21st Century

–22 The Weather Channel. “Tennessee Flooding Death Toll Climbs to 22…” 8-22-2021.
–20 Nashville Tennessean. “Drone footage shows destruction of deadly Tennessee…” 8-26-2021.
–20 Nashville Tennessean. “Tennessee flooding updates: Final death toll at 20…” 8-25-2021.
–18 (3 others missing). AP. “Tennessee flood…” Arkansas Democrat Gazette, Little Rock. 8-25-2021.

Narrative Information (chronological)

Aug 22, Weather Channel: “The death toll has risen to 22 in catastrophic flooding that ripped through portions of Middle Tennessee on Saturday. Twelve additional deaths were reported by the sheriff in Humphreys County on Sunday, adding to the 10 confirmed Saturday night. The number of missing is now estimated at 50. The hardest-hit area is about 40 miles west of Nashville….

“Searchers continued to comb through the rubble Sunday. The state of Tennessee activated its Emergency Operations Center and, in an update Sunday morning, said improving weather would help rescuers expand their efforts. At least 100 homes and 25 businesses had been searched as of 10 a.m. Sunday.

“Multiple bridges and roadways remained close in the area. More than 10,000 customers were without power and 89 people stayed in a shelter Saturday night.

“The flooding from torrential rainfall trapped residents in their homes, closed highways and prompted multiple water rescues Saturday morning….

“People took to their roofs and attics to escape the floodwaters and await rescue. Homes were swept away and communities destroyed.

“On Saturday, officials described dire circumstances in Humphreys County. ‘People are trapped in their homes and have no way to get out. Water is up to their necks. It is catastrophic, the worst kind of situation,’ Krissy Hurley, a meteorologist with the National Weather Service in Nashville, told the Tennessean.

“The Tennessee National Guard deployed soldiers and airmen to the area in response to the flooding. Three helicopter aquatic rescue teams from the state, as well as swift water rescue teams from Nashville, were also sent to assist.

“Between 15 and 17 inches of rain was reported in 24 hours in areas around Dickson, Houston, Humphreys and Hickman counties. Some of those amounts are equal to 25% of the normal rainfall for the entire year, according to the NWS.” (The Weather Channel. “Tennessee Flooding Death Toll Climbs to 22; Dozens Still Missing.” 8-22-2021.)

Aug 25, AP: “Waverly, Tenn. — Crews with chainsaws and heavy equipment cleared their way through trees densely matted with vegetation, garbage and building debris Tuesday [24th] as searchers scoured a normally shallow creek for more flooding victims in rural Tennessee. Even cars and sheds were woven into the tangle of debris lining Trace Creek in Humphreys County, where the town of Waverly saw the most death and destruction from Saturday’s flooding that killed 18 people. Three people remained unaccounted for Tuesday….

“…one car was found about a half-mile from where it had been parked, Humphreys County Chief Deputy Rob Edwards said….

“As the search for the missing continues, officials have started to comprehend the scope of devastation in the community. Humphreys County Sheriff Chris Davis said hundreds of homes have been affected by the flooding and estimated about 125 were ruined….

“Authorities revised the confirmed death toll to 18 people Tuesday, a drop from as high as 22. Waverly Police Chief Grant Gillespie said that some people who were in the emergency room and died of natural causes were mistakenly added to the count. John and Jane Doe victims twice were not crossed off the list once they were identified, he said….Three people are still on the list of those missing who witnesses said they saw in the water, he said….” (Associated Press. “Tennessee flood victims sought.” Arkansas Democrat Gazette, Little Rock. 8-25-2021.)

Sources

Associated Press. “At least 22 dead, dozens missing in Tennessee after 17 inches of rain causing devastating flooding.” 6abc News, Philadelphia. Accessed 8-22-2021 at: https://6abc.com/central-tennessee-floods-flash-flooding-flood-in-tn-waverly/10967631/

Associated Press. “Tennessee flood victims sought.” Arkansas Democrat Gazette, Little Rock. 8-25-2021. Accessed 8-25-2021 at: https://www.arkansasonline.com/news/2021/aug/25/tennessee-flood-victims-sought/

Nashville Tennessean (Molly Weisner). “Drone footage shows destruction of deadly Tennessee flooding in Wave3rly, Humphreys County.” 8-26-2021. Accessed 8-26-2021 at: https://www.tennessean.com/story/news/local/2021/08/26/drone-footage-damage-waverly-tennessee-flood-west-nashville/5598732001/

Nashville Tennessean. “Tennessee flooding updates: Final death toll at 20; Gov. Bill Lee declares state of emergency.” 8-25-2021. Accessed 8-26-2021 at: https://www.tennessean.com/story/news/2021/08/25/waverly-tennessee-floods-updates-residents-recovery-clean-up-continues/5580894001/

The Weather Channel. “Tennessee Flooding Death Toll Climbs to 22; Dozens Still Missing.” 8-22-2021. Accessed 8-22-2021 at: https://weather.com/news/news/2021-08-22-tennessee-flooding-toll-rises

–97 ABC News. “What we know about the victims of the Surfside building collapse.” 7-17-2021.
–97 CNN. “All but 2 of the 97 victims found in…Surfside building collapse…identified…” 7-18-2021.
–97 USA Today. “Search for bodies at site of Florida condo collapse…concludes…” 7-23-2021.
–96 bodies pulled from the debris (1 still unidentified as of July 23, 2021)
— 1 Died at a hospital after being removed

Narrative Information

June 26, CNN: The town of Surfside issued a permit for roof repairs on the Champlain Towers South condo building the day before the structure collapsed, documents released Friday night show. On June 23, the town issued a permit to ‘install roof safety anchors and provide stucco repairs’ to a South Florida concrete company. The work included removing ‘the existing roof down to concrete deck’ and replacing it, the permit said. The building fell the next day, in the early morning hours of June 24. The company that was set to perform the work [was] Concrete Protection and Restoration LLC….

“Another document produced as part of the 2018 structural engineer’s report also noted that small portions of the building were ‘showing distress.’ The report, conducted by engineer Frank Morabito for the building’s condo association, noted that about ‘2% of exterior columns have experienced concrete spalling’ and about ‘5% of the balcony structural floor slabs showed hairline cracking at underside of the slab,’ among other examples of cracking.

“It’s unclear whether these issues contributed to the collapse.

“The report says the “general alignment” of the structure, as well as the concrete framing, roof membrane, and several other parts of the building, were in good condition. “

Sources

ABC News. “What we know about the victims of the Surfside building collapse.” 7-17-2021. Accessed 7-18-2021 at: https://abcnews.go.com/US/victims-surfside-condo-collapse/story?id=78517075

CNN (Travis Caldwell). “All but 2 of the 97 victims found in the Surfside building collapse have been identified by authorities.” 7-18-2021. Accessed 7-18-2021 at: https://www.cnn.com/2021/07/18/us/miami-dade-building-collapse-sunday/index.html

CNN (Fernando Alfonso III, Maureen Chowdhury and Zamira Rahim). “At least 158 missing after partial building collapse near Miami.” 6-26-2021. Accessed 6-26-2021 at: https://www.cnn.com/us/live-news/miami-florida-building-collapse-06-26-21-intl/index.html

USA Today (Jeanine Santucci). “Search for bodies at site of Florida condo collapse officially concludes with one still missing.” 7-23-2021. Accessed 7-23-2021 at: https://www.usatoday.com/story/news/nation/2021/07/23/surfside-condo-collapse-search-bodies-concludes/8075944002/

–10 CNN. “9 children, 1 adult killed…accident involving Alabama Girls Ranch vehicle.” 6-20-2021.
–10 Robinson/Gray. “9 children, 1 adult killed in Alabama crash…Butler County…” 6-19-2021
–10 WVTM13. “9 children…one adult dead…pileup…on I-65 in Butler County…” 6-20-2021.

Narrative Information

Robinson and Gray: “A crash on Interstate 65 in Butler County Saturday killed 10 people, nine of them ranging in age from 9-months-old to teenagers. Those killed were in a Tallapoosa County Girls Ranch vehicle and a small SUV, said Butler County Coroner Wayne Garlock. The vehicles involved in the crash were thought to have hydroplaned, officials said…. [Tropical Storm Claudette “dumped heavy rain across the Southeast on Saturday after it came ashore in southeastern Louisiana early that morning.”]

“The victims in the SUV were identified as Cody Fox, 29, and Ariana Fox. They were travelling from Marion County, Tennessee. Garlock said it appeared Cody Fox worked for the emergency management agency in his home county. Cody Fox was pronounced dead on the scene; Ariana died at the Regional Medical Center in Greenville. A native of Bryant, Alabama, Fox was the fire chief at New Hope (Tennessee) Volunteer Fire Department and plant operation manager at Tennessee Tub Factory. He lived in South Pittsburg, Tenn. His fiancé, Hayle Anderson, was injured in the wreck, family members confirmed on social media….

“The young people killed [Tallapoosa County Girls Ranch] ranged in age from 4-17, Garlock said, and many hailed from Reeltown in Tallapoosa County. Garlock would not release their names because many were in the care of the state.

“The driver who was pulled to safety was identified as Candice Gully, director of the Tallapoosa County facility, according to Michael Smith, CEO of the Alabama Sheriff’s Youth Ranches. Candice Gully’s son and daughter and her two nephews were among the dead….

“Girls from the facility were travelling in two vehicles on the way back from a trip to Gulf Shores, Smith said. The vehicle in front was involved in the deadly crash and the girls in the second vehicle did not see the carnage of the wreck, Smith said….

“The children who were killed were a combination of foster children, privately placed children and family members of chaperones, Smith said.

“Butler County Sheriff Danny Bond said the accident involved 18 vehicles — two of them 18-wheelers — and about four or five other people suffered nonfatal injuries….

“Alabama Law Enforcement Agency was notified at approximately 2:30 p.m. Saturday of a multi-vehicle crash on I-65 northbound at the 138 mile marker in Butler County….

“The girls’ ranch serves as a foster home for girls from abusive or abandonment situations, and it is supported by the sheriffs of Lee, Chambers and Tallapoosa counties. The ranch is located on Girls Ranch Road between Auburn and Lake Martin….”

WVTM 13: “Butler County, Ala. – UPDATE Sunday afternoon:

“The Butler County Coroner said the horrific crash happened during a rain storm when a vehicle hydroplaned on the bridge near the 138 mile marker in northbound lanes of I-65. This caused a chain reaction involving up to 15 vehicles. Since it was on a small bridge there was nowhere for the cars to go except forward into other vehicles.

“A bus belonging to the Alabama Sheriff Youth Services caught fire in the crash. It was carrying 8 children from ages 4-17 and one adult, who was driving. A bystander was able to pull the driver out to safety. Then he went back to try to rescue the children but the fire and smoke was too much and he could not help them. All the children perished at the scene.

“Two other fatalities were people in a black SUV, 9-month-old Ariana Fox and her father Cody Fox, age 29. He was pronounced deceased at the scene. The baby was taken to Regional Medical Center of Greenville where she was pronounced deceased at the emergency room.

“There were multiple other people in other vehicles who were injured. They were taken to various hospitals. None of those injuries were life-threatening….

“The children’s ages range from nine months to 17 years….

“The Alabama Law Enforcement Agency reported the major crash on I-65 northbound at mile marker 138 during the afternoon. That’s just southwest of Montgomery.

The Weather Channel. “Claudette Blamed in a Dozen Deaths in Alabama.” 6-20-2021”

“A man [24] and a 3-year-old child died when a tree fell on their home near Tuscaloosa, officials said.

“Ten more people died in a crash that may have been caused by the storm, a coroner said.

“A tornado destroyed or damaged 50 homes in Brewton and East Brewton, Alabama.

Sources

CNN. “9 children, 1 adult killed in interstate accident involving Alabama Girls Ranch vehicle.” 6-20-2021. Accessed 6-20-2021 at: https://www.cnn.com/2021/06/20/us/alabama-crash-10-killed-girls-ranch/index.html

Opelika-Auburn News/Timothy Noordermeer. “Tallapoosa County Sheriffs’ Girls Ranch’s new director invested in the future of residents.” 10-29-2019. Accessed 6-20-2021 at: https://oanow.com/news/local/tallapoosa-county-sheriffs-girls-ranch-s-new-director-invested-in-the-future-of-residents/article_c605342a-c28c-11e9-8e51-27e809323b80.html

Robinson, Carol and Jeremy Gray. “9 children, 1 adult killed in Alabama crash: ‘The most horrific accident in Butler County history.” al.com, 6-19-2021. Accessed 6-20-2021 at: https://www.al.com/news/2021/06/alabama-state-troopers-seek-information-on-deadly-butler-county-i-65-crash.html

The Weather Channel. “Claudette Blamed in a Dozen Deaths in Alabama.” 6-20-2021. Accessed 6-20-2021 at: https://weather.com/news/news/2021-06-20-tropical-storm-claudette-two-deaths-alabama-florida-homes-damaged-flooding

WVTM13, Birmingham, Tuscaloosa, AL. “9 children and one adult dead after pileup crash on I-65 in Butler County, Alabama.” 6-20-2021. Accessed 6-20-2021 at: https://www.wvtm13.com/article/reported-fatalities-in-multi-vehicle-crash-on-i-65-in-butler-county/36775362#

–10 AP. “San Jose…gunman appeared to target some victims, said he hated work years ago.” 5-27-2021.

Narrative Information (Chronological)

May 26, Los Angeles Times: “San Jose – In California’s largest mass shooting this year, a gunman killed eight people at a San Jose light rail yard Wednesday morning before dying of an apparent self-inflicted gunshot wound, authorities said.

“The gunman set his own house on fire before he drove to a Valley Transportation Authority union meeting and began shooting, law enforcement sources said. Officials said the victims were shot in two different buildings.

“The shooter was identified by sources as Samuel Cassidy, 57, a maintenance worker at the VTA….

“Deputies did not exchange gunfire with the suspect, Davis said [Deputy Russell Davis, Santa Clara Sheriff’s Dept.], noting that the preliminary assumption is that he died of a self-inflicted gunshot wound.

“Early indications are that the shooting was related to a workplace issue and that it did not involve riders of Santa Clara County’s light rail system, sources said.

“At Cassidy’s beige stucco three-bedroom home on Angmar Court in San Jose, investigators discovered firearms and a large amount of ammunition, according to sources….

“Cassidy had worked at the light rail yard for at least eight years, according to public records. According to a law enforcement source, Cassidy shot virtually everyone on the morning shift, including some he had worked with for years.

“His ex-wife filed a restraining order against him in 2009, according to court records….

“San Jose Fire Dept. Battalion Chief Jeff Fielding said firefighters responded to a blaze at the gunman’s home at 6:36 a.m. No one was home….

“Two shooting victims were taken to the Santa Clara Valley Medical Center, hospital spokeswoman Joy Alexiou said. One was pronounced dead on arrival, and the other is in critical condition….

“Officials said they received multiple 911 calls around 6:35 a.m. from witnesses who reported hearing shots ring out at the VTA rail yard on West Younger Avenue near downtown San Jose….

“California’s deadliest so far this year, the mass shooting was the 231st in the United States in 2021, according to the Gun Violence Archive, which defines mass shootings as incidents in which four or more people — not including the assailant — are killed or injured….”

May 27, AP: “San Jose, Calif. – A gunman who killed nine people at a California rail yard appeared to target some of the victims, a sheriff told The Associated Press on Thursday, while a Biden administration official said he spoke of hating his workplace when customs officers detained him after a 2016 trip to the Philippines.

“The shooter arrived at the light rail facility for the Valley Transportation Authority in San Jose around 6 a.m. Wednesday with a duffel bag carrying two semi-automatic handguns and 11 high-capacity magazines, Santa Clara County Sheriff Laurie Smith said in an interview. “It appears to us at this point that he said to one of the people there: ‘I’m not going to shoot you,'” Smith said. “And then he shot other people. So I imagine there was some kind of thought on who he wanted to shoot.”

“While there are no cameras inside the rail yard’s two buildings, Smith said footage captured him moving from one location to the next. It took deputies six minutes from the first 911 calls to find the gunman on the third floor of one of the buildings, Smith said.

“He killed himself as deputies closed in on the facility serving the county of more than 1 million people in the heart of Silicon Valley. More than 100 people were there at the time, and authorities found five victims in one building and two in another, Smith said.

“Authorities do not yet know whether the gunman had worked regularly with any of the victims. Investigators were serving search warrants on his home and cellphone, seeking to determine what prompted the bloodshed, the sheriff said….

“The attacker was identified as 57-year-old Samuel Cassidy, according to two law enforcement officials…

“Cassidy had a memo book with notes on how he hated the Valley Transportation Authority, according to a Biden administration official who described a Department of Homeland Security memo that laid out Cassidy’s statements. The official saw the memo and detailed its contents to The Associated Press but was not authorized to speak publicly about an ongoing investigation. The memo said he had books about “terrorism and fear and manifestos” but when he was asked whether he had issues with people at work he said no.

“The memo doesn’t say why he was stopped after his 2016 trip. It notes that Cassidy had a ‘minor criminal history’ and cites a 1983 incident where he was arrested in San Jose and charged with ‘misdemeanor obstruction/resisting a peace officer.’

“Cassidy’s ex-wife said he had talked about killing people at work more than a decade ago. ‘I never believed him, and it never happened. Until now,’ a tearful Cecilia Nelms told the AP on Wednesday [26th]. She said he used to come home from work resentful and angry over what he perceived as unfair assignments. ‘He could dwell on things,’ she said. The two were married for about 10 years until a 2005 divorce filing, and she hadn’t been in touch with Cassidy for about 13 years, Nelms said….

“…in court documents filed in 2009, an ex-girlfriend described him as volatile and violent, with major mood swings because of bipolar disorder that became worse when he drank heavily. Several times while he was drunk, Cassidy forced himself on her sexually despite her refusals, pinning her arms with his body weight, the woman said in a sworn statement filed after Cassidy sought a restraining order against her. The documents were obtained by the San Francisco Chronicle….

“The death toll rose from eight after officials confirmed the death late Wednesday of 49-year-old Alex Ward Fritch, who had been hospitalized in critical condition after the attack.

“The three handguns he had appear to be legal, sheriff’s officials said. Authorities do not yet know how he obtained them. He also had 11 high-capacity magazines, each with 12 rounds. In California, it is illegal to buy magazines that hold more than 10 rounds. However, if Cassidy had obtained them before Jan. 1, 2000, he would be allowed to have them unless he was otherwise prohibited from possessing firearms.

“The sheriff said authorities found explosives at the gunman’s home, where investigators believe he had set a timer or slow-burn device so that a fire would occur at the same time as the shooting. Flames were reported minutes after the first 911 calls came in from the rail facility….

“The shooting killed employees who had been bus and light rail operators, mechanics, linemen and an assistant superintendent over the course of their careers.

“They were Alex Ward Fritch, 49; Paul Delacruz Megia, 42; Taptejdeep Singh, 36; Adrian Balleza, 29; Jose Dejesus Hernandez, 35; Timothy Michael Romo, 49; Michael Joseph Rudometkin, 40; Abdolvahab Alaghmandan, 63, and Lars Kepler Lane, 63….

“It was the 15th mass killing in the U.S. this year, all shootings that claimed at least four lives each for a total of 87 deaths, according to a database compiled by The Associated Press, USA Today and Northeastern University….” (AP. “San Jose shooting gunman appeared to target some victims, said he hated work years ago. 9 victims killed in shooting.” 5-27-2021.)

May 28, LA Times: “….Emerging reports Friday also indicated that Cassidy may have been facing a disciplinary hearing at the agency, where he worked as a maintenance worker for the last eight years. But representatives for VTA said he was not scheduled for a disciplinary hearing Wednesday ‘or any other upcoming or prior date.’ He was scheduled to report for a regular shift the day of the shooting….

“A source at the agency said that Cassidy had ‘gone off’ on managers in the Operations Control Center about three weeks before the shooting when they called on him to perform emergency maintenance work and that he had told them he wouldn’t fix anything until they fixed his paychecks. The second building where he was headed before encountering sheriff’s deputies housed the Operations Control Center, according to the source….

“Cassidy, who authorities said took his own life when deputies confronted him, was armed with three semiautomatic 9-millimeter handguns and 32 high-capacity magazines loaded with additional ammunition. Officials said he fired 39 shots….
“A VTA clerical worker, who wished to remain anonymous because she was advised not to speak to the media, said the first building houses the ways, power and signal team and the second building includes operations and light rail maintenance. Based on the first building’s layout and exit locations, she said, the victims would have had ‘nowhere to go.’….” (Los Angeles Times. “San Jose shooter had 12 guns, 25,000 rounds of ammunition at home, sheriff says.” 5-28-2021.)

May 28, abc7news.com (Dan Noyes) San Francisco: “San Jose, Calif. (KGO) — South Bay officials are confirming to the ABC7 I-Team that federal officials did not contact the VTA or law enforcement after US Customs detained Samuel Cassidy in 2016 and found books on terrorism and a notebook of his complaints against the transit agency.

“ABC7 News is hearing reports that coworkers worried about Cassidy’s anger issues and his collection of guns. It is an essential question – were warning signs ignored?

“The I-Team has confirmed information first reported by the Wall Street Journal that the mass murderer was detained by U.S. Customs and Border Protection after a 2016 trip to the Philippines. Authorities found books on terrorism and a notebook listing complaints about the VTA in the suspect’s possession. Customs and the agency that oversees it, the Department of Homeland Security, have not responded to several calls and emails asking whether that information ever reached the VTA.

“But, Santa Clara County District Attorney Jeff Rosen addressed it in our interview late Friday. ‘There’s no indication that Homeland Security shared that information from 2016 with anyone in local law enforcement. It was not shared with the DA’s office, certainly, that is the kind of information that may be useful to law enforcement,’ said Rosen.

“Both the VTA and Cassidy’s union are denying published reports that he faced a disciplinary hearing on the day he opened fire. Amalgamated Transit Union President John Courtney wrote, ‘I wish to make it crystal clear that the ATU Local 265 officials who were at the site of this unfathomable tragedy were not, repeat not, there to attend any disciplinary or Skelly Rights hearings or to respond to any jobsite or racial-oriented complaints.’

“We are also hearing reports that coworkers were concerned about Cassidy’s combination of anger issues and his collection of weapons. Rosen told us, they’ve checked and no complaints came into local law enforcement or the DA’s office about Cassidy before Wednesday’s mass shooting. Anyone could have tipped authorities to the potential danger, under the state’s red flag laws. ‘Law enforcement will immediately investigate that, they will work quickly with the DA’s Office, we’ll get in front of a judge, and when we get a restraining order, we will immediately remove those guns,’ said Rosen.

“The VTA also confirmed Friday that Cassidy did not face a disciplinary hearing the day of the shooting or in the past. And he had no hearings scheduled for the future.” (abc7news.com (Dan Noyes), San Francisco. “Feds failed to tell VTA, law enforcement about San Jose shooter’s detention in 2016, officials say.” 5-28-2021.)

May 29, BBC: “The man who killed nine people in California this week had 12 firearms, more than 20 cans of petrol, and approximately 22,000 rounds of ammunition at his house, police say….

“Guns were hidden in crawl spaces and doorways, a spokesman told reporters at a press conference. The home was ‘very cluttered’, he said.

“Officers also said Cassidy had put bullets in a cooking pot on the stove, which detonated and set the house on fire. An FBI agent quoted by Reuters news agency said this blaze probably destroyed evidence which could have helped provide a motive for the shooting.” (“San Jose shooting: Guns, petrol and 220,000 rounds of ammunition found.”)

Sources

abc7news.com (Dan Noyes), San Francisco. “Feds failed to tell VTA, law enforcement about San Jose shooter’s detention in 2016, officials say.” 5-28-2021. Accessed 5-29-2021 at: https://abc7news.com/vta-shooting-san-jose-samuel-cassidy-us-customs-mass/10710930/

Associated Press (Terence Chea, Janie Har and Stefanie Dazio). “San Jose shooting gunman appeared to target some victims, said he hated work years ago. 9 victims killed in shooting.” 5-27-2021. Accessed 5-27-2021 at: https://www.kcra.com/article/san-jose-shooting-may-27/36556764

BBC News. US & Canada. “San Jose shooting: Guns, petrol and 220,000 rounds of ammunition found.” 5-29-2021. Accessed 5-29-2021 at: https://www.bbc.com/news/world-us-canada-57293174

Los Angeles Times. “Nine dead, including gunman, in San Jose rail yard mass shooting.” 5-26-2021. Accessed 5-26-2021 at: https://www.latimes.com/california/story/2021-05-26/police-swarm-active-shooter-incident-in-san-jose

Los Angeles Times (Hayley Smith, Richard Winton, Leila Miller, Lila Seidman). “San Jose shooter had 12 guns, 25,000 rounds of ammunition at home, sheriff says.” 5-28-2021. Accessed 5-29-2021 at: https://www.latimes.com/california/story/2021-05-28/san-jose-gunman-faced-disciplinary-hearing-before-shooting

–9 Associated Press. “Police trying to identify gunman, motive in FedEx shooting. 4-16-2021.
–9 NYT. “FedEx Gunman Bought 2 Rifles After Police Seized His Shotgun…” 4-18-2021.

Narrative Information

April 16, AP: “Indianapolis (AP) — Police were working Friday to identify a gunman and determine his motive for opening fire at a FedEx facility near the Indianapolis airport, killing eight people and taking his own life in the latest mass shooting to rock the U.S. Deputy Chief Craig McCartt of the Indianapolis police said the gunman started randomly shooting at people in the parking lot late Thursday night and then went into the building, where he shot himself shortly before police entered the facility. McCartt said four people were killed outside the building and another four inside. Several people were also wounded, including five taken to the hospital. The carnage took just a couple of minutes. “It did not last very long,” he said….” (Associated Press (Casey Smith). “Police trying to identify gunman, motive in FedEx shooting. 4-16-2021.)

April 17, Indianapolis Star: “Indianapolis police have identified the eight people killed in the mass shooting Thursday evening at a FedEx center….”

Amarjeet Kaur Johal, 66
Karli Smith, 19
Amarjit Sekhon, 48
Matthew R. Alexander, 32
Samaria Blackwell, 19
Jaswindre Kaur, 64
Jaswinder Singh, 68
John Weisert, 74.

“Police said earlier Friday that the suspected gunman, 19-year-old Brandon Scott Hole, killed himself shortly after the shooting began at 11 p.m. IMPD Deputy Chief Craig McCartt said Hole was an employee at the FedEx center in 2020 [for two months ].

“The shooting, considered the worst mass shooting in Indianapolis’ history, left multiple injured. It’s also the third mass shooting in Indianapolis since the beginning of the year.” (Indianapolis Star/Sarah Nelson. “FedEx shooting victims are identified by Indianapolis police: Who are they?” 4-16-2021, updated 4-17-2021.)

April 17, WGN TV9, Chicago: “Indianapolis (NewsNation Now) – Police scoured a FedEx facility in Indianapolis and searched the suspected gunman’s home Friday [16th] looking for a motive for the latest mass shooting to rock the U.S….

“Paul Keenan, the special agent in charge of the FBI’s Indianapolis field office, said Friday that agents questioned Hole [April 2020 ] after his mother called police to say that her son might commit ‘suicide by cop.’ He says agents questioned Hole based on items found in his bedroom. He did not elaborate on what those items were. No crime was identified and the FBI says it did not identify Hole as espousing a racially motivated ideology.

“Earlier, Keenan said it would be ‘premature to speculate’ on the gunman’s motive. McCartt said hole had been a subject of previous police reports, including one in March 2020 when a gun was seized. He was unsure if the rifle used in the shooting was legally or illegally obtained.

“His stepsister described Hole as ‘isolated’ in an exclusive interview with NewsNation affiliate WXIN-TV. ‘He never got the help that he needed,’ she said….

“Officials said they were unaware if Hole had been terminated by FedEx or not….” (WGN TV9, Chicago. “FBI says it interviewed 19-year-old FedEx mass shooter last year.” 4-17-2021.)

April 17, Indianapolis Star: “….An IMPD [Indianapolis Metropolitan Police Dept.] report from March 3, 2020, references a mental health check for suicidal tendencies in the 1100 block of North Huber St., and lists Hole, then 18, as being arrested. It says police seized a shotgun “from dangerous person.” The report said the Behavioral Health Unit “initiated immediate detention on male reported to have voiced suicidal ideation.” It added Hole had purchased a gun within the last 24 hours and talked about suicide by police, a situation in which a person prompts police to kill them. Hole was transported to a local hospital. No online court records appear to correspond with the incident. The details were confirmed in a statement Friday from FBI Indianapolis Special Agent in Charge Paul Keenan:

‘In March 2020, the suspect’s mother contacted law enforcement to report he might try to commit ‘suicide by cop.’ The suspect was placed on an immediate detention mental health temporary hold by the Indianapolis Metropolitan Police Department. A shotgun was seized at his residence. Based on items observed in the suspect’s bedroom at that time, he was interviewed by the FBI in April 2020. No Racially Motivated Violent Extremism (RMVE) ideology was identified during the course of the assessment and no criminal violation was found. The shotgun was not returned to the suspect.’

(Indianapolis Star/Lawrence Andrea and Tim Evans. “FedEx shooter identified as 19-year-old Indianapolis resident who ‘voiced suicidal ideation’.” 4-16-2021; updated 4-17-2021.)

Sources

Associated Press (Casey Smith). “Police trying to identify gunman, motive in FedEx shooting. 4-16-2021. Accessed 4-16-2021 at: https://apnews.com/article/fedex-indianapolis-mass-shooting-e92ad3117c56357b3b2c71a2903e68a8

CBS News (Victoria Albert). “FedEx says suspected gunman worked for the company for 2 months.” 4-16-2021. Accessed 4-17-2021 at: https://www.cbsnews.com/live-updates/fedex-mass-shooting-indianapolis-8-killed/

Indianapolis Star/Lawrence Andrea and Tim Evans. “FedEx shooter identified as 19-year-old Indianapolis resident who ‘voiced suicidal ideation’.” 4-16-2021; updated 4-17-2021. Accessed 4-17-2021 at: https://www.indystar.com/story/news/2021/04/16/indianapolis-fedex-mass-shooting-suspect-identity-update/7251111002/

Indianapolis Star/Sarah Nelson. “FedEx shooting victims are identified by Indianapolis police: Who are they?” 4-16-2021, updated 4-17-2021. Accessed 4-17-2021 at: https://www.indystar.com/story/news/2021/04/16/victims-fedex-mass-shooting-indianapolis-ground-facility/7250255002/

New York Times (Andres R. Martinez, et al.). “FedEx Gunman Bought 2 Rifles After Police Seized His Shotgun, Chief Says.” 4-18-2021. Accessed 4-18-2021 at: https://www.nytimes.com/2021/04/17/us/indianapolis-shooting-victims.html

New York Times (Sarah Mervosh, et al.). “Names of the eight victims were released by the authorities.” 4-16-2021. Accessed 4-17-2021 at: https://www.nytimes.com/2021/04/16/us/indianapolis-shooting-fedex-facility.html

WGN TV9, Chicago. “FBI says it interviewed 19-year-old FedEx mass shooter last year.” 4-17-2021. Accessed 4-17-2021 at: https://wgntv.com/news/fbi-says-it-interviewed-19-year-old-fedex-mass-shooter-last-year/

–13 NOLA/Gagnet. “Remembering…victims of…Seacor Power lift boat disaster…” 4-20-2021.

Narrative Information

April 14, KHOU: “HOUSTON — One person died and 12 others remain missing after a liftboat capsized off the Louisiana coast, the U.S. Coast Guard confirmed. Six people were rescued shortly after the vessel Seacor Power capsized. At a Wednesday morning press conference, Coast Guard Captain Will E. Watson said the weather conditions when the boat capsized were very ‘challenging,’ but he stopped short of speculating on what caused the incident. [Was enroute to Main Pass 138, in the Gulf, about 40 miles east of Venice, Louisiana; was to deliver equipment to an oil platform near the mouth of the Mississippi River. ]

“The boat is owned by Houston-based Seacor Marine, which Watson said is working to contact and help impacted families.

“The Coast Guard and several good Samaritan vessels continued their search and rescue efforts in the Gulf of Mexico, just miles south of Port Fourchon….

“According to MarineTraffic.com, the vessel left port around 2:12 p.m. A source tells WWL-TV that the Seacor Power capsized shortly after 4 p.m. A Coast Guard Fast Response Cutter was on the scene within 30 minutes, according to authorities.

“Watson said at the time of the incident, there were 80- to 90-mph-winds, seven- to nine-foot seas with “extremely limited visibility.” Watson said forecasters knew there would be poor weather off the coast Tuesday, but they did not expect it to be as bad as it was….

“Liftboats are large platform vessels used to transport crews and equipment to and from oil rigs in The Gulf.” (KHOU 11, Houston (Doug Delony). “1 dead, 12 still missing after boat capsizes off Louisiana coast, US Coast Guard confirms.” 4-13-2021, updated 4-14-2021.)

April 15, AP: “Associated Press. Port Fourchon, LA (AP) — With 12 people still missing from a capsized oil industry vessel, Coast Guard divers waited for a break in stormy weather Thursday that would allow them to reach the hull and search for survivors. Coast Guard Petty Officer 2nd Class Jonathan Lally said rescuers don’t know whether any of the missing might be caught inside the lift vessel that flipped over Tuesday in hurricane-force winds and high seas off the Louisiana coast….The Coast Guard expects the divers to make it to the vessel today, but the safety of the rescuers is also a factor, he said….

“Part of the overturned ship’s hull and one of its legs were still visible, leaving most of the bulky vessel underwater, in an area 50 to 55 feet (15 to 17 meters) deep, according to the Coast Guard. Also called a jackup rig, it has three long legs designed to reach the sea floor and lift it out of water as an offshore platform….” (Associate Press. “Divers air to reach capsized vessel in search for survivors.” OA online, 4-15-2021.)

April 16, Daily Mail and Associated Press: “Photos have emerged of some of the 12 missing crew members who could be trapped inside a capsized liftboat off Louisiana, as the Coast Guard prepares to make a last-ditch rescue attempt. Divers searching for the missing oil industry workers prepared to enter the overturned vessel on Friday [16th], a rescue effort complicated by daunting technical challenges and continued bad weather….

“The disaster on the Seacor Power has brought attention to the little-known liftboat, a specialized design with a history of safety problems in foul weather. A liftboat is a self-propelled, self-elevating vessel with a large open deck capable of carrying equipment and supplies, used mainly in mineral exploration and offshore construction. Liftboats are equipped with legs that can be lowered down to the sea floor, rapidly raising the hull clear of the water to provide a stable platform for oil exploration or even maintenance on the vessel itself. The Seacor Power had three extendible legs, and was equipped with two cranes and a helicopter pad.

“The first liftboat was designed in 1955 by brothers Lynn and Orin Dean in Violet, Louisiana. In 1950 the Dean brothers owned a repair service for cars, boats and farm equipment called Universal Repair Service, which became their liftboat firm EBI, Elevating Boats LLC. EBI operates 30 liftboats that service the shallow, oil-rich waters of the Gulf of Mexico from their liftboat dock in Houma, Louisiana.

“The Seacor Power was owned by Seacor Marine, and had a maximum working depth of 195 feet.

“The vulnerabilities of liftboats in storms have been known for years, and federal authorities have investigated multiple deaths on them.

“Four people on board the Trinity II died in September 2011 in the Gulf of Mexico when large waves struck its hull.

“Then in July 1989 a liftboat sank [Avco 5] off the coast of Louisiana in storms associated with Hurricane Chantal. Ten [or 13] of the 14 people on board died….” (Daily Mail/Keith Griffith) and Associated Press. “Pictured: Members of the 12 missing crew on 129-foot liftboat that capsized off Louisiana coast who could still be trapped Inside as Coast Guard prepares last-ditch rescue effort.” 4-16-2021.)

April 16, MarineLog (Nick Blenkey): “In an update released Friday evening, the Coast Guard reports that divers from Donjon Marine Company who were diving on the capsized Seacor Power lift boat had recovered two more unresponsive people. That brings the number of fatalities confirmed in the incident to four. [Anthony Hartford, 53 of New Orleans, and James Wallingsford, 55 of Gilbert, LA. ]

“….According to local media, the Lafourche Parish Coroner’s Office has identified the crewmember whose body was first recovered from the water as David Ledet, 63, of Thibodaux, La., the vessel’s captain…. [The second body was found 33 miles away from the site. ]

[Besides Captain Ledet one of the other fatalities was identified as Earnest Williams, 69. ]

“Owner May Seek To Limit Liability

“Thus far, there appears to have been no public statement on the incident from the lift boat’s owner, SEACOR Marine Holdings Inc. (NYSE:SMHI). Law firms believe it likely the owner will file a Limitation of Liability complaint to limit its damages in connection with the capsized vessel. The Limitation of Shipowners’ Liability Act allows a vessel owner to limit its liability for damages to the value of the vessel involved in the occurrence. Paul T. Hofmann, a partner in law firm Hofmann & Schweitzer, points out that the act limits the shipowner’s liability to the value of the vessel after the event. In this case, the value of the lift boat will be zero. According to VesselsValue, prior to the capsize the SEACOR Power had a value of $1.71 million.” (MarineLog/Nick Blenkey. “Updated: SEACOR Power death toll grows.” 4-16-2021.)

April 16, NOLA.com: “….The weather was relatively clear when the jack up boat left, but an hour into the trip, forecasters warned that there would be tropical-storm caliber winds and potentially deadly waves in the area where the crew was headed. Those winds turned out to be much stronger than forecast. The Seacor Power took on water, turned over on its starboard side and sank around 4:30 p.m., setting off a frantic rescue effort entering its fourth day Friday.

“….Two of the rescued were among five who were on the Seacor Power’s hull late Tuesday night, Coast Guard officials said. Two jumped off the hull and were rescued. A third who fell in the water has not been located, according to the Coast Guard. The other two on the hull went back inside, and there was optimism as of Friday that they may be alive in an air pocket waiting to be rescued, possibly with others. Divers tapped on the ship’s hull Thursday but received no response…” (Nola.com/John Simerman and Ramon Antonio Vargas. “Seacor Power divers ‘hopeful’ to rescue crew alive by using access points on vessel.” 4-16-2021.)

Nov 20, NOLA.com: “Five people were killed and eight others are missing and presumed dead after the lift boat Seacor Power capsized April 13 during a storm in the Gulf of Mexico. Six other crew members were rescued from the water by the Coast Guard, which continued searching for days after the disaster to rescue or recover additional crew.

“On Monday [19th], the Coast Guard announced it was suspending its search and rescue operations. Private search crews — funded by the vessel’s owner, Seacor Marine — will continue searching.

“The Seacor Power’s crew hailed from across Louisiana, and one missing crew member is from Texas. Here is who they were, and how family, friends and community members have remembered them….]

[Victims named in article.]
Bodies recovered
1. Capt. David Ledet, 63, of Thibodaux
2. Earnest Williams, 69, of Arnaudville
3. Anthony Hartford, 53, of New Orleans
4. James “Trach” Wallingsford, 55, of Gilbert, Louisiana
5. Lawrence Warren, 36, of Terrytown
Missing, presumed dead.
6. Dylan Daspit, 30, of Breaux Bridge
7. Jay Guevara, of Lafayette
8. Quinon Pitre, 31, of the Lawtell area
9. Chaz Morales, 37, of Slidell
10. Gregory Walcott, 62, of Abbeville
11. Jason Krell, of Texas
12. Darren Encalade, of Belle Chasse
13. Cooper Rozands, of Houma

Sources

Associate Press. “Divers air to reach capsized vessel in search for survivors.” OA online, 4-15-2021. Accessed 4-15-2021 at: https://www.oaoa.com/news/business/divers-aim-to-reach-capsized-vessel-in-search-for-survivors/article_f83a48c6-53b9-5aad-99eb-d57fa7a2099a.html

Daily Mail/Keith Griffith) and Associated Press. “Pictured: Members of the 12 missing crew on 129-foot liftboat that capsized off Louisiana coast who could still be trapped Inside as Coast Guard prepares last-ditch rescue effort.” 4-16-2021. Accessed 4-16-2021 at: https://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-9478929/PICTURED-Members-12-missing-crew-Seacor-Power-lift-boat-capsized-Louisiana.html

Foxnews.com (Peter Aitken). “Coast Guard recovers 2 more bodies off Louisiana coast following Seacor Power disaster.” 4-17-2021. Accessed 4-17-2021 at: https://www.foxnews.com/us/coast-guard-recovers-2-bodies-louisiana-seacor-power

Freightwaves.com (Noi Mahoney). “2 more bodies recovered after Seacor Power capsizing.” 4-17-2021. Accessed 4-17-2021 at: https://www.freightwaves.com/news/2-more-bodies-recovered-after-seacor-power-capsizing

KHOU 11, Houston (Doug Delony). “1 dead, 12 still missing after boat capsizes off Louisiana coast, US Coast Guard confirms.” 4-13-2021, updated 4-14-2021. Accessed 4-14-2021 at: https://www.khou.com/article/news/national/boat-capsizes-grand-isle-louisiana/285-f5820a56-8c17-4704-88b4-92bb01cefe03

MarineLog/Nick Blenkey. “Updated: SEACOR Power death toll grows.” 4-16-2021. Accessed 4-17-2021 at: https://www.marinelog.com/offshore/seacor-power-another-body-recovered/

NOLA.com (Kayla Gagnet). “Remembering the victims of the Seacor Power lift boat disaster the Gulf of Mexico.” 4-20-2021. Accessed 4-20-2021 at: https://www.nola.com/news/article_d29fb86e-a20e-11eb-8631-a78635aa0df0.html

Nola.com (John Simerman and Ramon Antonio Vargas). “Seacor Power divers ‘hopeful’ to rescue crew alive by using access points on vessel.” 4-16-2021. Accessed 4-17-2021 at: https://www.nola.com/news/article_a6e3077a-9ed1-11eb-9155-2369bd36de3a.html

WBRZ 2, Baton Rouge. “All four crew members confirmed dead after liftboat catastrophe identified; Nine missing.” 4-17-2021. Accessed 4-17-2021 at: https://www.wbrz.com/news/all-four-crew-members-confirmed-dead-after-liftboat-catastrophe-identified-nine-missing

–10 CNN. “Here’s what we know about the Boulder, Colorado, mass shooting suspect.” 3-23-2021.

Narrative Information

March 23: “(CNN) — Ahmad Al Aliwi Alissa was identified by authorities Tuesday as the gunman who opened fire at a King Soopers grocery store in Colorado, killing 10 people, including a Boulder police officer….A search of the suspect’s suburban Denver home turned up other weapons, a senior law enforcement source said Tuesday. The weapon used in the attack was an AR-15-style pistol modified with an arm brace, according to the source….Alissa, whose family emigrated from Syria, may have been suffering from mental illness, according to his 34-year-old brother, Ali Aliwi Alissa….The family emigrated from Syria in 2002, the brother said. They lived in the Arvada area since 2014.

“Ahmad Al Aliwi Alissa, who was born on April 17, 1999, attended Arvada West High School starting in March 2015 until he graduated in May 2018, according to Jeffco Public Schools.

“…the suspect was wounded in the leg during ‘an exchange of gunfire.’….

“The slain officer, 51-year-old Eric Talley, was the first to respond to the scene, according to Herold. Talley had joined the Boulder police force in 2010, she said.

“The victims were ordinary Coloradans going about their daily lives — picking up groceries, waiting in line for a coronavirus vaccine. They ranged from 20 to 65 years old.” (CNN. “Here’s what we know about the Boulder, Colorado, mass shooting suspect.” 3-23-2021.)

March 23: “….Police on Tuesday [March 23]…released the names of those killed: Denny Stong, 20; Neven Stanisic, 23; Rikki Olds, 25; Tralona Bartkowiak, 49; Suzanne Fountain, 59; Teri Leiker, 51; Boulder police Officer Eric Talley, 51; Kevin Mahoney, 61; Lynn Murray, 62; Jody Waters, 65….”

Sources

CNN (Alisha Ebrahimji and Holly Yan). “A young grocery store manager and a heroic officer were among the 10 Boulder shooting victims.” 3-23-2021. Accessed 3-23-2021 at: https://www.cnn.com/2021/03/23/us/victims-of-boulder-shooting/index.html

CNN (Ray Sanchez and Blake Ellis). “Here’s what we know about the Boulder, Colorado, mass shooting suspect.” 3-23-2021. Accessed 3-23-2021 at: https://www.cnn.com/2021/03/23/us/boulder-colorado-shooting-suspect/index.html

CNN (Jason Hanna and Madeline Holcombe). “Suspect in Colorado grocery store shooting faces 10 counts of murder, police say.” 3-23-2021. Accessed 3-23-2021 at: https://www.cnn.com/2021/03/23/us/boulder-colorado-shooting-tuesday/index.html

–8 NPR. “What We Know About The Victims Of The Atlanta-Area Shootings.” 3-19-2021.

Narrative Information

March 23, NPR: “As the country reels from the Atlanta-area massage business shootings that left eight people dead, including six women of Asian descent, authorities have released the names of those killed in Tuesday’s three attacks. Four people were killed in the shooting at Youngs Asian Massage in Acworth, Ga., the Cherokee County Sheriff’s Office said on Wednesday. They have been identified as Delaina Ashley Yaun, Paul Andre Michels, Xiaojie Tan and Daoyou Feng. The sole survivor, Elcias R. Hernandez-Ortiz, remains hospitalized with injuries. Four women were also killed in two spas across the street from one another in Atlanta. The Fulton County Medical Examiner’s office identified these women, between the ages of 51 and 74, when asked about victims of the spa shootings: Soon Chung Park, Hyun Jung Grant, Suncha Kim and Yong Ae Yue….

“The suspect, 21-year-old Robert Aaron Long of Georgia, was arrested within hours of the attacks and faces charges of murder and assault. The Cherokee County Sheriff’s Office said Wednesday that Long confessed to the shootings but claimed they were not motivated by racial animus — prompting widespread debate over what constitutes a hate crime and how to present the gunman’s explanation, especially in the context of a recent nationwide surge in violence against Asian Americans….” (NPR. “What We Know About The Victims Of The Atlanta-Area Shootings.” 3-19-2021.)
Source

NPR. “What We Know About The Victims Of The Atlanta-Area Shootings.” 3-19-2021. Accessed 3-23-2021 at: https://www.npr.org/2021/03/18/978742409/what-we-know-about-the-victims-of-the-atlanta-area-shootings

–13 Associated Press. “California crash kills 13 of 25 people crammed into SUV.” 3-2-2021.
–12 on-site
— 1 at hospital
–13 KABC, LA. “NTSB, CHP to meet amid human smuggling investigation…” 3-3-2021.
–13 News Break. “A horrific California SUV crash…linked to earlier crossing of…border.” 3-7-2021.

Narrative Information

March 2: “Holtville, Calif. — An SUV packed with 25 people pulled in front of an oncoming tractor-trailer on a two-lane highway cutting through farmland near the Mexican border early Tuesday, killing 13 and leaving bodies strewn across the roadway.

“When police arrived some of the passengers were trying to crawl out of the crumpled 1997 Ford Expedition, the front end of the rig still pushing into its left side and two empty trailers jackknifed behind it. Other victims were wandering around the fields.

“Twelve people were found dead when first responders reached the highway, which winds through fields in the agricultural southeastern corner of California about 125 miles (201 kilometers) east of San Diego. Another person died at a hospital, California Highway Patrol Chief Omar Watson said….

“The 22-year-old driver of the Ford Expedition was from Mexicali, Mexico, and was killed. The 69-year-old driver of the big rig, who is from nearby El Centro, was hospitalized with moderate injuries.

“The crash occurred around 6:15 a.m. at an intersection just outside the agricultural community of Holtville, which dubs itself the world’s carrot capital. Authorities said the tractor-trailer and its two empty containers were northbound on State Highway 115 when the SUV pulled in front of it from Norrish Road. It’s not clear if the SUV ran a stop sign or had stopped before entering the highway. It’s not yet known how fast the tractor-trailer was traveling.

“The deceased ranged in age from 20 to 55. Among the injured, the youngest is 16 years old….

“The investigation will look into why so many people were crammed into the 1997 Ford Expedition, a vehicle built to hold only about eight people safely….

“The speed limit for tractor-trailers on the highway is 55 mph (88.5 kph), according to CHP Officer Jake Sanchez. The other road is also 55 mph for vehicles.

“A 1997 Ford Expedition can carry a maximum payload of 2,000 pounds. If it had 25 people inside, that would exceed the payload limit — which would tax the brakes and make it tougher to steer, said Frank Borris, former head of the U.S. National Highway Traffic Safety Administration’s Office of Defects Investigation….” (Associated Press. “California crash kills 13 of 25 people crammed into SUV.” 3-2-2021.)

March 3: “Holtville, Calif. (KABC) — Authorities are investigating whether human smuggling was involved when an SUV packed with 25 people slammed into a tractor-trailer in a remote Imperial County desert on Tuesday, killing the driver and 12 passengers near the Mexican border….

“Seats of the 1997 Ford Expedition were removed, making room for more people. The SUV, which would typically seat eight to nine people legally, collided with an empty tractor-trailer on Highway 115 at Norrish Road in Holtville — located about 125 miles east of San Diego and about 15 miles north of the Mexico border….

“The Mexican government issued a statement saying that the consulate has confirmed that at least 10 of the deceased were Mexican nationals and authorities were still working to confirm the identities of the other three who were killed in the crash.

“CHP officials say at the intersection the SUV drove “directly in the path of the big rig” around 6:15 a.m. The 2011 Peterbilt truck struck the left side of the SUV, which appeared to have been pushed off the road. Investigators were trying to determine if the SUV first stopped at the stop sign before entering the intersection.

“Authorities said the ages of those who were inside the vehicle, including those injured and killed, ranged from 15 to 53….

“Information about the occupants of the SUV, including where they were traveling to and from and why there were so many in one vehicle, is still under investigation.” (KABC, Los Angeles. “NTSB, CHP to meet amid human smuggling investigation in mass casualty crash in Imperial County,” 3-3-2021.)

March 3: “Holtville, Calif. — Thirteen people killed in one of the deadliest border crashes on record were among more than 40 migrants who entered the U.S. through a hole cut into Southern California’s border fence with Mexico, the Border Patrol said Wednesday. Surveillance video showed a Ford Expedition and Chevrolet Suburban drive through the opening early Tuesday, Gregory Bovino, the Border Patrol’s El Centro sector chief, told The Associated Press. It is believed they were part of a migrant smuggling operation.

“The Suburban carried 19 people, and it caught fire for unknown reasons on a nearby interstate after entering the U.S. All escaped the vehicle and were taken into custody by Border Patrol agents.

“The Expedition crammed with 25 people continued on, and a tractor-trailer struck it a short time later. Ten of the 13 killed have been identified as Mexican citizens. The rest of those in the SUV and the truck driver survived.

“The Border Patrol said its agents were not pursuing the vehicle before the crash. The opening in the fence was about 30 miles (48 kilometers) east of the crash in the heart of California’s Imperial Valley, a major farming region.

“It was made of steel bollards that were built before former President Donald Trump blanketed much of the border with taller barriers that go deeper into the ground….

“The breach occurred in a busy area for illegal crossings near the Imperial Sand Dunes where migrants often climb over an aging barrier and wait for drivers to pick them up, hoping to avoid scrutiny of Border Patrol agents at checkpoints on highways leading to Los Angeles, San Diego and Phoenix. Border Patrol photos show a panel of eight steel poles was lifted out and left on the ground in the desert next to an old tire and other debris….

“The crash occurred around 6:15 a.m. under a clear, sunny sky at an intersection just outside Holtville, about 11 miles (18 kilometers) north of the border. Authorities said the tractor-trailer was heading north on a highway when the SUV pulled in front of it from a road with a stop sign….”
(AP. “SUV in deadly Southern California crash came through hole in border fence: Border Patrol.” abc11 Eyewitness News, 3-3-2021.)

March 5: El Centro — One of the 13 people killed when the SUV smuggling them into California hit a tractor-trailer was a 23-year-old woman…Yesenia Magali Melendrez Cardona…” (Associated Press. “Guatemala woman, 23, is among 13 killed in California crash.” The Mercury News, Bay area, CA, 3-4-2021, update 3-5-2021.)

Sources

Associated Press (Elliot Spagat). “California crash kills 13 of 25 people crammed into SUV.” 3-2-2021. Accessed 3-2-2021 at: https://abcnews.go.com/US/wireStory/hospital-suv-carrying-27-crashes-semitruck-killing-15-76205214

Associated Press. “Guatemala woman, 23, is among 13 killed in California crash.” The Mercury News, Bay area, CA, 3-4-2021, update 3-5-2021. Accessed 3-5-2021 at: https://www.mercurynews.com/2021/03/04/guatemala-woman-23-is-among-13-killed-in-california-crash/

Associated Press (Elliot Spagat). “SUV in deadly Southern California crash came through hole in border fence: Border Patrol.” 3-3-2021. Accessed 3-4-2021 at: https://abc11.com/accident-in-holtville-crash-25-people-suv-ford-expedition/10386066/

Davis, Charles and Azmi Haroun. “A horrific California SUV crash that killed 13 was linked to earlier crossing of US-Mexico border.” News Break, 3-7-2021. Accessed 3-7-2021 at: https://www.newsbreak.com/california/el-centro/news/2174998946233/a-horrific-california-suv-crash-that-killed-13-was-linked-to-earlier-crossing-of-us-mexico-border

KABC, Los Angeles. “NTSB, CHP to meet amid human smuggling investigation in mass casualty crash in Imperial County,” 3-3-2021. Accessed 3-3-2021 at: https://abc7.com/holtville-california-imperial-county-crash-big-rig/10385229/

Sacramento Bee, CA. “Hear details of fatal big-rig crash killing at least 15 in California.” 3-2-2021. Accessed 3-2-2021 at: https://www.sacbee.com/news/california/article249633883.html

–14 CNN. “At least 13 people are dead as severe storms bring tornadoes and flooding…” 3-4-2023.
–3 Alabama
–1 Arkansas
–1 California
–5 Kentucky (Edmonson, Simpson, Logan, Fayette and Bath counties.)
–1 Mississippi
–3 Tennessee
–1 Gallatin, Sumner County, 3rd. Tree fell on Liberty Creek High School student.
–1 Hendersonville, March 3. Tree fell onto woman walking with a neighbor.
–1 Humphreys County. Tree fall onto vehicle, killing man.
–12 Fox Weather. “Death toll climbs from first severe weather outbreak of…” 3-4-2023.
–3 Alabama
–1 Arkansas
–5 Kentucky
–1 Mississippi
–2 Tennessee

Narrative Information

March 4, CNN: “At least 13 people have died in multiple states due to severe weather across the country as a powerful storm system that brought golf ball-sized hail and tornadoes to the South continues to march Saturday across the Northeast. The storm spurred wind gusts strong enough to topple tractor-trailer trucks, leaving more than 1 million people without power and threatening to bring more torrential rain, tornadoes and heavy snow.

“The storm system is the same that dumped feet of snow across parts of California, leaving some trapped in their homes with snow piled as high as second-story windows and prompting the governor to declare a state of emergency in 13 counties. Many of those affected are now bracing for another round of snow and rain on Saturday from a new system.

“At least five Kentuckians have died in connection with the severe weather that hit the area Friday, Kentucky Gov. Andy Beshear said during a news briefing on Saturday. CNN previously reported four deaths across the commonwealth in Edmonson, Simpson, Logan and Fayette counties. The additional death being reported was an 84-year-old man in Bath County, Beshear said. Beshear said it will take days to restore power in some places, and that as of 11:11 a.m. ET Saturday, 396,517 Kentuckians were without power. He said 1,874 Kentuckians are under a boil water advisory with five water districts working under limited operations.

“In Tennessee, two people died. A man was killed after a tree fell on the vehicle he was riding in, the Humphreys County Emergency Management Agency told CNN via email. An elderly woman in Hendersonville died after a tree fell on her while she was walking with a neighbor Friday, according to a news release from the City of Hendersonville. A high school student in Sumner County, Tennessee was critically injured Friday by a tree that fell during severe storms and is not expected to survive, local officials said Saturday. According to Liberty Creek High School, Brooks was being kept on life support until Sunday. ‘Even in her passing, she will give back to others by being an organ donor,’ the school announced. ‘Please join us in praying for this family and all who were fortunate enough to know her.’

“Three other people died in Alabama, one in Arkansas, one in Mississippi and one in California, according to officials.

“Nearly 15 million people were under winter weather alerts as of 8:45 a.m. ET Saturday along the West Coast and in New England, with another 25 million under wind alerts.

“According to PowerOutage.us, about 1.2 million customers were without power Saturday, with Kentucky, Michigan, Tennessee, Ohio, Pennsylvania and West Virginia reporting the most outages.

“Heavy snow is forecast through Saturday afternoon [4th] in northern New England, according to the National Weather Service, with a rain/snow mix in Massachusetts. ‘Storm total amounts of 6 to 12 inches looks to occur within much of the Mohawk Valley, Adirondacks, Lake George Saratoga Region and southern Vermont,’ the National Weather Service in Albany, New York, wrote….”

Sources

CNN. “At least 13 people are dead as severe storms bring tornadoes and flooding to South, now sweeps across Northeast.” 3-4-2023. Accessed 3-5-2023 at: https://www.cnn.com/2023/03/03/weather/winter-weather-us-south-tornado-storms-friday/index.html

Fox Weather. “Death toll climbs from first severe weather outbreak of meteorological spring.” 3-4-2023. Accessed 3-4-2023 at: https://www.foxweather.com/extreme-weather/march-tornado-hail-reports-damage

WKRN.com, Nashville. “Sumner County teen hit by falling tree ‘passed away’, will be taken off mechanical support, school says.” 3-4-2023.