Latest news with #WPVI
Yahoo
09-07-2025
- Yahoo
Philadelphia cops seek suspects in violent robberies that targeted Asian men
[Source] Philadelphia police are searching for two suspects believed responsible for at least three violent robberies targeting Asian men in Center City's Chinatown area from June 14-16. About the incidents: The Chinatown attack spree began at around 9:30 p.m. on June 14 when a 62-year-old man was approached by two individuals on the 900 block of Cherry Street. When the victim tried to flee, one suspect punched him in the head and face — causing him to fall — before both continued to beat him and steal his wallet. An hour later that night, a 27-year-old man walking near a parking lot on the 800 block of Arch Street was tackled from behind by one suspect, while the other demanded his wallet. They then beat him and stole his wallet and AirPods. The final known attack occurred at 9:30 p.m. on June 16, when two masked suspects wearing all-black clothing confronted a 16-year-old boy in a parking lot on the 100 block of North 9th Street, punching and kicking him before fleeing with $5 that fell from his pocket. What authorities are saying: Officials believe the robberies were racially motivated attacks against Asian men. 'It would appear that these offenders were specifically targeting males of Asian descent, which would make this a hate crime. When we catch these individuals, they will also be charged with ethnic intimidation, along with robbery and related offenses,' Capt. Jason Smith of Central Detectives told WPVI. Authorities released surveillance footage Thursday showing the suspects and concluded from video analysis that other Asian individuals were approached but not robbed, revealing a systematic targeting pattern. Trending on NextShark: Anyone with information about the incidents can call Philadelphia police at 215-686-TIPS (8477) or submit anonymous tips online. This story is part of The Rebel Yellow Newsletter — a bold weekly newsletter from the creators of NextShark, reclaiming our stories and celebrating Asian American voices. Trending on NextShark: Subscribe free to join the movement. If you love what we're building, consider becoming a paid member — your support helps us grow our team, investigate impactful stories, and uplift our community. Subscribe here now! Trending on NextShark: Download the NextShark App: Want to keep up to date on Asian American News? Download the NextShark App today!
Metro
07-07-2025
- Metro
Terrifying moment war zone-like mass shooting leaves three dead in Philadelphia
A mass shooting that broke out in Philadelphia and left three people dead and 10 injured appeared like a scene out of a war zone. CCTV footage from outside a home showed more than a half dozen people taking cover behind a short wall on the porch as countless gunshots rang out. The 20-second Ring camera clip showed women and teenagers taking cover on top of each other and squirming while at least two men stood up with guns and opened fire toward the street. Others could be seen hiding behind cars across the street. Gunfire erupted on the 1500 block of South Etting Street in the Grays Ferry neighborhood just before 1am on Monday. Police were patrolling the area as people gathered and played loud music, when dozens of shots were fired. Three men, aged 19, 23 and 24, were killed in the massacre. Among those who were injured were a 15-year-old girl, two 17-year-old boys and a 19-year-old man in critical condition. Other victims aged 18 to 24 suffered more minor injuries. Philadelphia Police Commissioner Kevin Bethel condemned the perpetrators for engaging in the shootout with children nearby, and said it was 'hard to understand'. 'You see the size of this block – individuals just shooting randomly into houses, into cars,' said Bethel, according to WPVI. 'I mean, this is coward, wannabe thug stuff.' He added that 'we will get to the root cause and we will bring those individuals to justice'. Police have apprehended at least one person with a weapon. The shooting was 'past frustrating' for Tyrique Glasgow, who is executive director of Young Chances Foundation, which works to end violence and give young men opportunities in Grays Ferry. Glasgow said he knows some of the victims. More Trending 'They are working to get jobs and going to vocational school, and to have their lives stopped by gun violence is something that is frustrating and painful,' he told the news outlet. The shooting happened during a community cookout. 'We are going to come together and clean it up, but the blood and the trash and the food and the activities that we are supposed to have today for our summer camp, we had to put on pause today,' Glasgow said. It happened after a violent Fourth of July weekend, with 46 people shot from Friday to Monday, according to Bethel. Get in touch with our news team by emailing us at webnews@ For more stories like this, check our news page. MORE: Tributes to 'brave' Camp Mystic counselor, 18, who died saving children in Texas flood MORE: Body cam footage shows brothers 'throwing punches' at Manchester Airport police officers MORE: Girl, 8, killed after illegal firework strike on Independence Day
Miami Herald
01-07-2025
- Entertainment
- Miami Herald
Rob McElhenney is changing his name. His kids, wife share how they feel about it
As actor Rob McElhenney continues to take steps to change his surname, his wife and kids are revealing how they feel about the move. During a May interview with Variety, McElhenney revealed that he was considering changing his last name from McElhenney to Mac, and WPVI reported he recently took legal steps to do so. Mac has some significance, at least to McElhenney and his wife, Kaitlin Olson. It's the name of his 'It's Always Sunny in Philadelphia' character, a show that will begin its 17th season in July. And the show the lead to their 17-year marriage. A post shared by Rob McElhenney (@robmcelhenney)
12-06-2025
Mother charged with murder of 3-year-old daughter after allegedly lying about child's abduction
A Maryland mother has been charged with the murder of her 3-year-old daughter after falsely reporting to police that the child was kidnapped at gunpoint, according to Maryland State Police. Darrian Randle, 31, was charged with first- and second-degree murder, first-degree child abuse resulting in the death of a minor under 13 and "other related criminal charges," police announced on Wednesday. She was also charged with filing a false police report in Delaware, according to Philadelphia ABC station WPVI. Randle previously reported to police on Tuesday that her daughter, 3-year-old Nola Dinkins, had been kidnapped at gunpoint, which led to the issuing of an Amber Alert in Newark, Delaware, police said. Information "gleaned throughout the investigation revealed the initial report provided by Randle was false" and the Amber Alert was subsequently canceled, police said in a press release. Through their search efforts, officials located human remains that are "consistent with that of a child" in a vacant lot in North East, Maryland, on Wednesday afternoon, police said. The identification of the remains -- and whether or not they are Dinkins' -- is pending autopsy results by the medical examiner, police said. Randle previously stated she and Dinkins had left her apartment complex and arrived at a dead-end road, with the child beginning to "cry for an unknown reason," according to the arrest warrant. While Randle was trying to figure out why her daughter was crying, she said an unknown black SUV with "either rust or dirt on its sides" pulled up behind Randle's vehicle, with a male voice asking if she was OK, according to the warrant. Randle replied that she was OK and then "directed her attention back to looking in her car" to her crying child, the warrant said. While she was looking inside her vehicle, she said an "unknown white male, approximately 40 years of age," wearing a black hoodie and gray shorts, exited the SUV and approached Randle's vehicle, she told police. The male once again asked if Randle was OK and then removed a "black handgun from his shorts" and pointed it at the mother and the child, according to the warrant. She told police the male said he was "not going to hurt them," but then grabbed the child, "picked her up, placing her underneath his arm" and retreated to the SUV, which was driven by a white female. At the time of the report, police issued an Amber Alert and an intensive search began overnight. The Amber Alert was canceled after police determined the mother lied to police, with the case then being investigated as a homicide, New Castle County Police said. Randle later admitted to police she was lying about the kidnapping and the suspects involved, saying she made up the report to "divert attention from her then boyfriend," who was identified as 44-year-old Cedrick Antoine Britten, police said. Britten was also arrested and charged with accessory to first- and second-degree murder, failure to report the death of the child and "other related criminal charges," police said. Randle is currently being held at the Baylor Women's Correctional Institution in Delaware, with her preliminary court hearing scheduled for June 23, according to jail records. Britten remains in police custody in Maryland awaiting transport to the Cecil County District Court for an initial appearance, police said. Additional details on what led to the murder charges have not been revealed by officials. It was not immediately clear whether Randle or Britten have attorneys who can speak on their behalf.
Yahoo
11-06-2025
- Yahoo
Strangers raise more than $70K for transgender woman hospitalized after shocking West Philly acid attack
On the first day of Pride Month, 25-year-old Diana was walking alone through West Philadelphia when three boys—some possibly as young as 8—approached her and hurled acid onto her body. She had just exited a commuter rail station and was headed to meet friends. Within seconds, her Pride plans turned into a medical emergency. Keep up with the latest in + news and politics. The corrosive liquid, believed to be battery acid, left Diana, a transgender woman, with second and third-degree burns to her face, arms, legs, torso, and neck, according to Philadelphia Police Capt. Robert McKeever, who spoke to local ABC affiliate WPVI. The suspects fled the scene and were later seen on surveillance footage boarding the train at 52nd Street. 'She was walking to her destination with her earphones in,' McKeever said. 'There was no interaction. Nothing led up to this event.' Related: Two trans women attacked at Minneapolis light rail station as crowd cheered Diana's friend Shiloh Colon told WPVI that the children 'stopped and then they threw the acid,' echoing Diana's firsthand account. The incident is being investigated by Philadelphia's Southwest Detectives Division, with investigators seeking help from the School District and social media to identify the suspects. No arrests have been made. After the attack, a GoFundMe campaign organized by Colon surged past its initial $15,000 goal, raising over $72,000 as of Wednesday morning. Most contributions have come from strangers who were moved by Diana's story. Her father, Paul Catanzaro, is listed as the beneficiary. The funds will help cover surgeries, lost wages, and housing while Diana recovers, according to the fundraising site. She remains at Temple Burn Center and is expected to undergo multiple skin grafts. Related: Transgender business owner in Los Angeles attacked again 'We really strongly believe this was a hate crime,' Colon told WPVI. Police say they are exploring all possible motives. The attack happened just one day before GLAAD released its annual Anti-LGBTQ Extremism Report, documenting 932 anti-LGBTQ+ incidents from May 2024 to May 2025. According to the report, the 485 anti-trans attacks included at least 24 physical assaults, 209 harassment cases, and multiple bomb threats, all in a climate where protections have eroded. GLAAD notes that the Trump administration's Bureau of Justice Statistics has removed mention of gender identity from key federal reports, while 27 states still lack comprehensive hate crime laws covering LGBTQ+ people. Philadelphia Councilmember Jamie Gauthier, in a June 6 statement on X (formerly Twitter), denounced the attack and the climate fueling it: 'Young people are not born with hate in their hearts. Instead, the politically motivated, anti-trans hatred spewing out of Washington indoctrinates our kids and incites terrible violence.'
