5 Humanitarian groups say they don't recognize the armed men, but are forced to deal with them as they hold several inspection points in southern Gaza. AFP via Getty Images Shabab, who regularly shares video of his forces on social media, declared the eastern section of Rafah as his domain last month, where 2,000 refugees reportedly live under his group's care. The set up came around the same time Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu revealed that his military was actively arming influential gangs in Gaza as a way to 'oppose' Hamas. While Netanyahu didn't name Shabab's group directly, the clan leader's base is in an area controlled by the Israeli Defense Forces, with his militia caught on video several times operating alongside the IDF. One of the videos was verified by the Guardian, showing the armed men working with IDF soldiers at the Kerem Shalom crossing despite the gang not being recognized by any independent humanitarian group operating in Gaza. 5 Shabab has denied allegations that his group works directly with the Israeli military, which has begun providing arms to local clan leaders. Yasser Abu Shabab/Facebook 5 Shabab's militia had been accused of being behind the systematic looting aid meant to address the humanitarian crisis in Gaza. AFP via Getty Images The IDF has also notably steered clear of conflict with the armed militia after returning to war in March, allowing the group to set up checkpoints and inspect the aid going to Rafah, the UN and humanitarian groups said. Shabab has repeatedly denied the allegations that he works with the Israeli military, slamming them as nothing more than Hamas propaganda. Despite Shabab's efforts to distance himself from the Jewish state, Israeli media has propped him as the man who can succeed Hamas and steer Gaza in a new direction following Netanyahu's proposal to have the Strip led by local leaders approved by Israel. 5 Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu defended the policy of arming local clans as a way to weaken Hamas and save the lives of Israeli soldiers. REUTERS Shabab's rise to prominence, however, has been marred by repeated allegations that his group was behind the armed robberies of aid trucks in southern Gaza. International aid groups that operated in the Strip had accused Shabab and his armed men of systematically looting the trucks delivering food and essential items enroute to refugees. While Shabab initially denied the claims, he later admitted that his men raided half a dozen aid trucks out of desperation, The New York Times reported. Both Shabab and Israel had claimed that Hamas was behind the systematic looting of humanitarian aid in Gaza, but the IDF acknowledged last week that it had no evidence to support the claim. Shabab has also been accused of smuggling drugs and weapons out of Gaza before the war began, with his associates conducting business with the Islamic State branch based in Sinai, according to the WaPo. Israel's plan to bolster local clans is reminiscent of its failed 'Village League' strategy in the West Bank during the 70s and 80s, where the Jewish state gave money and privileges to carry arms to local clan leaders to oppose the Palestine Liberation Organization.
