First responders credit VTRANS employees with saving cardiac arrest victim’s life

By James Maloney

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    SAINT JOHNSBURY, Vermont (WPTZ) — A Northeast Kingdom man is lucky to be alive after collapsing from cardiac arrest in August. This week, he finally got the chance to thank the people who saved him.

Bob Fenoff, 67, was working on a wall in his office when he said he suddenly blacked out and collapsed. Fenoff’s office is connected to the garage, which he leases to VTRANS.

“I just lost consciousness and that was it. Ended up on the floor,” Fenoff said.

Two VTRANS employees, Noah Royer and John McClure, immediately jumped into action. They dialed 911 and began performing CPR — skills they had learned through mandatory workplace training.

“Even though it doesn’t train you for moments like that, it gives you the basics,” Royer said. “Fight or flight takes over from there.”

First responders arrived minutes later. Paramedics used a defibrillator to restart Fenoff’s heart. He spent two weeks in a coma before waking up and is now expected to make a full recovery.

“If it had not been for the brave and immediate actions of Noah Royer and John McClure, I do not think that Mr. Fenoff would be standing in front of us today,” Keith Feddersen, a paramedic with CALEX Ambulance, said.

Fenoff and his wife, Kathy, say they can’t express enough gratitude for the lifesaving efforts.

“I’d thank you a hundred times — can’t thank you enough,” Kathy said.

First responders hope Fenoff’s story will inspire others to learn CPR and AED use.

“Getting certified is vitally important,” Capt. Phil Hawthorne of the St. Johnsbury Fire Department said. “This case really proves it.”

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‘It was really scary’: Montgomery woman thankful to be alive after caught in mass shooting

By Ayron Lewallen, Taylor Lang

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    MONTGOMERY, Alabama (WVTM) — It was supposed to be a fun night out for Keauna Lambert on Saturday. She told WVTM 13 she left the house to go see her favorite social media influencer, but she never thought she would be caught in the middle of a deadly shootout with so much bloodshed.

Two people are dead, including a teen, and a dozen other people are injured following a mass shooting in downtown Montgomery late Saturday night.

Montgomery police said it happened near Bibb Street and Commerce Street around 11:30 p.m., when two groups started shooting at each other in the middle of a crowd.

What we know

Jeremiah Morris, 17, and Shalanda Williams, 43, were killed in the shooting. Police believe they are Montgomery residents. Police believe one of the people shot was targeted. When the gunfire started, others in the crowd pulled out guns and started shooting. Thousands of people were in the city this weekend for the Tuskegee-Morehouse Classic, the Alabama National Fair and Alabama State University’s homecoming game. The city stood firmly in its belief that the shooting was not related to these events. There is a reward of at least $50,000 for information that leads to an arrest. If you have any information, call Alabama CrimeStoppers at 334-215-7867. Lambert said she was looking forward to a night out in the downtown Montgomery entertainment district, but she didn’t even have a chance to get out of her car before the chaos unfolded. She said she heard what she believes is 100 shots fired.

“I’m just glad I’m here,” Lambert said. “I’m glad my friends are safe. I’m glad it wasn’t more people than it was because it was just really scary. It felt like I was in a movie.”

Because of what happened, Lambert said she’s reconsidering going out again. She said that was her first time going out in Montgomery and hates that it could be her last.

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Inmate captured after being mistakenly released, deputies say

By Zach Rainey

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    BUNCOMBE COUNTY, North Carolina (WYFF) — An inmate in Buncombe County, North Carolina, has been captured after he was mistakenly released, according to the sheriff.

On Thursday, Joseph Shustek was mistakenly released from the Buncombe County Detention Facility.

Authorities said Shustek had been found guilty of assaulting a woman on Sept. 11, 2024, and was found guilty of assault with a deadly weapon on Sept. 18, 2025.

On Friday, the Buncombe County Sheriff’s Office announced Shustek’s capture.

The sheriff’s office released the following statement along with the release:

“On behalf of the Buncombe County Sheriff’s Office, we want to extend our sincerest and most profound apology for the erroneous release of inmate Joseph Shustek on October 2nd, 2025.

“This was a serious institutional failure, and we take full responsibility for this procedural error. We understand that this mistake has caused fear and distress for the community, and particularly for the victim(s) of this individual. There are no words that can adequately express our regret for the pain this has caused. The systems in place to prevent such an event failed, and for that, we are truly sorry.

“Our Sheriff’s Office dedicated every available resource to re-apprehend Joseph Shustek and can say that he is now back in the custody of the Sheriff. We are in the process of thoroughly reviewing the procedures that led to this failure and are implementing immediate changes to ensure it never happens again. We would like to thank the District Attorney’s Office for promptly notifying us of the erroneous release and for communicating with the most recent victim to address their immediate safety concerns.”

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Hundreds of bikers honor detective killed in crash

By Leah Phillips

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    ANDERSON COUNTY, South Carolina (WYFF) — Family, friends, and fellow public safety officers honored the life and legacy of Det. Mark Garrett, while attending his funeral on Sunday.

The service was held at NewSpring Church in Anderson, but before even arriving at the building, streets were lined with supporters waiting on the procession.

The procession honored many aspects of Garrett’s life. Firetrucks and police vehicles, paying tribute to his early career working in fire service, before transitioning to law enforcement back in 2009.

One unique aspect of Garrett’s life also made an appearance, at the very tail-end of the procession: hundreds of bikers, riding in his honor.

“He was a cop, but he was a biker. I mean, there’s no other way to look at it. Honest to God, I mean, he would walk up to you and give you a hug,” said Jason Welliver, one of the bikers in Sunday’s procession, who also called Garrett a friend.

“The good die young, I mean, that’s the truth. You just never know,” Welliver said.

Jim Dennis, who didn’t know Garrett personally, still wanted to join in on the ride after hearing about the impact the detective had made on the people he knew.

Dennis said the procession was the largest he had ever ridden in, stating, “It was a good one. It was very big, I’d say at least a mile or more of two rows of motorcycles, and the whole procession must’ve been a couple miles long.”

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Georgia man accused of shooting into restaurant following argument between employees

By Graham Cawthon

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    KENNESAW, Georgia (WJCL) — A Georgia man is facing charges after police say he fired several shots inside a restaurant following an argument between employees.

Officers with the Kennesaw Police Department responded to Martin’s Restaurant at 8:41 a.m. Sunday after receiving reports of a shooting.

Investigators determined that two employees had been involved in a dispute inside the restaurant. One of the employees contacted her husband, identified as 46-year-old Jeffrey Alan Thomas, to tell him about the argument.

Police say Thomas arrived at the restaurant shortly after and confronted the other employee. During a physical altercation, police say Thomas fired multiple rounds inside the business before leaving the scene with his wife.

With help from the Cobb County Police Department, officers detained Thomas and his wife at their home and brought them to the Kennesaw Police Criminal Investigations Division for questioning.

During the interview, police say, investigators discovered that Thomas’ wife sustained a minor gunshot wound. She declined medical treatment and was released. Thomas and the other employee involved in the altercation also suffered minor injuries unrelated to gunfire.

Thomas was arrested and charged with:

Aggravated assault (5 counts) Possession of a firearm during the commission of a felony (5 counts) Criminal damage to property, second degree (1 count) Cruelty to children, third degree (1 count)

He was booked into the Cobb County Adult Detention Center without bond.

“This was a dangerous situation that could have had a much worse outcome,” said Kennesaw Police Chief Bill Westenberger. “Our officers and partners with Cobb County Police Department acted quickly to ensure the suspect was taken into custody and the community remained safe.”

The investigation is ongoing. Anyone with information is asked to contact the Kennesaw Police Department Criminal Investigations Division at 770-429-4533 or email KPD_TIPS@kennesaw-ga.gov.

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‘Horrible and tragic’: 2-year-old boy mauled to death by dogs at unlicensed Georgia daycare

By Graham Cawthon

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    VALDOSTA, Georgia (WJCL) — Police in Georgia say a 2-year-old boy was mauled to death by Rottweilers after being left unattended at an unlicensed daycare.

The incident occurred on October 4 at a home on Pecan Drive in Valdosta. First responders arrived at the home around 3:45 p.m. to find the child dead, according to police.

Investigators determined that Stacy Wheeler Cobb, 48, was operating an unlicensed daycare at the home. Earlier that day, the child’s mother dropped him off for care. Cobb admitted to leaving the boy unsupervised for more than two hours while she took a nap, assuming the child was also asleep.

During that time, police say, the toddler wandered outside into the backyard, where he opened a kennel containing two large Rottweilers. The dogs escaped and attacked the child, police said.

Cobb was arrested and charged with second-degree murder and second-degree cruelty to children, both felonies. She was booked into the Lowndes County Jail. Police said the victim was the only child at the home at the time, but Cobb typically cared for about 10 children on most days.

Lowndes County Animal Control took custody of the two Rottweilers involved in the attack, as well as a third dog found at the home.

“This is a horrible and tragic event that should have never occurred, but because of negligence on this offender’s behalf, a mother has tragically lost a child,” said Valdosta Police Chief Leslie Manahan. “I want to express our department’s deepest sympathy to the family. No words will ever ease their pain, but our hearts go out to them during this unimaginably difficult time. I also keep our first responders in my prayers, as they continue processing their response to this tragic scene.”

The investigation is ongoing, and detectives are continuing to process evidence. Police said additional charges are expected.

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Foggy road, large broken tree limb played role in Rolesville High bus wreck

By Lora Lavigne

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    North Carolina (WRAL) — Four people were injured in a wreck involving a school bus in Wendell Monday morning.

Sky 5 footage showed the Rolesville High School bus sitting in a field on Doc Proctor Road near Edgemont Road around 7 a.m.

The State Highway Patrol said there was heavy fog in the area when the bus struck a large broken tree limb that had fallen into the roadway. The bus then went off of the road to the right, striking a ditch before stopping in a field.

Of the 11 students on the bus, three had minor injuries but were not transported by EMS. Authorities said their parents picked them up at the scene. The bus driver was transported to Wake Medical Center in Wendell for treatment of minor injuries.

Students on the bus told WRAL they were physically lifted out of their seats during the crash.

“I was like, ‘What’s going on?’ And then it was just shaking and shaking and then we landed into the trees and all that. It was just like..wow,” Rolesville High student Mason Roberson, who was on the bus, told WRAL.

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‘Sky’s the limit’: Playthrough convention highlights gaming as a pathway to a career

By Carly Haynes

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    North Carolina (WRAL) — All the time your kid spends playing video games may just get them a college scholarship or a high-paying job, and North Carolina is poised to create a workforce in a booming community.

The Playthrough Gaming Convention wrapped up its two-day stint in Raleigh on Sunday. The convention, according to Visit Raleigh, is a weekend-long extravaganza showcasing the latest games and providing an opportunity for gamers to meet others with similar passions.

From video games, eSports, tabletop games and playtesting new creations, the convention had something for everyone.

One person in attendance was Robert Heck, whose passion for the racing game Gran Turismo 7 landed him in the international spotlight.

“I’ve traveled all across Europe doing this for the past year now,” Heck said. “I’ve been one of the best drivers in North America.”

Simulation and game design is one of the fastest-growing careers, with job markets expecting the demand for skilled game designers to grow 18% by 2030.

“Especially indie games, that’s really growing,” said one attendee. “There’s a lot of really great indie games coming out.”

Raleigh schools are also trying to tap into the multibillion-dollar industry. William Peace University, North Carolina State University and Wake Technical Community College all offer specialized programs in game design. Michael Statum, an eSports scout with Louisburg College. Statum said the school is offering $5,000 scholarships for eSports tournament champions to join the school’s program.

NC State is also becoming a major regional hub for video games. The university, with help from the North Carolina General Assembly, plans to build a multimillion-dollar eSports arena on its campus by late 2026.

“The sky’s the limit right now,” Statum said.” What we’re trying to emphasize is that there’s different avenues within the esports realm that have a career path within it. Whether it’s software design, hardware design, video game simulation design, graphic design, content creation or videography.”

With three of the top major game developers in Wake County, people can take their skills straight from the screen to a job in the Triangle.

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Pilot survives single-engine plane crash in southern Indiana

By Michaela Springer

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    ORANGE COUNTY, Indiana (WISH) — A pilot sustained “nonlife-threatening” injuries after his plane crashed into a heavily-wooded area in southern Indiana, according to Indiana State Police.

Authorities say state police received a call around 10 p.m. Saturday from the Louisville Airport and the Federal Aviation Administration about a possible single-engine plane crash near the Orange-Lawrence county lines.

Troopers from the Jasper and Bloomington districts, along with several local agencies, searched the dense woods throughout the night, until around 4 a.m. Sunday when the plane and pilot were located.

The pilot was still inside the aircraft when first responders arrived. Police say due to the hilly terrain and woods, the pilot was carried away on a stretcher.

ISP did not indicate what led up to the crash, but say the FAA will continue the investigation.

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Witness recounts aftermath of Mark Sanchez fight

By Hernan Gutierrez

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    INDIANAPOLIS (WISH) — An Indianapolis man is recalling the aftermath of an early Saturday morning fight that led to FOX Sports analyst Mark Sanchez being stabbed and later arrested.

Darren Laughlin captured video of the scene once police arrived at the alley where the fight happened, less than a block away from the Indiana State Capitol. Laughlin was getting food downtown when he heard sirens and decided to check it out.

Laughlin was shocked to learn about Sanchez’s involvement and arrest after what he had seen that morning.

“At first, I just didn’t want to believe that it was him,” Laughlin said. I didn’t expect anybody like [Mark Sanchez] to be involved in just a two-person altercation or like an argument, especially him.”

According to court documents, the victim in this case is an unnamed 69-year-old delivery truck driver. He told police that he believed Sanchez was “trying to kill me.”

Investigators were able to piece together what happened using an interview with the driver and security camera footage from the Westin Hotel.

The Indianapolis Metropolitan Police Department says Sanchez started an argument about where and how the truck was parked.

At some point, Sanchez tried to get into the truck, and even shoved the driver as he was trying to flag security.

It escalated into a fight in which the victim pepper-sprayed and later stabbed Sanchez multiple times.

A short time after getting to the alley, Laughlin saw both men being carried off on gurneys.

“The [driver], they brought him out of the alley,” Laughlin said. “He was sitting up on the gurney and had a towel wrapped all the way around his head.”

Laughlin saw the delivery truck backed into the dock, and said there was enough room for a car to pass by.

The probable cause affidavit says security footage shows Sanchez throwing the driver into the dumpster and nearby pallets.

Sanchez reportedly told police he didn’t know what happened, and he could only remember grabbing for a window. It later turned out to be at nearby Loughmiller’s Pub and Eatery.

Laughlin recalls seeing someone come out of the business, not knowing it was Sanchez at the time.

“You don’t think you’re going to see somebody recognizable in something like this,” Laughlin said. “So, I didn’t even think I would know him.”

In a statement, Marion County’s Democratic Prosecutor Ryan Mears condemned the incident.

“This incident should never have happened,” Mears said. “What began as a disagreement between a 38-year-old former professional athlete and a 69-year-old man should not have escalated into violence or left anyone seriously injured. As with any case, we will follow the facts and the law wherever they lead.”

Sanchez is facing three misdemeanor charges, including battery, unlawful entry of a vehicle, and public intoxication.

Sanchez has a $300 bond, and he is scheduled to make an initial appearance in court on Tuesday morning.

Fox Sports did not respond to News 8’s request for comment Sunday afternoon.

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