Month: April 2026

By WABC News Staff

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    PERTH AMBOY, New Jersey (WABC) — A family is picking up the pieces and assessing the damage after their jewelry store was robbed in Perth Amboy, New Jersey.

NewsCopter 7 was over the scene at SD Jewelry on Madison Avenue on Wednesday, where authorities say the wild incident played out.

Robbers were caught on camera smashing the front window of the shop with a sledgehammer and were seen carrying garbage bags full of jewelry as they escaped to a waiting car.

Screams could be heard from the mother and daughter who own the store in video obtained by Eyewitness News.

Jessie Sanchez is a close friend who owns a salon across the street.

As the robbers tried to make it into their getaway car, there was one thing they did not account for; they weren’t getting away without a fight.

“She fought with them like a man,” Sanchez said. “She’s a brave woman. Stephanie is a brave woman, but I feel so sad for her mother. Her mother fell away. She fell. It was too much.”

The mother suffered bruises to her arm and leg.

The two fearless women tried to pull the robbers out of the getaway BMW as they hit reverse, sideswiping a parked car. The mother and daughter kept hanging on even as the robbers peeled off, leaving the mother on the ground.

The frightened daughter said she did all she could to stop the robbery. She said she sacrificed a lot to get the store up and running.

“I fought with them, look here, I’m cut, because I fought back, I said to my mom ‘they’re not going to take all my effort,’ you don’t know how many people are on the internet, calling me name but I would work Uber until 4, 5 a.m. so that I could save up money to start a business,” she said.

The mother said she was still very upset.

“To come and take that from her, but what’s important is that we’re alive and that I thank God for that but I want them caught,” she said.

The robbers were as bold as they come. Not only did they hit SD Jewelry in broad daylight, but they did it right under the cops’ noses. There is a police substation right across the street.

They say no weapons were pulled out, and no one was seriously injured. It’s estimated they got away with $1 million in merchandise.

Anyone with information is asked to contact the Perth Amboy Police Department at 732-324-3800.

Please note: This story was provided to CNN Wire by an affiliate and does not contain original CNN reporting. This content carries a strict local market embargo. If you share the same market as the contributor of this article, you may not use it on any platform.

By Aaron Parseghian, Neal Riley

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    Massachusetts (WBZ) — Alpha-gal syndrome, the tick-borne illness that causes people to develop a serious allergy to meat and dairy, is “an emerging public health concern in Massachusetts,” the state epidemiologist says.

Dr. Catherine Brown with the Department of Public Health says the Lone Star tick, which is most commonly associated with the disease, has historically been found in the south. But climate change and changes in landscape use have resulted in the species moving north, she said.

“And we now know that there are some established populations on the Islands and then also in Barnstable County,” Dr. Brown said. “Unfortunately, the species is also starting to make inroads into the rest of the state as well.”

Alpha-gal syndrome Last summer, a tick researcher said cases of alpha-gal syndrome were “exploding” on Martha’s Vineyard, with more than 500 positive tests in 2024. Dr. Brown said it’s the tick’s saliva that can trigger the allergy.

“Individuals who have their immune system activated after a tick bite can end up having allergic reactions when they have a steak dinner or they have ice cream for dessert,” she said.

The Centers for Disease Control says the allergy can be life-threatening, but those who have it can experience different symptoms every time they are exposed to meat or dairy. It’s estimated that as many as 450,000 people are affected by the condition.

This year the state has started tracking cases of alpha-gal syndrome as a reportable condition. Dr. Brown said she’s heard “increased rumblings” from local boards of health about new cases of the illness.

“We want to have that information so that we can actually help educate ourselves, healthcare providers and the public about this new concern,” she said.

Tick prevention Is tick season starting off worse than usual in Massachusetts? Dr. Brown said it’s challenging to track tick population levels.

“Ticks are a problem in Massachusetts every single year. And so if there are a few more this year or a few less the next year, it doesn’t matter,” she said. “There’s still a lot of them.”

Dr. Brown encourages pet owners to check with their veterinarians about the best tick prevention for their type of animal. She also says anyone who’s been outside in an area where ticks are present should think about doing a tick check, showering, and putting their clothes in the dryer on high heat for 10 or 15 minutes.

“I want people to go and be outside and enjoy what the state has to offer,” Dr. Brown said. “Just make sure that you’re thinking about tick repellents and tick checks while you do it.”

What homeowners can do to prevent ticks Insect control companies say calls are already coming in. Jonnie Larson of Green Mosquito said demand has surged once the calendar flipped into March.

“That’s when they call, once they see [ticks] on their dogs,” Larson said. “Over the last 10 years, I’d say last year, and this year are the most tick calls I’ve ever gotten.”

Larson demonstrated treatment methods at a home in Lexington, targeting areas where ticks thrive, including rock walls, leaf litter, brush and wooded spaces. Treatments ranged from natural cedarwood oil to other potent solutions, offering homeowners added peace of mind.

“I have customers telling me of more and more diseases they learn about, that they’re concerned about. The main one obviously is Lyme disease,” Larson said. “It’s been around for a long time, and a lot of people have had it in New England. And a lot of my customers, that why they subscribe to the service, because they’ve either had it before or they just have heard nightmares about it.”

Larson says homeowners should also take steps to clean up their yards and create a less welcoming space for the pesky insects.

“Create a barrier where the woods and brush meet your lawn, rake it back. Rake it out good, get it down to the dirt, and then put like a three-foot barrier of mulch,” he recommended.

Please note: This story was provided to CNN Wire by an affiliate and does not contain original CNN reporting. This content carries a strict local market embargo. If you share the same market as the contributor of this article, you may not use it on any platform.

By Matthew Rodriguez

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    RIVERSIDE, California (KCAL, KCBS) — A SWAT deputy in Riverside County was caught scrolling on what appeared to be a dating app during a standoff with an armed suspect on Wednesday.

The Riverside County Sheriff’s Office said in a statement released on Thursday that it is investigating the incident.

“This behavior does not reflect the standards, expectations, or policies of our department,” the Sheriff’s Office wrote. “We have initiated an internal investigation and will take appropriate action based on the findings. The Sheriff’s Office remains committed to professionalism and holding our employees accountable.”

The hours-long standoff happened after an armed pursuit suspect crashed into a wall near a Jurupa Valley school. Aerial footage captured by CBS LA showed the deputy scrolling through his phone while taking cover behind an armored vehicle parked a few feet from the suspect’s car.

The suspect, who was on the phone with a 911 dispatcher during the standoff, refused to surrender after deputies deployed pepper balls and robots. After several hours, deputies approached the suspect and pulled his body out of the car. The Riverside County Sheriff’s Office said the suspect had “injuries consistent with a self-inflicted gunshot wound.”

Riverside County Fire Department paramedics pronounced the man dead at the scene. Authorities have not identified him.

The standoff happened after the suspect led deputies on a stop-and-start pursuit for a few hours. After stopping at an intersection near Jurupa Valley High School, the driver sped away as a deputy closely followed. The deputy attempted to use a pursuit-ending tool called a Grappler, but it appeared to cause the suspect to lose control of the car, which then slammed into a brick wall.

Please note: This story was provided to CNN Wire by an affiliate and does not contain original CNN reporting. This content carries a strict local market embargo. If you share the same market as the contributor of this article, you may not use it on any platform.

By Brandon Truitt

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    WOBURN, Massachusetts (WBZ) — A Woburn, Massachusetts man and his 10-year-old Labrador named Larry are recovering after they were attacked by a Rottweiler. Tom Sheehan and Larry were walking Monday morning when he said the other dog came out of nowhere.

Sheehan is crediting city employees for saving their lives. “If they hadn’t come, there’s no way I would have been able to protect him,” Sheehan said.

The duo was on their usual morning walk to Dunkin’ Monday morning when Sheehan said the Rottweiler bolted across the street and started attacking them.

“I was on my own. I didn’t have anything to fight the dog with,” Sheehan said. “I had his collar in my hand, but he was powerful.”

The dog was clasping onto Larry’s neck. Sheehan had nothing to fight back with, but just in the nick of time, a Woburn DPW truck drove by and pulled over.

“The two guys got out and just got in the middle of the fray. They were armed with a broom and a rake that happened to be in the truck,” Sheehan said.

The two workers helped Sheehan free Larry from the dog’s grip before the animal turned on them. “At one stage I was finally able to get into their truck and call 911, but the dog tried to get in the truck and bite me and Larry inside the truck,” Sheehan said.

More than five minutes into the attack, that Rottweiler ran away. Tom, Larry and one of the DPW workers went to the hospital. Sheehan had half a dozen bites and needed 18 stitches. Larry was pretty banged up too but is on the mend.

WBZ-TV tried to reach those two DPW employees. One is still recovering, the other, we’re told, is back on the job. But Sheehan says without their courage to pull over and help, this would have ended differently.

“Oh, it was game over. In retrospect Larry would have perished. Larry would have perished if those guys didn’t show up and I think I would have been a lot worse off fighting the dog,” Sheehan said. “They are not first responders by true definition, but they were true heroes. They really were.”

Sheehan says the city has custody of that Rottweiler. It’s unclear if the owners of that dog will face charges.

Please note: This story was provided to CNN Wire by an affiliate and does not contain original CNN reporting. This content carries a strict local market embargo. If you share the same market as the contributor of this article, you may not use it on any platform.

By ByGabe Ferris, Kassandra Gutierrez, Vanessa Vasconcelos, Brisa Colón, and KFSN Digital Team

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    PORTERVILLE, California (KFSN) — A Tulare County Sheriff’s Office detective was shot and killed during a confrontation in Porterville on Thursday.

Tulare County Sheriff Mike Boudreaux said that deputies were serving an eviction notice at a home on Brian Avenue near North Salisbury Street around 10:40 a.m. when shots were fired.

Authorities said the suspect, identified as 59-year-old David Morales, barricaded himself inside the home and was believed to be armed with a high-powered rifle. Multiple shots were exchanged.

Detective Randy Hoppert was struck, and after a tactical rescue was taken to Sierra View Medical Center in Porterville, where he later died.

Sheriff Boudreaux said officials considered using a medivac helicopter to transport Hoppert to the trauma center at Community Regional Medical Center in Fresno, but the detective’s condition was too volatile for air transport.

Boudreaux says that Morales’ motive is unclear, as he had no prior criminal history. Despite having 18 registered handguns, the Sheriff says Morales used a rifle to shoot at deputies.

Morales was killed after being run over by an armored vehicle after nearly seven hours of terror.

Fallen detective leaves behind pregnant wife

Hoppert served in the U.S. Navy from 2010 to 2015 and joined the Tulare County Sheriff’s Office on January 5, 2020.

He leaves behind a wife who is four months pregnant.

His grandfather previously served as a Tulare County undersheriff.

Deadly confrontation during eviction

Boudreaux said the eviction involved a final notice after the suspect failed to pay rent for 35 days and was expecting law enforcement to arrive.

He said Morales “laid in wait,” and deputies immediately came under gunfire when they arrived to serve the notice.

The detective who was killed was part of the group of officers who responded to assist.

Boudreaux said the detective died around noon, approximately 60 to 80 minutes after the eviction process began.

Heavy law enforcement response unfolds

Several SWAT teams were deployed to the area, and Sheriff Boudreaux said homes across four blocks were cleared as a precaution.

Crisis negotiators responded to the scene, with multiple law enforcement agencies assisting. The California Highway Patrol also deployed a helicopter equipped with specialized technology to help locate the suspect.

Westfield Elementary, Sequoia Middle School and Monache High School were placed in a secure status, with students safe inside.

Boudreaux also confirmed the office of Gov. Gavin Newsom requested a briefing on the situation.

This is the first line-of-duty death for the Tulare County Sheriff’s Office since December 7, 2007, nearly 20 years ago.

Suspect killed during evening operation

At around 6 p.m., Sheriff Boudreaux said Morales had left the home and was moving through the yards of at least three nearby houses while wearing tactical equipment and camouflage.

Boudreaux said a Kern County SWAT team drove a BearCat vehicle into a yard where Morales was located.

Morales was found lying prone on the ground, and started firing at the armored vehicles.

The officers inside made the decision to run over the suspect, killing him.

Boudreaux described Morales’ motive as unclear, noting he had no prior criminal record, not even a traffic ticket.

Please note: This story was provided to CNN Wire by an affiliate and does not contain original CNN reporting. This content carries a strict local market embargo. If you share the same market as the contributor of this article, you may not use it on any platform.

By Hunter Sowards

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    LOS ANGELES (KCAL, KCBS) — The Federal Aviation Administration launched an investigation after a Frontier Airlines plane nearly collided with two trucks on an LAX taxiway.

No one was injured during the close call, but the pilot appeared shaken and worried while describing it to air traffic controllers.

“We just had two trucks cut us off,” the pilot said in ATC audio. “We had to slam on the brakes to not hit them.”

The plane was traveling at low speeds, likely giving the pilots enough time to avoid the collision.

“It happened so fast,” the pilot said in ATC audio. “I have to go check on the flight attendants in the back. It was real close, closest I’ve ever seen.”

Frontier Airlines said there were 217 passengers and seven crew members on the flight. It praised the pilots for their quick thinking. LAX has not released information about who was driving the trucks.

Brian Sinclair, a former F-18 pilot who is now an instructor at the U.S. Naval Academy, said air traffic controllers likely did not see the incident because it happened in a blind spot.

“In this case, there are three specific locations at LAX that ground people in the tower cannot see the taxiways,” Sinclair said. “You could see that that would be a risk.”

LAX has significant ground traffic with separate lanes for cars and planes.

“But, there are times when those lanes intersect, and the rules of the road still apply,” said Kris Van Cleave, senior transportation correspondent at CBS News. “You got to yield for the bigger vehicle.”

Van Cleave stressed that there were considerable differences between the LAX incident and last month’s collision at New York’s LaGuardia Airport in which two pilots died.

In the LAX close call, the plane was traveling roughly 15 mph compared to the significantly higher takeoff speeds.

“It is not a circumstance like we saw in LaGuardia, where you had vehicles that were responding to an emergency, that were crossing an active runway, that were under direct air traffic control,” Van Cleave said.

Experts said this is a situation where improvement can likely be made.

“In my 20 years of naval aviation, a lot of lessons learned were written in blood, i.e., we had fatalities,” Sinclair said. “Here is a perfect example of a get-out-of-jail-free lesson learned. Nobody was hurt. No equipment was damaged, and still there’s a lesson to be had here.”

Please note: This story was provided to CNN Wire by an affiliate and does not contain original CNN reporting. This content carries a strict local market embargo. If you share the same market as the contributor of this article, you may not use it on any platform.

By Nicole Comstock

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    ONTARIO, California (KCAL, KCBS) — An Ontario mother sued the school district after staff found her son face down in a pool after teachers and aides allegedly left him unattended.

The family’s attorney, Robert Glassman, said the little 4-year-old boy is nonverbal, has autism, spina bifida and hydrocephalus. The young boy, identified as J.M., adapted to his condition by using his upper-body strength to move around.

“He can’t speak,” Glassman said. “He can’t tell his mom and his family how he’s feeling. So, he’s living with this nightmare terror inside.”

His family said their son has not been the same since he nearly drowned at Lincoln Elementary last December.

“He was left unattended — when he was supposed to have a one-on-one aide with him at all times — for 10 minutes,” Glassman said. “That’s like an eternity. And, he ended up crawling to the big pool and was found face down in the pool for close to a minute before he was pulled out.”

An Ontario Police Department report provided to CBS LA by the family’s attorney indicates a teacher’s aide said she had been away from J.M. for 10 minutes when she began to hear people yelling frantically and calling out to him. The report also indicates that a teacher acknowledged she was supposed to remain with J.M. but was in her classroom during the incident.

The child was airlifted to a hospital.

“The degree of negligence in this case is really astounding,” Glassman said.

Glassman added that J.M. went without oxygen and now has diminished cognitive function, as well as post-traumatic stress, even during bath time.

The family’s lawsuit accuses the Ontario-Montclair School District of negligence and unsafe campus conditions. CBS LA contacted the district and school board about the incident, but did not receive an immediate response.

The district told the LA Times that it could not comment on pending litigation.

“He very easily could have died as a result of this incident,” Glassman said.

Glassman said the family wants the school to fix safety issues at their campus pools.

Please note: This story was provided to CNN Wire by an affiliate and does not contain original CNN reporting. This content carries a strict local market embargo. If you share the same market as the contributor of this article, you may not use it on any platform.

By Kristen Consillio

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    HONOLULU (KITV) — A grassroots group of volunteers has been helping storm impacted families and they are determined to make a difference as this next storm is about to strike. The group has been helping people impacted by the storms for months — turning their compassion into action.

Josue Aguilar has been busy helping people move their belongings, and families, to safer areas and buying them supplies ahead of the impending storm.

“This is going to be like the fourth major storm in the last two months that’s hit Oahu, like the whole island and the other islands as well,” Aguilar said. “So really just getting some items, always need water. Have some batteries just in case people need to charge up flashlights.”

It’s been weeks now since his volunteers, numbering in the thousands, have been helping with cleanup and everything in between.

“It’s always amazing to see how many people come out to support,” Aguilar said. “Really people are always ready and want to help. They just need to know how and when.”

Aguilar runs nonprofit Inside Outreach, most recently helping flood victims pick up the pieces after devastating storms damaged properties and displaced residents who, in many cases, are now homeless.

“It’s just been amazing. I mean obviously, this whole month and a half has been pretty heavy on a lot of people, but the amount of people that have risen up to the occasion and just started helping without even like thinking twice,” he added. “They just jump in like literally pulling people out of dangerous situations.”

Telling the stories of people and places in need.

“Through all of the storytelling, we were able to raise $50,000 that’s gonna go all to the community,” he said.

And their social media posts continue to inspire volunteers to donate time, money and aloha.

“It’s unbelievable. You know, express human come like this. I our community and our people all over the island just come and volunteer the service, just to help their neighbors,” said flood victim Blanche McMillan. “They’re there to show the love and respect for others.”

To donate or volunteer, visit: insideoutreach.org

Please note: This story was provided to CNN Wire by an affiliate and does not contain original CNN reporting. This content carries a strict local market embargo. If you share the same market as the contributor of this article, you may not use it on any platform.