Category: Metro

MANHASSET, N.Y. (TCD) — A 43-year-old man stands accused of pointing a gun at a 6-year-old boy who went to retrieve a goody bag that he and his sister accidentally dropped off at the wrong address over the weekend.

According to a news release from the Nassau County Police Department, on Saturday, Oct. 28, at approximately 7:25 p.m., a 42-year-old mother drove her three children and nephew to 138 Rockcrest Road to drop off the Halloween goody bag at her daughter’s friend’s house. At the home, the woman’s 10-year-old daughter and 6-year-old son reportedly walked up to the house, rang the doorbell, and left the candy goody bag on the porch.

Police said the family drove down the block when the daughter realized they dropped off the candy at the wrong home. They reportedly went back to 138 Rockcrest Road to retrieve the goody bag.

The 6-year-old boy got out of the vehicle and approached the front door when Michael Wen allegedly “stepped out of the house and pointed a black handgun at the victim’s head.”

According to court documents obtained by WABC-TV, the 6-year-old boy told police Wen swore at them to leave his property.

Police arrested Wen without incident on charges of second-degree menacing and endangering the welfare of a child.

Wen reportedly told police, “I just wanted to scare them.”

He was arraigned on Sunday, Oct. 29, and pleaded not guilty. WABC reports that Wen will go through a court-mandated mental health evaluation and will attend an anger management class.

Wen is scheduled to appear in court again on Nov. 13.

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MINOT, N.D. (TCD) — Police arrested a 47-year-old woman this week who allegedly poisoned and killed her boyfriend last month.

According to the Minot Police Department, on Sept. 5, 51-year-old Steven Riley died at a Bismarck hospital after being transferred there from Trinity Hospital. An autopsy report concluded that he was fatally poisoned.

Upon further investigation, police determined his girlfriend, Ina Kenoyer, allegedly had “financial motives” to kill her boyfriend. Officials did not specify what those financial reasons were.

Police arrested Kenoyer on Monday, Oct. 30, on suspicion of Riley’s murder.

Kenoyer was booked into the Ward County Jail on a felony murder charge. She remains held without bond.

According to North Dakota state records, Kenoyer faces a maximum penalty of life in prison without parole if convicted.

Investigations Commander Capt. Dale Plessas said in a statement, “This case was extremely complex. Thank you to everyone who provided us with information that helped our investigators piece this together.”

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HIALEAH, Fla. (TCD) — A 13-year-old is being charged with murder after he allegedly stabbed and killed his mother while she slept near her 2-week-old child’s crib.

According to WPLG-TV, on Thursday, Oct. 12, at approximately 11:30 p.m., Hialeah Police officers responded to the Amelia Oaks apartment complex on West 79th Place regarding a death. A teen reportedly contacted police and said he “just murdered his mother,” Irina Garcia.

In the 911 call released by WPLG, 13-year-old Derek Rosa asked the dispatcher to send police to his apartment, though he said he did not know his own address. The dispatcher asked, “I need to know if your mom is breathing.”

Rosa replied, “She’s dead, miss,” and later said, “There’s blood all over the floor.”

Parts of the 911 call were redacted.

Rosa said he found a Beretta gun and was “gonna shoot myself, but I didn’t want to.”

Rosa asked what to do if his mom woke up, and the dispatcher replied, “If she wakes up, just let me know. I need to know. Do you think we can help your mom?”

He said, “Miss, she’s dead.”

Later in the call, Rosa admitted he “took pictures and I told my friend about it.”

He said he doesn’t know his friend’s “real name because he’s an online friend who I play with a lot.”

WPLG reports the call lasted 17 minutes. Police arrived while Rosa was on the phone, and Rosa can be heard screaming.

He asked if he should open the door and whether police “are gonna kill me.”

Hialeah Police Lt. Eddie Rodriguez told WPLG Rosa allegedly waited for his mother to fall asleep, then stabbed her multiple times in the neck. She was reportedly found dead next to a crib where her 14-day-old daughter was sleeping. The newborn was unharmed.

Rodriguez said Rosa was “very apologetic” and “very respectful” during the 911 call.

NBC Miami reports Rosa is being charged as an adult for first-degree murder, to which he pleaded not guilty. He could face up to life in prison if he is convicted.

At his bond hearing, Rosa’s family urged for his release.

His father, Jose Rosa, told the judge, “It’s hard for us to explain how this occurred. It’s difficult, but I guess what we are asking for another opportunity, a second chance to help him grow — put this behind him and say we have your back — we are here to support you.”

Video footage shared by WPLG shows his father saying, “It’s very unfortunate that this tragedy occurred. But this child is very humble, very peaceful, and no one could have imagined that this would ever happen.”

The judge, however, denied bond.

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HEADLAND, Ala. (TCD) — A 44-year-old man and his 43-year-old wife were taken into custody over the weekend after their teenage son’s decomposing body was found in a freezer on the property where they used to live.

On Oct. 29 at 11:37 a.m., Henry County Sheriff’s Office deputies responded to a call on Bradford Drive regarding a deceased individual. When officials arrived, they found a man’s body, believed to be 19-year-old Logan Michael Halstead, in a freezer in the backyard.

Investigators located Logan Halstead’s parents, Michael Halstead and Karen Halstead, in Jack, Alabama, and transported them back to Henry County for questioning. Both were arrested on a charge of abuse of a corpse.

According to WDHN-TV, a couple moved into the home on Bradford Drive and started cleaning up the residence before they moved in.

Lane Keith, the new tenant, told WDHN, “The freezer was going to be the last thing in the backyard that we were going to move and we went to go move it and couldn’t move it. So, my wife flipped the lids off the freezer, moved the tarp back and the cardboard boxes, and there laid a hand.”

Detectives reportedly believe Logan’s body had likely been in the freezer since July or August.

Logan Halstead reportedly suffered from spina bifida, which occurs when the spine does not form correctly and can result in paralysis or the inability to walk.

WDHN reports Logan Halstead had a bowel movement in the house, so Michael Halstead left the room to get cleaning supplies. When he returned, he allegedly claimed his son was dead. He reportedly wrapped his son’s body in blankets, a shower curtain, and plastic bag before leaving him in the freezer.

Halstead allegedly moved the rest of his family out of the house following Logan’s death.

Halstead reportedly called Headland Police to report the incident, but investigators never found the body when they went to the house to search.

According to WDHN, Logan Halstead’s body was sent to the Alabama Department of Forensic Sciences, but his cause of death remained undetermined. Karen Halstead and Michael Halstead reportedly could face additional charges, including murder, pending autopsy results.

They are being held at the Henry County Jail on $175,000 bond.

Henry County Sheriff Eric Blankenship told WDHN, “Very tragic, very horrific scene for you know a situation like this especially to involve a child and parents. This definitely caught us all off guard.”

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JEFFERSON PARISH, La. (TCD) — A 60-year-old man will spend the rest of his life behind bars after he was found guilty of killing his girlfriend in a parking lot three years ago.

The Jefferson Parish District Attorney’s Office announced Oct. 30 a judge sentenced Dennis Sheppard to life in prison in connection with Jyra Holmes’ 2020 death. He was convicted of second-degree murder Oct. 2 after a jury deliberated for just 36 minutes.

On Nov. 2, 2020, Sheppard and Holmes reportedly got into an argument outside her apartment building on the 1500 block of Chelsea Road. He got out a zip tie, put it around her neck, and pulled it, causing her to suffocate. He then pushed her to the ground in front of witnesses.

Witnesses reportedly heard Sheppard say, “She wanted me dead; now she’s dead.”

Jefferson Parish Sheriff’s Office deputies arrived at the apartment building parking lot and found Holmes deceased with the tie around her neck. Sheppard was apprehended three days later in Bay St. Louis, Mississippi.

According to the district attorney’s office’s statement, Sheppard’s attorney argued he committed manslaughter, not second-degree murder.

At the sentencing, Holmes’ twin sister said in her victim impact statement that Sheppard committed an “evil act,” adding, “I hope the only mercy you get for the rest of your life is the mercy you showed my sister.”

Judge June Berry Darensburg told Sheppard, “She had a full life ahead of her. She was very young. To take someone’s life, I would have to agree with the impact testimony: It was an evil act.”

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JACKSON COUNTY, Miss. (TCD) — A judge has sentenced a 43-year-old man to several decades in prison for beating his wife with a sledgehammer, holding her hostage, and shooting her.

According to the Jackson County Sheriff’s Department, on Sept. 9, 2021, at approximately 7 a.m., deputies responded to a domestic violence call at a residence on Brookstone Drive. Deputies at the scene exchanged shots with Vinet Moore while simultaneously trying to save Moore’s injured wife and put her into an ambulance. Two children, ages 9 and 15, climbed out of a window to safety.

Medics transported the victim to Ocean Springs Hospital, then transferred her to USA Medical Center in Mobile, Alabama. She survived her injuries.

During the incident, Moore engaged in a standoff with deputies and surrendered after seven hours.

In a statement, the Jackson County District Attorney’s Office said the children called 911 because Moore broke into the house and began attacking their mother with a sledgehammer. Deputies evacuated neighboring houses during the incident as well.

Moore reportedly had two handguns on him and held his wife hostage. He shot her in her side when she tried to run away.

He was convicted Oct. 30 of kidnapping, aggravated assault, and burglary of an inhabited dwelling. Jackson County Judge Calvin Taylor “rejected the Defendant’s victim blaming” and sentenced Moore to 75 years in the Mississippi Department of Corrections, and he must serve 50 of those.

District Attorney Angel Myers McIlrath said the statement, “Vinet Moore not only terrorized the victim and her daughters, but he also put the lives of neighbors and the responding officers at risk. Mr. Moore has still shown no remorse for his actions. He is the classic narcissistic, victim-blaming, gaslighting abuser who abused the victim for years.”

McIlrath commended the children’s “amazing bravery in getting their mom help and escaping from the home.”

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DALLAS, Ga. (TCD) — Deputies arrested a 42-year-old man who allegedly forced his way into his estranged wife’s home twice and fatally shot her over the weekend.

According to a news release from the Paulding County Sheriff’s Office, on Saturday, Oct. 28, shortly after midnight, an individual visiting 162 Topaz Drive called 911 after Tyron Lambert came to the house of his estranged wife, 37-year-old Jasmyn Lambert. He reportedly forced his way inside through the back door and threatened multiple people with a gun.

Tyron learned someone had contacted authorities, and he fled the scene before deputies arrived.

The sheriff’s office filed a report and sought arrest warrants for Tyron Lambert. They also initiated a “zone patrol” on the home and issued a “be on the lookout” (BOLO) alert for the suspect.

Shortly after 7:12 a.m., an individual called the sheriff’s office after Tyron Lambert returned to the home and allegedly forced his way through the back door again. Deputies responded to the scene and heard a gunshot before making entry.

According to the sheriff’s office, deputies went to the back of the home and apprehended Tyron Lambert after a brief struggle.

The statement said deputies found Jasmyn Lambert suffering from a gunshot wound and transported her to Wellstar Paulding Hospital, where she was pronounced dead.

Tyron Lambert was transported to the Paulding County Jail on charges of murder –– family violence, malice murder, home invasion –– burglary, first-degree criminal damage to property –– family violence, two counts of first-degree cruelty to children, criminal trespass, possession of a firearm during the commission of a crime, two counts of aggravated assault, and obstruction.

Additional charges are likely. Tyron Lambert remains held without bond.

According to WANF-TV, the victim was a third grade teacher at Still Elementary School in Cobb County.

A Cobb County Schools district spokesperson said, “Jasmyn Lambert’s big smile was welcoming to all, her classroom couldn’t wait to see her every day.”

Paulding County Sheriff’s Office Sgt. Ashley Henson told WANF that there was a temporary protective order filed against Tyron Lambert last year, but it expired.

Henson added, “Nobody ever deserves to die at the hands of domestic violence. But now, not only does this impact her family and friends, but it impacts her school family and all the students and lives that she’s touched over the years.”

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