Latest news with #BoyntonBeach
Yahoo
3 days ago
- Politics
- Yahoo
Retired Worcester firefighter Joseph Casello, a lawmaker in Florida, dies of heart attack
Former Worcester firefighter Joseph A. Casello, who retired from the department and moved to Florida, where he entered politics, has died after suffering a heart attack. He was 73. Casello, a Democrat, was a sitting member of the Florida House of Representatives, representing District 90. He lived in Boynton Beach. He was hospitalized after a heart attack in early July and passed away on Friday, July 18, according to The Palm Beach Post newspaper. He had been on life support. He spent more than three decades with the Worcester Fire Department, having grown up in the city. He also worked as an electrician. After retiring from the department, he moved to Boynton Beach, in Palm Beach County. Within a few years he won a seat as a city commissioner. He was elected by three votes. He was first elected to the House in 2018. He was serving his fourth term. Before moving to Florida, Casello made a bid for Worcester City Council. He lost to incumbent Jofferey A. Smith in the 2007 race for the District 1 seat. Prior to being taken off life support, Casello released a statement: "My life has always been about public service and meeting the needs of my community. Serving as both a firefighter for 33 years and an elected official for 13 years has been the greatest honor of my life. Representing the people — through times of unity and division, triumph and challenge — has been a privilege I will always cherish." Casello, who retired from the Worcester Fire Department as a lieutenant, was stationed on Park Avenue the morning of March 7, 1990, when fire broke out in an apartment house on Florence Street. A mother and three young children died in the blaze. Casello later said the fire had deep and continuing affect on him. A photo of Casello, tired and distraught, appeared in the next day's newspaper. Casello's time as a Worcester firefighter was referenced in remarks by Nikki Fried, chairwoman of the Florida Democratic party. She said: "Joe Casello was the kind of public servant every community hopes for," Fried wrote. "As a firefighter for 33 years, he literally ran toward danger to protect others. As an Air Force veteran he understood how important it was to serve selflessly. As a city commissioner and state legislator, he brought that same courage and steady leadership to the halls of government." Material from The Palm Beach Post was used in this report. This article originally appeared on Telegram & Gazette: Ex-Worcester firefighter Joseph Casello, lawmaker in Fla., dies of heart attack
National Post
4 days ago
- Politics
- National Post
Florida Rep. Joe Casello dies while in office following a heart attack
BOYNTON BEACH, Fla. (AP) — Florida Democratic lawmaker Joe Casello has died while in office following a heart attack, according to state House officials. He was 73. Article content Casello, who was first elected to the Florida House in 2018 from a district in Boynton Beach, was surrounded by his girlfriend and family when he died Friday, the Florida House Democratic Caucus said in a social media post. Article content 'The family extends their heartfelt gratitude to all who have offered their love and support during this difficult time,' the caucus said in a statement. Article content We are so sorry to say that Representative Joe Casello has passed away surrounded by his loving family and girlfriend, following a heart attack. He was 73. The family extends their heartfelt gratitude to all who have offered their love and support during this difficult time. — Florida House Democrats (@FLHouseDems) July 19, 2025 Article content Casello was a firefighter in Worcester, Massachusetts, for three decades before entering politics in Florida. He served as a Boynton Beach city commissioner before becoming a state lawmaker. He had announced plans to run for a seat on the Palm Beach County Commission in 2026. Article content Article content
Washington Post
4 days ago
- Politics
- Washington Post
Florida Rep. Joe Casello dies while in office
BOYNTON BEACH, Fla. — Florida Democratic lawmaker Joe Casello has died while in office following a heart attack, according to state House officials. He was 73. Casello, who was first elected to the Florida House in 2018 from a district in Boynton Beach, was surrounded by his girlfriend and family when he died Friday, the Florida House Democratic Caucus said in a social media post. 'The family extends their heartfelt gratitude to all who have offered their love and support during this difficult time,' the caucus said in a statement. Casello was a firefighter in Worcester, Massachusetts, for three decades before entering politics in Florida. He served as a Boynton Beach city commissioner before becoming a state lawmaker. He had announced plans to run for a seat on the Palm Beach County Commission in 2026. Under Florida law, Gov. Ron DeSantis is required to call a special election or special primary election when a vacancy occurs for a legislative seat because of a death.
Associated Press
4 days ago
- Politics
- Associated Press
Florida Rep. Joe Casello dies while in office
BOYNTON BEACH, Fla. (AP) — Florida Democratic lawmaker Joe Casello has died while in office following a heart attack, according to state House officials. He was 73. Casello, who was first elected to the Florida House in 2018 from a district in Boynton Beach, was surrounded by his girlfriend and family when he died Friday, the Florida House Democratic Caucus said in a social media post. 'The family extends their heartfelt gratitude to all who have offered their love and support during this difficult time,' the caucus said in a statement. Casello was a firefighter in Worcester, Massachusetts, for three decades before entering politics in Florida. He served as a Boynton Beach city commissioner before becoming a state lawmaker. He had announced plans to run for a seat on the Palm Beach County Commission in 2026. Under Florida law, Gov. Ron DeSantis is required to call a special election or special primary election when a vacancy occurs for a legislative seat because of a death.
Yahoo
15-07-2025
- Yahoo
One of multiple suspects arrested in shooting at Boynton ‘Peace in the Hood' event
A 19-year-old was arrested Saturday in connection with the July 5 shooting in Boynton Beach after he voluntarily went to police and said that while he was at the 'Peace in the Hood' event and did pull out a gun, he wasn't one of the people to shoot, according to court records. At least 500 people gathered at Sara Sims Park for the unpermitted event, where 'rival gang members' started shooting at each other about 8 p.m., Boynton Beach Police previously said. Three women were struck when bullets flew in the large crowd, which included children, along with multiple occupied and unoccupied cars. The police department previously said within two days of the shooting they had 'multiple persons of interest,' though no one had been arrested as of Friday. Jamarion Petty went to the police station on Saturday after he saw a be-on-the-lookout alert with his information on it, according to a probable cause affidavit for his arrest. Surveillance cameras in the park recorded the moment gunfire erupted between members of the '16th Ave Boys' and the 'Cherry Hill Boyz' gangs, the affidavit said. Members of 16th Ave Boys were standing next to a fence on the south side of the park while members of the rival gang were across the street next to the Community Deliverance Church in the 200 block of Northwest Ninth Avenue. Multiple people from both groups pulled out guns and started shooting as there were 'hundreds of innocent bystanders, including numerous children, walking through the area,' the affidavit said. The gunmen continued 'blindly' shooting without aim, even as they were running away from one another, and at least five cars were shot, the affidavit said. Diamond Delk, one of the injured, told police a man standing near her on the south side of the park was the person who started the shootout, aiming toward the church parking lot, according to the affidavit. Delk was struck in her hip, fracturing her leg, and now has 'severe mobility issues,' her attorney, Richard A. Ryles said at a news conference last week. He filed a notice of claim with the city on Thursday, blaming the city and the police department for not shutting down the unsanctioned event before the shooting unfolded. The police department in response to questions last week said that the shooting didn't happen on city-owned property. The event's organizer, who lives in Lake Worth Beach, applied for a special-event permit on June 17 to use the park as the venue for the 'Stop Violence Awareness' rally with 50 to 100 people until about 8:30 p.m., according to emails the police department provided to the Sun Sentinel. The permit was denied, but the event went on anyway. At the police station on Saturday, Petty said he was at the event alone when he heard gunshots, according to the affidavit, so he took out a small gun and ran toward a house but 'was adamant that he did NOT shoot' it. Petty identified himself in a photo from the park's surveillance cameras. A detective showed Petty video allegedly of him running alongside someone while shooting his gun, with smoke visibly coming out of the end of the barrel, according to the affidavit. While at the police station, Petty was apparently wearing the same Nike sandals he was seen wearing in the surveillance video. They were taken into evidence. Petty was booked into the Palm Beach County jail on Saturday and faces charges of attempted second-degree murder, aggravated battery with a firearm and discharging a firearm in public, court and jail records show. He has not yet entered any plea. He is held without bond. The police department as of Monday has not released information about the arrest or its investigation. 'We do still have multiple persons of interest,' spokesperson Chelsea Sanabia said. 'We hope to have more information in the next few days.'
