Recent NYC Subway Burning Murder Highlights Safety Concerns

The horrific murder of Debrina Kawam, a New Jersey woman, on the New York City subway has reignited safety concerns for NYC residents and visitors. On December 22, 2024, a woman was fatally set on fire while sleeping on an F train in Brooklyn. Sebastian Zapeta-Calil, a Guatemalan migrant residing illegally, was charged with murder and arson.

The attack, along with other recent violent crimes, has heightened fears among riders despite increased security measures. Governor Hochul deployed additional National Guard members and installed cameras in subway cars, yet many New Yorkers remain skeptical about their safety on public transportation.

 

Investigation Continues into Motive Behind Attempted Trump Assassination

Federal investigators continue to piece together the motives behind the attempted assassination of former President Donald Trump at a rally in Butler, Pennsylvania on July 13. Despite extensive investigative efforts, including over 200 interviews and a thorough review of Crooks’s digital footprint, his exact motivations remain unknown.

Thomas Matthew Crooks, a 20-year-old from Bethel Park, Pennsylvania, has been described as an intelligent yet unassuming loner with an interest in guns. He did not openly express strong political views, leading investigators to speculate whether his motives were political. Crooks may have been targeting high-profile figures, with Trump being the most accessible target due to the rally’s proximity to Crooks’s home.

Crooks had visited the rally location twice before the day of the attack and had images of both Trump and President Joe Biden on his phone. His search history included dates for the Democratic National Convention and future Trump events, providing some evidence that he was looking for high-profile opportunities to target.

 

Questions Remain After Spree Shooter Leaves 18 Dead in Maine

After 40-year old Richard Card was found dead of a self-inflicted gunshot wound two days after his shooting rampage left 18 dead and 13 more injured, questions over his motives, mental health, and access to firearms have continued to mount.

Card, an Army reservist, had been held in a hospital for psychiatric care in July of this year after behaving erratically while training at West Point. Card had told others he had been hearing voices and was disturbed by their content.

Card was released in August from the hospital. He had tried to purchase a firearm suppressor, the purchase of which was initially approved but later denied after Card admitted on his form that he had previously been committed to a mental institution.

The next month, Sagadahoc County Sheriff’s Office launched a search for him after someone from his Army unit reported that he feared Card was dangerous and could even commit a mass shooting. The sheriff’s office called off the search in October.

On October 25, Card opened fire at a Lewiston, Maine bowling range, killing 7. He later opened fire at a bar, killing 11. After a statewide manhunt and residents being urged to shelter in place, his body was found on October 27.

 

Suspect Arrested in Idaho College Murders

Authorities in Pennsylvania have made an arrest in the case of four University of Idaho students murdered in Moscow, Idaho. The suspect has been identified as 28-year-old Bryan Kohberger.  He was arrested on a warrant for first-degree murder.

The four victims, Kaylee Goncalves, Madison Mogen, Xana Kernodle, and Ethan Chapin, were murdered by stabbing at an off-campus house on November 13.

Kohberger is a graduate student in criminology and criminal justice at nearby Washington State University.

 

Ghislaine Maxwell Federal Trial Begins in New York

The trial of Ghislaine Maxwell, the British socialite accused of sex trafficking teenage girls along Jeffrey Epstein, begun in New York Monday. Her defense team aims to cast her as a pawn in Epstein’s sordid affairs, while prosecutors aim to demonstrate that Maxwell was a ringleader in the operation.

Epstein, who died in federal custody in 2019 while awaiting trial, was known for his relationships with powerful individuals, including Bill Clinton, Prince Andrew, and Donald Trump (before he became president). All men have denied any wrongdoing.

Social Unrest Continues Across the US

The death of George Floyd in Minneapolis at the hands of four police officers last month led to social friction, and while the most violent undercurrent has ebbed for now, it has not fully abated. Protestors condemning the treatment of black Americans by police as well as society at-large have been largely peaceful, though some in the movement have insisted on more forceful measures, such as toppling statues, spray painting monuments, and occupying public spaces. The most notable of the last is the Seattle Capital Hill Occupied Protest (CHOP), which has resisted attempts to disperse as its occupants continue to control several city blocks.

New York Metro Area Experiences Series of Anti-Jewish Attacks

At least five people were attacked in a Rockland County, New York, home last Saturday, all of them Jewish. The suspect, Grafton E. Thomas, 37, was apprehended afterward. Investigators claim that Thomas had searched online for “Why Did Hitler Hate the Jews,” in addition to finding a journal with references to claims and arguments often put forth by the Black Hebrew Israelites, known for their anti-Semitic beliefs.

This follows an attack earlier this month by two Black Hebrew Israelites which killed four people in a series of attacks in Jersey City, two of them Orthodox Jews.