Author: Edward Campbell

Two young lives were cut short Friday night when gunfire erupted during a crowded party at the Artist Lounge in Northridge. The victims were identified by their families as 18-year-old Jaydin Lewis and 19-year-old Kimberly Pastor. Both were remembered by loved ones as young people with plans for their futures. Lewis had been looking forward to college and hoped to study marine biology. Pastor was a young mother who leaves behind her 2-year-old son. The shooting happened shortly after 11 p.m. in the 18000 block of Nordhoff Street, near Reseda Boulevard and less than a mile from California State University,…

When Sara Gmitro received a breast cancer diagnosis shortly before Christmas last year, she knew her treatment would change more than just her medical routine. The Naperville woman would also have to adjust to life after surgery. Gmitro had been diagnosed with stage 1 breast cancer in her left breast. After discussing her options with her medical team, she chose to undergo a double mastectomy. She had the surgery on Jan. 30 and returned home that same day. The experience soon led her to a simple idea that has grown into a way of helping other women. While recovering, Gmitro…

A routine trip to pay a phone bill turned tragic Saturday when 7-year-old Eddimar Paola Hernández Chacón was fatally stabbed while walking with her teenage sister on Chicago’s South Side. The incident happened shortly before noon along South Cottage Grove Avenue near East 86th Street in the East Chatham neighborhood. According to prosecutors, Eddimar and her sister had just left a nearby wireless store and were walking hand-in-hand when they encountered 48-year-old Shavon Gayden. Prosecutors said Gayden had been involved in a confrontation inside a nearby business shortly before the stabbing. Employees told investigators that she allegedly yelled profanities and…

Two teenagers were taken into custody after school personnel discovered firearms and marijuana in backpacks that had been left on the grounds of Harry S. Truman High School during a football game in Bristol Township on Friday, Oct. 2. According to police, the two high-school-aged teens initially tried to enter the game carrying backpacks but were stopped because the Bristol Township School District prohibits backpacks at home football games. The teens then apparently left the bags on school property and entered the stadium without them. The unattended backpacks later drew the attention of school personnel. A search of the bags…

Three teenagers were arrested after an alleged armed home invasion and robbery at a home on Chapel Street in Norwood, Massachusetts, Sunday afternoon. Norwood police said officers were called to the home around 2:10 p.m. after three male suspects allegedly forced their way inside. The victim told investigators that the suspects displayed a firearm, pistol-whipped the victim and took several items before fleeing. Two of the suspects were reportedly wearing masks. The victim also told police that the firearm used during the incident had a green laser attached to it. Officers quickly began searching the area. One of the teenagers…

EL PASO, Texas — An employee connected to the El Paso County Tax Assessor-Collector’s Office has been arrested after investigators alleged that vehicle records were altered to allow cars to be registered without meeting Texas inspection and emissions requirements. Jessica Marie Alonzo is facing 10 counts of tampering with governmental records following an investigation by the Enforcement Division of the El Paso County Tax Assessor-Collector’s Office. According to investigators, the alleged scheme involved changing information in the state vehicle registration system so that vehicles could move through the registration process even though they had not met required inspection or emissions…

At least five people were killed in separate crashes across El Paso over the weekend, with police saying speed and alcohol may have played a role in several of the deadly incidents. The crashes happened Friday and Saturday in different parts of the city. Investigators are continuing to determine exactly what led to each collision. Three killed in Redd Road and Southwestern Drive crash The deadliest crash happened Friday night at the intersection of Redd Road and Southwestern Drive. Police were called shortly after 9:30 p.m. on October 2 after a Ford F-250 and a GMC Sierra collided. Investigators said…

A 20-year-old motorcyclist was critically injured Sunday night after losing control of his motorcycle on a curve in Las Cruces and striking a street sign. The crash happened around 10:45 p.m. Oct. 4 on Camino Coyote Lane, east of Sonoma Ranch Boulevard. Las Cruces police and fire crews responded to the scene and found the rider suffering from multiple critical injuries. Because of the severity of his condition, the man was airlifted to University Medical Center of El Paso for treatment. His injuries were considered potentially life-threatening. Traffic investigators said the motorcycle was traveling west on Camino Coyote Lane at…

A 20-year-old El Paso woman is facing a cruelty-to-animals charge after four dogs were found in poor condition during an animal welfare investigation at a Northeast El Paso home. The investigation began May 19, when an Animal Protection officer responded to a complaint involving several dogs at a residence on Polaris Street. Inside the home, the officer found four dogs identified as Sky, Dusse, Nix and Zeno. Two of them, Sky and Dusse, appeared severely underweight, with their ribs, pelvic bones and spinal areas clearly visible. Nix was also described as underweight. The conditions at the home raised additional concerns.…

Two men are being sought by Atlanta police after they allegedly broke into a gaming machine at a southwest Atlanta gas station and threatened an employee with a hammer when he tried to intervene. The incident happened around 8:30 a.m. Sunday at an Exxon station in the 1100 block of Metropolitan Parkway SW, according to police. Investigators said the two men entered the business and targeted a gaming machine for cash. When an employee attempted to stop them, one of the men allegedly displayed a hammer and threatened him. The employee backed away, and the suspects left the scene. Police…