Month: June 2026

By Paul Burton

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    MILFORD, Massachusetts (WBZ) — Marcelo Gomes da Silva walked across the stage to receive his diploma from Milford High School on Sunday with an enormous sense of gratitude. “Definitely an important day and an amazing day in my life,” he smiled.

It was exactly one year ago when 19-year-old Gomes da Silva was detained for several days by ICE and eventually released. The agency said that Gomes da Silva’s father was their intended target, but they arrested the teen instead because his student visa expired and he was in the country illegally.

His detainment sparked outrage in the community and drew national attention. On Sunday, he thanked his school and his community for their support. “I am most grateful for my community. If it weren’t for them, I wouldn’t be here today. I wouldn’t be graduating. I could possibly have been in Brazil or anywhere else,” he said.

Both of his parents attended the graduation and are thankful to see him achieve this accomplishment. For a long time, many doubted this day would come. “I’m very happy and thank God for everything, for the people’s help my family,” Marcelo’s mother, Diane Pereira said.

Many thought this day would never come. “I didn’t know. In the detention center especially, I didn’t know what was going to happen to me. But once I got out, I knew that I would do my best to give back to this community,” Marcelo said.

And as the graduation caps flew high, Marcelo knows this will be a new chapter in his life and a new perspective. “From me being taken by ICE and people coming out for me, it showed me that a lot of times people are judgmental of who they are around. And it kind of just taught me to think twice before saying anything about anybody else, or thinking a certain way about anybody because a lot of people are actually good people,” Gomes da Silva said.

Marcelo says he plans to head to Providence College to study political science. “Hopefully to be in politics and be able to make a change in the world. I feel like a lot of people love to spread out in communities and generations,” he smiled.

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 JT Moodee Lockman, Caroline Foreback

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    BALTIMORE, Maryland (WJZ) — Baltimore Police shared video showing the alleged suspects and car involved in a Baltimore playground shooting that left an 11-year-old and a man injured on Wednesday, May 27.

Police arrived at the scene in Baltimore’s Upton neighborhood, where they found the boy and a 26-year-old man with gunshot wounds.

On Friday, police said both victims are expected to survive.

Baltimore playground shooting Baltimore Mayor Brandon Scott and Police Commissioner Richard Worley both condemned the actions, with Scott calling it “another case of weak men who cannot resolve their petty conflict without gunfire.”

The shooting took place at a playground next to Templeton Elementary School.

Worley said he believes the 26-year-old man was the intended target for the shooting and the child was a bystander. Other children were on the playground at the time of the shooting, police said.

“It affects the whole community because I don’t feel safe to come outside during the day,” said longtime resident Clinton Milburn. “At nighttime, I do not come outside at all. I worry about my granddaughters being out here on the playground, playing out front. We have to prevent things from happening.”

According to police dispatch audio, the suspects may have changed clothes at a nearby apartment after the shooting.

Suspects, car seen in video Video shared on Friday by police showed a white sedan pulling up. Two men dressed in all black are seen getting out of the driver’s side and the rear passenger side of the car before pointing weapons across the street.

Officials said the shooters pulled up across from the Marshall Recreation Center and Templeton Elementary off Pennsylvania Avenue.

Community reaction In a video posted on Facebook, Gari McCarter says she was coaching step dance in a building next to the playground when the gunshots rang out.

“For years I’ve been trying to find a safe place to practice,” she told WJZ’s Caroline Foreback.

She says the season is now canceled indefinitely.

“We just don’t have anywhere else to go,” she said.

Rick Fontaine Leandry, Chief of Community Engagement at MONSE, commented on the shooting, stating, “I think knowing some of the details of how it happened bothers me. No one should be shot at all, especially a child…Emotionally, it just didn’t sit right at all.”

Resources in place On Friday, leaders from the mayor’s Office of Neighborhood Safety and Engagement and other community organizations returned to the Upton neighborhood to listen to neighbors’ concerns.

“Especially after this incident, I think some of the neighbors and parents are concerned about the safety of their children and their grandchildren,” Leandry added.

He says they’re trying to connect people with resources and even employment in an effort to address systemic issues that contribute to neighborhood violence.

“We bring resources, therapists on call, we post up in the rec center over here. We brought some therapists to the school to work with the children,” he said. “Whenever there’s an incident, a traumatic incident, [the] community needs healing.”

Police are asking anyone with information about the suspects to call detectives at 410-396-2422 or Metro Crime Stoppers at 1-866-7Lockup.

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 Luis Miguel Echegaray

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    CLIFTON, New Jersey (WCBS) — As the Mexican national team plays during the FIFA World Cup 2026, a New Jersey restaurant will become home away from home for fans.

La Fortaleza is the creation of Mexican superfan and restaurant owner Arturo Ortega. He has been in the business for more than 30 years.

The restaurant is located in several cities in the Garden State. It’s a shrine to Mexico, from the culture to the food and the country’s national team known as “El Tri.”

“Since the beginning, my dream was to share the Mexican culture, the Mexican gastronomy, music,” Ortega said.

Decorations and special memorabilia cover the restaurant The restaurant is decked out with flags, soccer balls, signed jerseys and even the gloves of the renowned goalkeeper Jorge Campos.

There’s also a golden mold of Hugo Sanchez’s feet, who is arguably the greatest Mexican player of all time.

The atmosphere is incredible, with videos of fans cheering, screaming and clapping during matches.

“I’m very passionate” Ortega told CBS News New York’s Luis Miguel Echegaray that he’s expecting customers to be very excited as Mexico opens the tournament against South Africa at Azteca Stadium in Mexico City.

“I’m really going to feel the game. Hopefully, Mexico wins this. Hopefully, we can get the quinto partido, please.”

The famous quinto partido is the fifth match. It’s the elusive objective for Mexican fans to reach the quarterfinals of a World Cup, something they have not achieved since 1986. That was the last time Azteca Stadium hosted the World Cup.

“I’m very energetic about this. I’m very passionate about soccer,” Ortega said.

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 Anna McAllister

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    CUTLER BAY, Florida (WFOR) — Two people are in critical condition after an early morning shooting at the IHOP located on the 18,000 block of South Dixie Highway in Cutler Bay.

The Miami-Dade Sheriff’s Office reports that the incident occurred shortly before 4 a.m., following a verbal argument inside the restaurant.

According to investigators, the suspect pulled out a gun during the dispute, shooting both a man and a woman before fleeing the scene.

Emergency responders arrived quickly and transported both victims to Jackson South Medical Center, where they are currently receiving treatment.

The condition of both victims remains unclear at this time. Authorities have not released the names of those involved, and details about the suspect are still limited.

Police are urging anyone with information about the shooting or the whereabouts of the suspect to come forward. The investigation is ongoing, and updates will be provided as more details are confirmed.

If you have any information, please contact Miami-Dade Crime Stoppers at (305) 471-8477 or visit the website.

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 Morgan Rynor

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    MIAMI, Florida (WFOR) — Jury selection is expected to begin Monday in the trial of real estate developer George Pino, who is accused of killing a teenage girl in a boat crash in Biscayne Bay in 2022.

While the judge did deny the request from Pino’s attorneys last week to move the trial out of Miami-Dade, the judge did say that if on Monday they have a difficult time finding an impartial jury, she would reconsider that request.

The crash occurred near Boca Chita Key in Biscayne Bay in September 2022, killing Pino’s daughter’s friend, then 17-year-old Lucy Fernandez. Now 21-year-old Katy Puig was left with a lifetime of disabilities after the boat crash.

Last week, the judge made several rulings leading up to the start of the trial on Monday.

She ruled that jurors will be allowed to physically observe the boat, which is being storied at the headquarters for the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission.

Prosecutors will also be allowed to see a limited number of photos from Fernandez’s autopsy.

There would also be limited discussions about two other girls who were injured in the crash.

The defense, though, is asking for alcohol-related evidence to be tossed out. But the judge did not make a ruling on that request during last week’s hearing.

The defense is also asking to keep out a written statement that Pino gave on the night of the crash, stating that another boat caused him to crash into the channel marker.

The judge is expected to rule on that on Monday.

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.