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Chicago Tribune
09-07-2025
- Chicago Tribune
Father of drill rapper whose party was targeted in mass shooting hit with federal weapons charges
The father of the Chicago drill rapper whose album release party was targeted in a mass shooting in River North over the Fourth of July has been hit with federal weapons charges alleging he sold 13 guns to undercover informants over the course of two months, including several just days after the attack. Melvin Doyle, 49, who has multiple felony convictions in his background, was arrested on Monday after he allegedly sold three pistols for $3,000, according to a criminal complaint brought this week in U.S. District Court. Agents with the U.S. Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives found Doyle sitting in his Lincoln SUV in the 6500 block of South Yale Avenue, about a mile and a half from the site of the transaction, the charges alleged. Doyle was still wearing a holster on his waist that fit the one of the Glock pistols he'd sold, and he was carrying $1,100 in cash, all in $100 denominations, the complaint alleged. A cell phone Doyle had had also been used to communicate with the purchasers of the weapons, the complaint alleged. Doyle is the father of Melanie Doyle, the drill rapper known as Mello Buckzz, according to a law enforcement source. A rising artist who recently collaborated with rap superstar G Herbo, she was hosting an album release party at a River North club on July 2 when a gunman from a passing vehicle fired into the crowd outside, killing four and wounding 14 others. No arrests have been made. Though the investigation into Melvin Doyle's weapons sales was not related to the mass shooting, there has been concern among law enforcement about gang retaliation. His daughter on social media claims an affiliation with 'NLMB,' a gang faction based in the South Shore and Greater Grand Crossing neighborhoods where her father still resides. NLMB has feuded openly with opposing South Side gangs, sources have said, where each has used their music and social media to taunt each other before sometimes exchanging hits on opposition members. On social media channels, Melanie Doyle has said that her significant other and best friend were among those killed. Melvin Doyle, meanwhile, has an extensive criminal record dating back to his late teens. He was charged with attempted murder in 1995, pleaded guilty in 1998 and was sentenced to 10 years in prison, records show. Details about the case were not immediately available. Cook County court records show that the same day that the attempted murder charge was filed, Doyle was also charged with murder in the March 1995 killing of a 23-month-old boy, who was hit by gunfire intended for a rival gang member. In that case, Doyle was found not guilty in a bench trial in July 1998, about a month before he pleaded guilty in the attempted murder, according to court records. Doyle also has two other convictions for narcotics possession, and in 2010 he was charged with armed home invasion and aggravated domestic battery stemming from an incident in Skokie. He pleaded guilty and was sentenced in August 2011 to 12 years. The current case charges Melvin Doyle with a single count of illegal possession of a firearm by a felon. The complaint, however, details a series of transactions that began in May and continued until his arrest Monday, Doyle had an initial appearance at the Dirksen U.S. Courthouse on Tuesday, where prosecutors asked that he be held pending trial. A detention hearing is scheduled for Friday.
San Francisco Chronicle
09-07-2025
- San Francisco Chronicle
Maps and videos reveal how deadly California fireworks explosion unfolded
As the afternoon sun dipped on July 1, a stockpile of fireworks ignited on a remote farm, causing a massive, ground-shaking explosion that killed seven people in the Yolo County town of Esparto. Mystery property The facility was located on County Road 23, just south of the town, and included an assortment of farm storage buildings and containers, a swimming pool and a pair of houses. The property is zoned for agriculture. Yolo County officials said they were surprised to learn that two fireworks companies held thousands of pounds of explosives at the site. Where fireworks were allowed The U.S. Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives had approved licenses for Devastating Pyrotechnics to store display-grade fireworks, which are used in professional shows, in seven metal storage containers. Those containers are situated along an agricultural field on the northern edge of the property, according to maps reviewed by the Chronicle. The nearest container was about a third of a mile away from the buildings that blew up on Jan. 1. The company was not permitted to hold the display fireworks in the buildings on the main part of the property. Seconds before 5:49 p.m., a neighbor's livestock surveillance camera captured an initial blast in the distance, which rattled the buildings and sent horses and a herd of goats fleeing. Along with the flame and smoke, the footage showed colorful sprays of fireworks. Across town, a firefighter called in the explosion to the Yolo County Fire Protection District dispatch center, saying: 'Explosion west of town. Might be fireworks facility,' according to audio reviewed by the Chronicle. The fire department dispatcher, fielding 911 calls from concerned residents, first sent fire crews to the scene of what was believed to be an 'airplane down and large fireworks in the field.' Simultaneously, a firefighter from Winters, a town 14 miles to the south, told dispatch he felt the blast. Another firefighter reported a fire in a wheat field a mile from the explosion sparked by flaming debris. Neighbor documents the blast Niza Gutierrez, her husband and daughter were relaxing on the front porch of their Esparto ranch when an explosion made them jump up. 'At first I thought it was a bomb from how it sounded and felt,' Gutierrez said, adding that a concussion wave followed the boom. 'I got scared and told my daughter to go inside. Then I saw all the fireworks and realized it wasn't a bomb.' She whipped out her phone and recorded the smoke swelling into a mushroom cloud. Debris sprayed out from the column of smoke. Gutierrez said she had no idea there was a fireworks facility nearby and initially thought Esparto had launched its Fourth of July celebration early. Satellite image The initial blast was so enormous a weather satellite detected it from thousands of miles above earth. Helicopter footage A KCRA news helicopter arrived above the property at 6:20 p.m. and began filming the devastation. The entire west side of the property was engulfed in flames and shrouded by thick black smoke. The storage containers, which were the only areas permitted to hold display-grade fireworks, appeared undamaged. Burning debris from the blast was strewn across the site as well as neighboring properties, starting new fires. Debris field Long metal storage containers were ablaze and fireworks exploded in and around them. The trailers appeared blown open. Another explosion By 6:41 p.m., with the television helicopter filming above, another fireball erupted near the area of the initial blast. A Yolo County sheriff's deputy radioed that other parts of the property were packed with combustibles and poised to explode. 'The main house is just catching fire now,' he said, 'there's a lot of ammunition in there.' One industry expert, who asked to remain anonymous to avoid professional repercussions, said they watched the viral explosion footage. They said it appeared to show display grade fireworks, the most explosive type only available to licensed professionals. 'I've watched that video over and over and over again and … there is no way that is (safe and sane) fireworks,' the expert said, referring to smaller devices like sparklers and fountains. The schedule of coming events was potentially a factor as well. The blast led to cancellations of at least a dozen displays the company had been planning in the region. 'Things get very chaotic with companies during the Fourth of July,' the expert continued. 'Did he have fireworks sitting there in trucks getting ready to move out over the next few days?' Damaged warehouse The two major blasts were so big that they collapsed walls of the warehouse on the west side of the property, as shown in the KCRA footage around 6:58 p.m. The raging fires appeared to set off the fireworks and caused the roof to buckle. Third explosion Minutes after the warehouse caught fire, the news helicopter captured another giant explosion and mushroom cloud. The warehouse was not licensed to store fireworks. A TikTok user posted footage of the third explosion, showing a fully engulfed property spewing dark smoke. Suddenly, a plume of white smoke rose and a loud crack erupted amid the darkness. 'Oh my God!' she repeated. Crackles of color from fireworks were seen at the base of the explosion. All gone Little remained on the Esparto property other than ash and a swimming pool. Seven people died and two were injured in the blasts and blaze. Investigators said no cause had immediately been determined as local, state and federal officials surveyed the damage, including an 80-acre brush fire the explosion started. Families identified many of those killed as Devastating Pyrotechnics employees, including the general manager. The Chronicle reported that CEO and owner Kenneth Chee, a 48-year-old optician, ran the company despite being denied a federal license to acquire and possess fireworks. Two years ago, federal authorities approved a license for another man, Gary Chan Jr. of San Francisco, to operate Devastating Pyrotechnics, documents show. Chee successfully obtained three fireworks licenses from the Office of the State Marshal to import and export materials, sell fireworks and launch public displays, all on behalf of Devastating Pyrotechnics and in his name. An attorney for Chee and the company declined to comment. The company posted a message on its website expressing sympathy to the victims.
Chicago Tribune
27-06-2025
- Chicago Tribune
Gary man charged with taking over vacant Winfield home for his family
A 35-year-old Gary man has been charged with burglary and unlawfully carrying a handgun after he illegally took control of a vacant Winfield home and converted it for use by him and his family. Devonte Daquan Malone was arrested on Tuesday and is in custody at the Lake County Jail. Malone has been charged by the Lake County Prosecutor's Office with two felonies: burglary and unlawful carrying of a handgun, and four misdemeanors, criminal trespass, resisting law enforcement, theft, and possession of marijuana, according to a release from Winfield Police. The U.S. Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives is assisting Winfield Police with the investigation. Police said that on Sunday a real estate agent was preparing to show a house to a prospective buyer near Price Street and 104th Place and thought it was odd that the 'For Sale' sign was missing, the Realtor lockbox on the door was removed and the front door locks to the house had been replaced. When the Realtor knocked on the door, a man answered and told the Realtor the house was no longer for sale. The Realtor called the listing agent to inquire about why the house, listed at $415,000, was still an active listing if it had already been sold. The listing agent knew right away something was wrong and notified Winfield Police. Winfield police canvassed the neighborhood as part of their investigation and were told by residents that the new homeowners had moved into the house two to three weeks earlier. According to Winfield Police Chief Robert Byrd, 'Because of the genuine concern and helpful cooperation of those residents, police were able to gain a substantial amount of information to further the investigation.' 'We certainly appreciate the assistance of our residents in helping us solve this crime and we remind everyone to always call the police whenever they see something suspicious,' Byrd said. Malone identified himself as a sovereign citizen who serves as Minister and Chief Trustee of the Devine Dominion Magna Trust Property of Merrillville. He provided self-made Sovereign Real Estate Redemption forms and Notice of Non-Consent to Statutory Jurisdiction documents to the police to show that he lawfully possessed the residence. Police removed multiple firearms, 458 grams of marijuana products, and several computers from the residence, according to the release. Anyone with additional information is asked to call the Winfield Police Department at 219-779-9326.
Epoch Times
10-06-2025
- Politics
- Epoch Times
Gun Used in Shooting Colombian Presidential Candidate Traced to Arizona
The pistol used to shoot Colombian presidential candidate Sen. Miguel Uribe Turbay was purchased in the U.S. state of Arizona, the South American country's top police officer said Monday. Speaking at a press event, Gen. Carlos Fernando Triana of the Colombian National Police said, 'According to the verification carried out by the U.S. Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, within the framework of international cooperation, the firearm was purchased on August 6, 2020, in Arizona, United States, that is, it was purchased legally.'
Yahoo
09-06-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
Mass. AG Campbell sues Trump admin over plan to distribute machine gun conversion tech
Massachusetts Attorney General Andrea J. Campbell is taking the Trump administration to court — again. This time over a plan to distribute thousands of machinegun conversion devices to communities across the United States. The suit, filed by Campbell and 16 state attorneys general nationwide, specifically targets the U.S. Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives. In a statement, Campbell's office said the ATF's action involves so-called 'Forced Reset Triggers,' which allow shooters to reach the firepower of a military-grade machine gun. The federal agency previously had classified the devices as machine guns, keeping them off the streets and out of the hands of gun owners. However, the ATF, under a directive from the White House, signed a settlement agreement that would stop enforcing federal law against the FRTs, as they're known, and would redistribute thousands of the devices the agency had previously seized. The multistate litigation seeks to prevent that imminent redistribution, because FRTs are illegal to possess under federal law, Campbell's office said. 'Weapons of war and tools of mass destruction like FRTs have no place or purpose in everyday society—nor in any home, community, or school within the Commonwealth,' Campbell said in a statement. Read More: This $150 device turns pistols into machine guns. Here's why Mass. should worry 'The ATF's actions are a direct assault on every American's inalienable right to feel safe in their homes, schools, and grocery stores—free from the fear or threat of gun violence. I will continue to defend enforcement against FRTs and fight to protect the safety and well-being of Commonwealth residents.' The lawsuit argues that the federal government cannot violate U.S. law, even when it tries to bury those violations in a settlement agreement. Campbell and the other state attorneys general are seeking a a preliminary injunction to halt the Trump Administration from distributing the devices 'in ways that directly harm plaintiff states in contravention of federal law,' they argued. Machine gun conversion devices such as the FRTs have been frequently used in violent crimes and mass shootings, Campbell's office said, contributing to worsening gun violence. Firearms equipped with the conversion devices can exceed the firing rate of many military machine guns, firing up to 20 bullets per second. The ATF has noted a 'significant' rise in the use of the devices, leading to a 1,400% increase between 2019 and 2021, Campbell's office said. The ATF has classified devices that act similarly to FRTs as machine guns since at least 1975, which means they've been banned under federal law. Even so, the ATF has estimated that at least 100,000 FRTs have been distributed across the country. And they have been showing up more often at crime scenes, Campbell's office said. Last month, the Trump administration announced that it had settled Biden-era litigation dealing with the devices, doing so in a way that 'eviscerates' the existing prohibition in federal law, Campbell's office said. In addition to Massachusetts, attorneys general from Colorado, Delaware, the District of Columbia, Hawai'i, Illinois, Maine, Maryland, Michigan, Minnesota, Nevada, New Jersey, Oregon, Rhode Island, Vermont, and Washington State, also are participating in the litigation. Mass. labor groups rally against ICE arrest of California union leader Here are 10 NASA missions that could be grounded under Trump's 2026 budget 'I don't know if I want to do this anymore': leaked audio highlights turmoil among Dems Graffiti on tank in Trump's parade calls for hanging 2 well-known Americans 'I would': Trump calls for arrest of California's Newsom amid lawsuit over National Guard in LA Read the original article on MassLive.
