A fugitive wanted over the fatal shooting of a security guard set out to kill as many white people as possible in a rampage that left three men dead in California.
Kori Ali Muhammad, 39, who is black, told investigators he decided to target white people in downtown Fresno after police identified him as a suspect in the killing of the motel guard.
Muhammad fired 16 rounds in less than two minutes during his deadly spree.
He first walked up to a lorry and shot a 34-year-old white man sitting in the passenger seat, but spared the Latino driver.
He fired at another person but missed before shooting dead a 37-year-old pedestrian carrying a bag of shopping.
The last victim, 58, was gunned down in the car park of a charity building.
Fresno police chief Jerry Dyer said Muhammad had also approached a car between the shootings, but he did not open fire on the two woman and child inside, who were Latino.
When captured Muhammad shouted "Allahu Akbar" - God is great - but Mr Dyer said the shootings had "nothing to do with terrorism in spite of the statement he made".
"This is solely based on race," he said.
He added: "These individuals who were chosen today did not do anything to deserve what they got.
"These were unprovoked attacks by an individual that was intent on carrying out homicides today. He did that."
Just hours before the shootings on Tuesday, police published a news release warning that Muhammad was armed and dangerous and wanted for the murder last week of a white motel security guard, 25-year-old Carl Williams.
When arrested, he is said to have told officers: "I did it. I shot them."
Muhammad, who was previously known as Cory McDonald, faces four counts of murder and at least two additional charges of assault with a deadly weapon.
On what is believed to be his Facebook page, Muhammad repeatedly posted "#LetBlackPeopleGo" and encouraged "black warriors" to "mount up".
Wednesday, April 19, 2017
'Croydon cat killer' linked to Hampshire deaths and becoming 'more brazen'
The deaths of three cats in Hampshire are being linked to the so-called 'Croydon cat killer', thought to have killed 230 animals in Greater London.
A cat was found decapitated in Southsea, Portsmouth, on Sunday, two weeks after another was found killed in the same area, while in July, a cat was found killed on the Isle of Wight.
A Hampshire Police spokesman said: "We believe these incidents may be linked to Operation Takahe, a series of cat deaths in the Croydon/M25 area, and is being investigated by the Metropolitan Police Service."
Sergeant Tony Jeacock said: "I would like to reassure the public that we are investigating the incident and following all possible leads."
The Southsea victim, called Poppy, was killed outside a shop in Marmion Road and the cat's owner Tim Sparkes said the person responsible was becoming "more brazen".
Mr Sparkes told the Portsmouth News: "It's really about getting the message out there that this person has been around the Portsmouth area now and he appears to be doing it in clusters.
"He's becoming more brazen, usually it's not in a road, normally it's in someone's garden. It seems to be a step up in his way in killing."
The latest apparent feline victim was discovered in Croydon on Tuesday, outside a school as teachers and students returned after the Easter holidays.
Other reports over the weekend included mutilated cats killed in Chatham, Redhill and New Malden, while two fox cubs were found killed in Herne Bay.
South Norwood Animal Rescue and Liberty (Snarl), which has been cataloguing the deaths, said, from the post-mortem on the Isle of Wight cat, called Fleabags, it seemed whoever had done it had used a different weapon.
Co-founder Boudicca Rising said: "We are keeping an eye on it in case the killer was on holiday and didn't have access to their normal toolkit."
Snarl is advising London cat-owners to keep their pets indoors at night: "Our advice is not to let cats out at night, most of the deaths are happening at night."
The charity said they had received reports of 230 deaths, 40 of which were foxes, from London and as far afield as Birmingham, Manchester, Brackley and Maidstone.
The Metropolitan Police said last June that it had already spent 1,020 hours investigating the deaths since the inquiry was launched in December 2015.
In February last year, animal rights charity PETA offered a £5,000 reward to anyone providing information to police that leads to the arrest and conviction of the killer, or killers.
A cat was found decapitated in Southsea, Portsmouth, on Sunday, two weeks after another was found killed in the same area, while in July, a cat was found killed on the Isle of Wight.
A Hampshire Police spokesman said: "We believe these incidents may be linked to Operation Takahe, a series of cat deaths in the Croydon/M25 area, and is being investigated by the Metropolitan Police Service."
Sergeant Tony Jeacock said: "I would like to reassure the public that we are investigating the incident and following all possible leads."
The Southsea victim, called Poppy, was killed outside a shop in Marmion Road and the cat's owner Tim Sparkes said the person responsible was becoming "more brazen".
Mr Sparkes told the Portsmouth News: "It's really about getting the message out there that this person has been around the Portsmouth area now and he appears to be doing it in clusters.
"He's becoming more brazen, usually it's not in a road, normally it's in someone's garden. It seems to be a step up in his way in killing."
The latest apparent feline victim was discovered in Croydon on Tuesday, outside a school as teachers and students returned after the Easter holidays.
Other reports over the weekend included mutilated cats killed in Chatham, Redhill and New Malden, while two fox cubs were found killed in Herne Bay.
South Norwood Animal Rescue and Liberty (Snarl), which has been cataloguing the deaths, said, from the post-mortem on the Isle of Wight cat, called Fleabags, it seemed whoever had done it had used a different weapon.
Co-founder Boudicca Rising said: "We are keeping an eye on it in case the killer was on holiday and didn't have access to their normal toolkit."
Snarl is advising London cat-owners to keep their pets indoors at night: "Our advice is not to let cats out at night, most of the deaths are happening at night."
The charity said they had received reports of 230 deaths, 40 of which were foxes, from London and as far afield as Birmingham, Manchester, Brackley and Maidstone.
The Metropolitan Police said last June that it had already spent 1,020 hours investigating the deaths since the inquiry was launched in December 2015.
In February last year, animal rights charity PETA offered a £5,000 reward to anyone providing information to police that leads to the arrest and conviction of the killer, or killers.
North Korea tension: US 'armada' was not sailing to Korean peninsula
A US aircraft carrier and other warships did not sail towards North Korea - but went in the opposite direction, it has emerged.
The US Navy said on 8 April that the Carl Vinson strike group was travelling to the Korean peninsula amid tensions over Pyongyang's nuclear ambitions.
Last week President Trump said an "armada" was being sent.
But the group was actually farther away over the weekend, moving through the Sunda Strait into the Indian Ocean.
The US military's Pacific Command said on Tuesday that it had cancelled a port visit to Perth, but had completed previously scheduled training with Australia off its northwest coast after departing Singapore on 8 April.
The US Navy said on 8 April that the Carl Vinson strike group was travelling to the Korean peninsula amid tensions over Pyongyang's nuclear ambitions.
Last week President Trump said an "armada" was being sent.
But the group was actually farther away over the weekend, moving through the Sunda Strait into the Indian Ocean.
The US military's Pacific Command said on Tuesday that it had cancelled a port visit to Perth, but had completed previously scheduled training with Australia off its northwest coast after departing Singapore on 8 April.
Former New England Patriots star Aaron Hernandez kills himself in prison
Former NFL player Aaron Hernandez has killed himself at a prison in Massachusetts where he was serving a life sentence for murder.
The Department of Corrections said the 27-year-old was found hanged in his cell just after 3am local time on Wednesday morning.
"Life-saving techniques were attempted on Hernandez and he was transported to hospital where he was pronounced dead at 4.07am," its statement added.
Massachusetts State Police has now launched an investigation into the suicide at the Souza Baranowski Correctional Centre in the town of Shirley.
At the height of his career with the New England Patriots, currently Super Bowl champions, Hernandez was on a five-year contract worth $40m (£31m).
The tight end was dropped by the team just hours after he was arrested for the 2013 murder of semi-professional footballer Odin Lloyd, for which he was sentenced to life in prison without parole.
Less than a week ago, a jury had cleared Hernandez of killing Daniel de Abreu and Safiro Furtado in a 2012 drive-by shooting after a fight outside a nightclub in Boston's South End.
Hernandez was acquitted on seven of the eight charges he had faced, and was only convicted on an illegal firearms charge.
Prosecutors had accused the former NFL star of shooting the men because his drink had been spilled inside the club.
Following the acquittal, Patriots head coach Bill Belichick had described Hernandez's fall from grace as a "tragedy".
The Department of Corrections said the 27-year-old was found hanged in his cell just after 3am local time on Wednesday morning.
"Life-saving techniques were attempted on Hernandez and he was transported to hospital where he was pronounced dead at 4.07am," its statement added.
Massachusetts State Police has now launched an investigation into the suicide at the Souza Baranowski Correctional Centre in the town of Shirley.
At the height of his career with the New England Patriots, currently Super Bowl champions, Hernandez was on a five-year contract worth $40m (£31m).
The tight end was dropped by the team just hours after he was arrested for the 2013 murder of semi-professional footballer Odin Lloyd, for which he was sentenced to life in prison without parole.
Less than a week ago, a jury had cleared Hernandez of killing Daniel de Abreu and Safiro Furtado in a 2012 drive-by shooting after a fight outside a nightclub in Boston's South End.
Hernandez was acquitted on seven of the eight charges he had faced, and was only convicted on an illegal firearms charge.
Prosecutors had accused the former NFL star of shooting the men because his drink had been spilled inside the club.
Following the acquittal, Patriots head coach Bill Belichick had described Hernandez's fall from grace as a "tragedy".
George Bush Sr back in hospital with pneumonia
George HW Bush, who served as US president from 1989 to 1993, has been admitted to hospital with pneumonia for the second time in three months.
The veteran politician, who was Republican commander-in-chief during the first Gulf War in 1991, "is going to be fine", his spokesman said.
Family spokesman Jim McGrath said the 92-year-old was taken to Houston Methodist Hospital on Friday "for observation due to a persistent cough that prevented him from getting proper rest".
"It was subsequently determined he had a mild case of pneumonia, which was treated and has been resolved," Mr McGrath added.
"President Bush is in very good spirits and is being held for further observation while he regains his strength."
Mr Bush spent more than two weeks at the same hospital in January after developing pneumonia - much of that time in the hospital's intensive care unit.
His wife, former first lady Barbara Bush, 91, was also at the hospital at the same time where she was treated for bronchitis.
Before his election as US president, Mr Bush had served as vice president to Ronald Reagan for eight years.
He is the father of ex president George W Bush and former Florida Governor and Republican presidential candidate Jeb Bush.
The veteran politician, who was Republican commander-in-chief during the first Gulf War in 1991, "is going to be fine", his spokesman said.
Family spokesman Jim McGrath said the 92-year-old was taken to Houston Methodist Hospital on Friday "for observation due to a persistent cough that prevented him from getting proper rest".
"It was subsequently determined he had a mild case of pneumonia, which was treated and has been resolved," Mr McGrath added.
"President Bush is in very good spirits and is being held for further observation while he regains his strength."
Mr Bush spent more than two weeks at the same hospital in January after developing pneumonia - much of that time in the hospital's intensive care unit.
His wife, former first lady Barbara Bush, 91, was also at the hospital at the same time where she was treated for bronchitis.
Before his election as US president, Mr Bush had served as vice president to Ronald Reagan for eight years.
He is the father of ex president George W Bush and former Florida Governor and Republican presidential candidate Jeb Bush.
J025: Asteroid will be largest since 2004 to pass close to Earth
Stargazers will be looking to the skies on Wednesday as an asteroid up to a mile wide passes by the Earth.
The asteroid, known as J025, will be the largest to come this close to our planet for the past 13 years.
It will pass within 1.1 million miles - just five times as far away from Earth as the Moon is - a close pass in cosmic terms.
But we can all breath easy, as NASA says there is no chance it will hit Earth.
The object, discovered in 2014, will not be visible to the naked eye but it will be bright enough to be seen through a home telescope for one or two nights from Wednesday.
Scientists do not know exactly how big it is, but they have estimated it is between 600 metres and 1,400 metres wide.
Smaller asteroids routinely make closer passes to Earth.
"We know the time that the object is going to be closest within seconds, and the distance is known within hundreds of kilometres," said Davide Farnocchia, a mathematician at NASA's near-Earth object programme.
He said having several years of data of the asteroids trajectory meant they were able to confidently predict how close to the Earth it will come.
Mr Farnocchia said he and his colleagues have already moved on to tracking even closer encounters between the Earth and other asteroids in the future, such as the asteroid 1999 AN10.
In 2027, the half-mile wide asteroid is predicted to pass closer to the Earth than the Moon, coming within 236,000 miles of Earth.
In 2004, 3.1 mile-wide asteroid Toutatis passed within a million miles of Earth.
The asteroid, known as J025, will be the largest to come this close to our planet for the past 13 years.
It will pass within 1.1 million miles - just five times as far away from Earth as the Moon is - a close pass in cosmic terms.
But we can all breath easy, as NASA says there is no chance it will hit Earth.
The object, discovered in 2014, will not be visible to the naked eye but it will be bright enough to be seen through a home telescope for one or two nights from Wednesday.
Scientists do not know exactly how big it is, but they have estimated it is between 600 metres and 1,400 metres wide.
Smaller asteroids routinely make closer passes to Earth.
"We know the time that the object is going to be closest within seconds, and the distance is known within hundreds of kilometres," said Davide Farnocchia, a mathematician at NASA's near-Earth object programme.
He said having several years of data of the asteroids trajectory meant they were able to confidently predict how close to the Earth it will come.
Mr Farnocchia said he and his colleagues have already moved on to tracking even closer encounters between the Earth and other asteroids in the future, such as the asteroid 1999 AN10.
In 2027, the half-mile wide asteroid is predicted to pass closer to the Earth than the Moon, coming within 236,000 miles of Earth.
In 2004, 3.1 mile-wide asteroid Toutatis passed within a million miles of Earth.
George Osborne quits as MP ahead of snap general election
The former chancellor has announced he is stepping down as MP after the Prime Minister called a snap general election.
George Osborne has said he is giving up the Tatton seat he has held for 16 years but he will carry on "fighting for that Britain I love" in his new role as editor of the Evening Standard newspaper.
However, he hinted that he might make a return to the political front line saying he was leaving Westminster "for now".
:: Osborne has HOW MANY jobs?
In a letter to the Conservatives in his Tatton constituency, he said: "I am stepping down from the House of Commons - for now. But I will remain active in the debate about our country's future and on the issues I care about, like the success of the Northern Powerhouse.
"I want a Britain that is free, open, diverse and works with other nations to defend our democratic values in the world.
"I will go on fighting for that Britain I love from the editor's chair of a great newspaper. It's still too early to be writing my memoirs."
He had been under pressure to stand down over a conflict of interests between his job as MP and the many other roles he has taken on since he was sacked from the Cabinet by Theresa May.
An election made the idea that Mr Osborne could retain his role as MP at the same time as editing a newspaper untenable.
Sky News senior political correspondent Beth Rigby said: "Osborne was waiting in wings for Theresa May to fail on Brexit. A snap election makes that outcome a lot less likely. Bowing out for now makes sense."
Mr Osborne, who is due to take up his newspaper job on May 2, also earns £640,000 a year for one day a week's work as an advisor at fund manager BlackRock.
In the last year he has made £800,000 from 15 speaking engagements, including at City and Wall Street banks.
He also receives a £120,212 allowance as Kissinger fellow at the McCain Institute for a year and has an unpaid role as the chairman of the Northern Powerhouse Partnership.
Mr Osborne is under investigation by the Advisory Committee on Business Appointments over whether he received parliamentary approval to take on the Evening Standard role before accepting the job.
His decision has also triggered a review on MPs and second jobs by the Committee on Standards in Public Life.
George Osborne has said he is giving up the Tatton seat he has held for 16 years but he will carry on "fighting for that Britain I love" in his new role as editor of the Evening Standard newspaper.
However, he hinted that he might make a return to the political front line saying he was leaving Westminster "for now".
:: Osborne has HOW MANY jobs?
In a letter to the Conservatives in his Tatton constituency, he said: "I am stepping down from the House of Commons - for now. But I will remain active in the debate about our country's future and on the issues I care about, like the success of the Northern Powerhouse.
"I want a Britain that is free, open, diverse and works with other nations to defend our democratic values in the world.
"I will go on fighting for that Britain I love from the editor's chair of a great newspaper. It's still too early to be writing my memoirs."
He had been under pressure to stand down over a conflict of interests between his job as MP and the many other roles he has taken on since he was sacked from the Cabinet by Theresa May.
An election made the idea that Mr Osborne could retain his role as MP at the same time as editing a newspaper untenable.
Sky News senior political correspondent Beth Rigby said: "Osborne was waiting in wings for Theresa May to fail on Brexit. A snap election makes that outcome a lot less likely. Bowing out for now makes sense."
Mr Osborne, who is due to take up his newspaper job on May 2, also earns £640,000 a year for one day a week's work as an advisor at fund manager BlackRock.
In the last year he has made £800,000 from 15 speaking engagements, including at City and Wall Street banks.
He also receives a £120,212 allowance as Kissinger fellow at the McCain Institute for a year and has an unpaid role as the chairman of the Northern Powerhouse Partnership.
Mr Osborne is under investigation by the Advisory Committee on Business Appointments over whether he received parliamentary approval to take on the Evening Standard role before accepting the job.
His decision has also triggered a review on MPs and second jobs by the Committee on Standards in Public Life.
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