Death Penalty Sought in PA Cookout Ambush: Prosecutors in Pennsylvania announced Friday that they plan to seek the death penalty against two men charged in an ambush at a cookout five months ago that killed five adults, one of whom was pregnant. The AP reports that Cheron Shelton, 29, and Robert Thomas, 27, will face the death penalty if convicted of first-degree murder for the March 9 shooting in suburban Pittsburgh that left five adults and an unborn child dead, and three others wounded. Thomas allegedly fired 18 shots from a pistol into a group of 15 partygoers, who then ran toward the rear porch of the house. Shelton was hiding behind a fence nearby and fired 30 shots from an AK-47-style rifle. Prosecutors say the men's motive stems from the murder of Shelton's best friend in 2013, who is believed to have be killed by one of the wounded partygoers. Shelton and Thomas both face six counts each of criminal homicide, as well as charges of criminal conspiracy, aggravated assault and reckless endangerment.
Illegal Immigrant Bus Driver Kills 2 in Crash: A bus operated by an unlicensed illegal immigrant driver carrying flood recovery volunteers crashed into several vehicles, including a fire truck, on a Louisiana interstate Sunday morning, killing two people and injuring 36. Fox News reports that the driver of the bus, Denis Yasmir Amaya Rodriguez, 37, of Honduras, hit the fire truck and then a car, veering behind the fire truck and into a pickup truck. Three firefighters, who were there responding to an earlier crash, were knocked into the water below the interstate. The two fatalities include Jermaine Star, 21, who was in the backseat of the car that was struck, and St. John the Baptist Parish district Fire Chief Spencer Chauvin. Two other firefighters, 24 bus passengers and nine people in other vehicles were injured. Rodriguez sustained minor injuries. He faces two counts of negligent homicide, reckless operation and driving without a driver's license. Police say there will be additional charges.
Man Faces 2 Capital Murder Charges in MS Nun Deaths: A man suspected of murdering two Mississippi nuns last week has been arrested and charged with two counts of capital murder. Emily Wagster Pettus of the AP reports that Rodney Earl Sanders, 46, is charged in the deaths of Sister Margaret Held and Sister Paula Merrill, both 68, whose bodies were discovered inside a residence Thursday after they failed to show up for work at a health clinic. The home showed signs of a break-in and their stolen car was discovered a mile away. Police haven't disclosed a motive for the slayings or the women's cause of death. Sisters Held and Merrill were both nurse practitioners who worked at a clinic administering flu shots, dispensing insulin and providing other medical care for children and adults who couldn't afford it.
Illegal Immigrant Bus Driver Kills 2 in Crash: A bus operated by an unlicensed illegal immigrant driver carrying flood recovery volunteers crashed into several vehicles, including a fire truck, on a Louisiana interstate Sunday morning, killing two people and injuring 36. Fox News reports that the driver of the bus, Denis Yasmir Amaya Rodriguez, 37, of Honduras, hit the fire truck and then a car, veering behind the fire truck and into a pickup truck. Three firefighters, who were there responding to an earlier crash, were knocked into the water below the interstate. The two fatalities include Jermaine Star, 21, who was in the backseat of the car that was struck, and St. John the Baptist Parish district Fire Chief Spencer Chauvin. Two other firefighters, 24 bus passengers and nine people in other vehicles were injured. Rodriguez sustained minor injuries. He faces two counts of negligent homicide, reckless operation and driving without a driver's license. Police say there will be additional charges.
Man Faces 2 Capital Murder Charges in MS Nun Deaths: A man suspected of murdering two Mississippi nuns last week has been arrested and charged with two counts of capital murder. Emily Wagster Pettus of the AP reports that Rodney Earl Sanders, 46, is charged in the deaths of Sister Margaret Held and Sister Paula Merrill, both 68, whose bodies were discovered inside a residence Thursday after they failed to show up for work at a health clinic. The home showed signs of a break-in and their stolen car was discovered a mile away. Police haven't disclosed a motive for the slayings or the women's cause of death. Sisters Held and Merrill were both nurse practitioners who worked at a clinic administering flu shots, dispensing insulin and providing other medical care for children and adults who couldn't afford it.
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