Month: August 2026

By Nicholas Brooks

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    JACKSON, Miss. (WAPT) — The impact of gun violence in Jackson is being felt long after police tape comes down and investigations begin.

Westhaven Memorial Funeral Home said it has buried roughly 20 to 25 young people this year following homicides, with victims ranging in age from as young as 2 years old to 23.

Kaleb Rhodes, assistant manager at Westhaven Memorial Funeral Home, said the number of young homicide victims is concerning, especially considering the year is not over.

“We’re just one funeral home. So for us to be at in our 20s in August and we still have the rest of the year to go, that’s pretty high,” Rhodes said.

Rhods said the funeral home is preparing to help two more families who lost loved ones to homicide this weekend.

“Even this weekend coming up, we have to stand alongside of two families who lost their loved ones to homicides here in the city of Jackson,” he said.

Westhaven has also handled funerals connected to some of Jackson’s most heartbreaking cases, including a triple homicide that claimed the lives of the Wethersby sisters and the 2-year-old son of one of the sisters.

Rhodes said helping a family through a multiple-homicide case is different from the typical funeral process.

“It was a very different and unique process because traditionally we’re dealing with one loved one. This instance, we were dealing with three individuals at one time who lost their lives due to a homicide in our city,” Rhodes said.

While funeral homes help families through the final goodbye, Rhodes said those families are often left with a financial and emotional burden they were not prepared to carry.

“The families are left with the burden to bury their loved ones and a lot of these families are not prepared for that,” he said.

Dr. Valerie McKnight, founder of I’ll Go Outreach Missions International, works with young people and has been involved in efforts to address gun violence in the community.

McKnight said she believes part of the solution involves returning to basic moral values and strengthening communities.

“And I think that is what happened in these communities. We strayed away from the basics of good moral ethics and values. Once we go back to that, I think that it will make the world a better place as well as our communities,” McKnight said.

McKnight plans to bring that message to the community through a prayer vigil scheduled for Aug. 29 at 5 p.m. at L’il Go Outreach Missions International’s facility in Clinton.

For families at Westhaven Memorial Funeral Home, the continued funerals serve as a reminder that the impact of Jackson’s gun violence extends far beyond the crime scene, affecting families and communities for years to come.

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 Sophia Falbo

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    BURLINGTON, Vt. (WPTZ) — Hundreds of cyclists took over Burlington streets on Wednesday for a critical mass ride honoring Shiloh Skalka.

Two miles of biking, with many holding signs along the way, as a tribute to the 16-year-old Burlington girl who died doing just that.

“Shiloh was riding a bike when she was killed, so it’s important to show that bicyclists are out here,” said Val Cyr, communications specialist at Local Motion. “We take up space on the road, and we deserve to be part of traffic.”

Skalka was hit by a car, driven by 79-year-old Douglas Knapp, while riding her e-bike at the intersection of Pine and Locust Street on July 16. She later died from her injuries at UVM Medical Center.

Police cited Knapp in connection with the fatal crash. He’s due in court later this month.

“I’ve been processing it,” said Christian Skalka, Shiloh’s father. “I can say I’ve just mostly been struggling to make it day by day and moment by moment.”

Bike advocacy group Local Motion hosted Wednesday afternoon’s critical mass ride.

“I came out today because I am grieving but also because I am so angry,” said South End resident and parent Jason Van Driesche.

Volunteers installed a ghost bike just feet away from Skalka’s memorial that is continuously growing.

“It’s a bike that’s painted white just to show that this is a spot where a cyclist was killed,” Cyr said. “It’s left on the side of the road as a memorial, as a reminder for anyone passing that something awful happened here.”

Some neighborhood parents said Skalka’s death is their biggest fear come true.

“A few days after Shiloh was killed, my daughter, who is 19 [years old], and loves to bike all over Burlington, was headed downtown on her bike,” Van Driesche said. “And I looked at her, and I said, ‘Be careful, sweetheart,’ and she said, ‘I know.'”

And Skalka’s accident is highlighting the need for better biker protection, now more than ever.

“The city’s slow walk improvements for biking over and over and over and prioritize convenience for people driving over saving people’s lives,” Van Driesche said. “That makes me furious, especially when something like this happens.”

The ride comes exactly one week after Local Motion organized a walk-and-bike forum for South End residents to suggest ways to make biking feel safer.

A memorial fund, with more than $100,000, has been set up in remembrance of the beloved teen.

Her father said it’s a way to pedal forward and show solidarity with all cyclists.

“All power to Shiloh and her memory,” said Christian Skalka. “More needs to be done for biker safety in Burlington and in Vermont, and I hope this can send that message.”

Volunteers said Skalka’s ghost bike will remain on Pine Street for the next several weeks.

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 Veronica Haynes, Ted Wayman

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    ACTON, Mass. (WCVB) — A Massachusetts teenager was arraigned Thursday on murder charges in the deaths of his mother and younger brother at their Acton home earlier this week.

Arjun Aravind, 17, is charged with killing his mother, Sudha Venkatesan, 45, and his 14-year-old brother, Siddharth Aravind, at the family’s home Tuesday night.

Police responded to the Acton residence after a scheduled tutor was unable to enter the home and Aravind’s father requested a well-being check.

What charges does Arjun Aravind face?

A not guilty plea was entered on Aravind’s behalf Thursday in Concord District Court on two counts of murder, two counts of assault and battery on a family or household member and two counts of assault and battery.

Aravind was ordered held without bail and will undergo a mental health evaluation. He is scheduled to return to court Sept. 11.

A prosecutor said there were “obvious signs of a physical and violent struggle” inside the home and that the victims showed signs of “blunt force trauma.”

“He did not even know when he left that house that they were dead. There was an incident within the house that occurred, and when he left the house, he did not even realize his mother was dead,” said defense attorney Debra Dewitt.

What happened at the Acton home?

Middlesex County District Attorney Marian Ryan said Wednesday that the victims’ causes and manners of death would be determined by the Office of the Chief Medical Examiner.

Ryan also said Wednesday that Aravind had previously been using the internet and ChatGPT to explore “gothic novel” stories involving the deaths of his family.

“Including using the internet and ChatGPT to make searches for theoretical ideas or fantasy stories of the killing of his family,” Ryan said.

When was the Massachusetts teen arrested?

Ryan said Wayland police found Aravind in his mother’s 2014 green Honda Accord after officers responded to an unrelated alarm call early Wednesday morning.

“It’s an incredibly dark day for this community, for this school system,” Ryan said.

Police said Aravind was known to them from a runaway incident about a year ago but had little other involvement with law enforcement.

How is the Acton community responding?

“It’s just very scary to know that this is happening right in our neighborhood,” one resident said.

“I feel bad about what happened. It’s a tragedy, sickening, you know. If I could have helped, I would have helped,” another resident said.

Acton Police Chief Douglas Sturniolo expressed condolences to the victims’ family and said police would continue working to keep the community safe.

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 Pamela Comme

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    DAYTONA BEACH, Fla. (WESH) — Daytona Beach code enforcement has given Seaside Health and Rehabilitation Center 48 hours to address what officials described as a “life safety issue” involving residents’ windows.

The order was issued after WESH 2 started asking questions on Wednesday. Our cameras were there as officials posted a notice on the building, starting the clock on the deadline.

The initial complaint was received on July 26. The city says the initial investigation was delayed because the complaint did not contain all necessary contact information. On Aug. 10, an inspection of the room was done, and an additional walkthrough was made on Aug. 12.

One resident, who agreed to speak only if their name was withheld, said the facility’s windows were recently secured shut.

“A couple weeks ago, they came in. The maintenance lady was screwing everything shut, and I’m like, what are you doing?” the resident said. “And she said they ordered us to shut everything, lock everything down.”

The resident said the restrictions have left them feeling confined.

“I feel like I’m in jail, you know what I’m saying?” the resident said.

A frequent visitor who contacted WESH 2 said he was concerned about what could happen during an emergency, particularly because some residents have limited mobility.

“You got a lot of people who can’t move around that well,” he said. “And how are they supposed to get out if there’s a fire or there’s some other emergency?”

The complaint was submitted about a month ago by a resident, who said there had already been limits on how far the windows could open before they were completely shut.

A Seaside staff member told WESH 2 that the facility is working to address the issue and had no further comment.

“Thank you so much for doing that. So hopefully it will work,” the resident said to WESH 2’s Pamela Comme. “I really, I pray.”

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 Barry Simms

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    ESSEX, Md. (WBAL) — Two teenagers have been charged as adults in connection with the killing of a 17-year-old boy in Essex on Monday.

Baltimore County police on Wednesday said a 15-year-old and a 17-year-old have been charged with first-degree murder in connection with the killing of Roman Wright, 17, in a shooting on Bladen Road.

Police said officers were called Monday to Bladen Road for reports of an assault in progress. When officers arrived, they found the victim inside a vehicle that crashed into a parked vehicle. Wright suffered from an apparent gunshot wound and died at a hospital, police said.

The 17-year-old was taken into custody Tuesday after an hours-long barricade situation on Akin Circle in Middle River, and a judge on Wednesday denied bail. The judge ruled that the teen should not be held in a secure juvenile facility, saying he poses a risk to others given the violent nature of the case, and instead ordered him to be held in an adult facility.

The 15-year-old suspect was found and arrested on Monday at a nearby house on Bladen Road. He waived his bail review at a court appearance on Tuesday.

According to court charging documents obtained by WBAL-TV 11 News, the teenage suspects set up a pre-arranged robbery and fled after the shooting.

The charging document states that the teenage suspects decided to “book the plug,” which detectives said is a term that means “robbing their dealer.”

Police found surveillance video that they said shows the two suspects standing near the victim’s car. A person with a red multicolored backpack raised his arm toward the driver and fired at least two shots, the documents state.

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 Angela Cifone

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    HONOLULU (KITV) — “Walking out and seeing what the Kona lows did to the farm was very drastic and traumatic in a way,” said Cheyenne Adams, Marketing manager for Waimanalo Country Farms.

That trauma came after the March Kona Low storms.

“You could hear like the crackling of the wind and rain coming down over the mountain, and then you could see in the mist the wind whipping,” said Adams.

Now, another storm is on the horizon.

“We’re still in recovery mode. So being hit with another potential hurricane is daunting,” said Hawaii County Mayor Kimo Alameda.

For many, the concern goes beyond the forecast.

“People are still picking up the pieces. We are still recovering from the Kona low, from the earthquake,” said Alameda.

Waimanalo Country Farms is still feeling the effects from the first storms.

“There are only so many fields that we are able to use because some of the other ones are still damaged,” said Adams.

Now, they are hoping this storm passes without setting them back again.

“We’re just praying that it’ll just pass by and not damage those crops because if not, we’re going to be delayed again,” said Adams.

But even just preparing can be a setback.

“Now it’s like we have to pause and now go back to, okay, now we have to go into like survival mode, right? And then go back to work after that,” said Adams.

But the disasters have also taught communities to prepare and rely on each other.

“The earthquake and the Kona Low really made it so that neighbors were reminded to be supportive of one another and work together and with each other. And I think that’s very fresh in people’s minds and experiences,” said Colehour Bondera, an organic farmer on the Big Island.

And while preparation can bring some peace of mind, the fear of what comes after remains.

“The biggest worry is not knowing if you’d be able to recover or assessing the damage,” said Adams.

So for now, it’s prepare, wait and hope this storm doesn’t add another chapter to a year of recovery.

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.