‘She just kept on going’: School secretary hailed as hero for Helene relief efforts

CNN Newsource on January 17, 2026

By Bill Evans

Click here for updates on this story

    FAIRVIEW, North Carolina (WLOS) — At Fairview’s Cane Creek Middle School, Front Desk Secretary Brittany Killian provides service with a smile.

“She is the front line for the school,” said Principal Andrea Britt. “She does it all.”

Killian’s days start at 7:30 a.m., greeting visitors, meeting parents dropping off forgotten musical instruments and afterschool snacks for sports, and checking in tardy students, among other things.

It all makes for action-packed mornings.

“I stay busy,” she said with a laugh.

But her actions in the aftermath of Hurricane Helene drew national attention.

Killian and her family found their call to serve the morning of the storm. Her husband Matt runs a grading and excavation company and he got to work repairing washed-out roads in Fairview and Garren Creek. Brittany delivered food, medicine and organized supply drives for families isolated from the storm’s wrath, often hiking to homes, or hitching rides with first responders.

When she was able to drive up ravaged roads to help survivors, it was in an old Subaru she nicknamed “Trusty.”

“He wasn’t in the best of shape before the storm,” Killian chuckled. “I definitely destroyed him, to put it lightly.”

She frequently added oil and water to the over-heated Trusty, just to keep the car running.

When ABC’s Good Morning America came to Asheville for a live show six months after the hurricane, a sponsor, Hertz Car Sales, wanted to donate a 2024 Toyota RAV4 to a deserving volunteer. Killian was the clear choice to get the new set of wheels.

“Right after the storm happened, she had on backpacks. Her family — they were going in checking on people,” explained Britt. “I’m sure she was exhausted, but she didn’t stop. She just kept on going.” “We love it to pieces,” Killian said of the Toyota. “I hope to have it for a really long time.”

But storm relief and manning the front desk at Cane Creek aren’t Killian’s only calls to serve the Fairview community.

“Keep him in, keep him in! Get low, get low!,” she yells from the edge of the school’s wrestling mat.

That’s right, Killian is also the head wrestling coach at Cane Creek, one of just a few women in the state to coach the sport which she was introduced to as a senior at A.C. Reynolds High. She was one of two girls to wrestle on the team in 2007-2008, and almost always competed against boys.

“I was a little crazy,” she laughed.

Killian coaches her seventh-grade son Trevor at Cane Creek. Freshman Robert is on the Reynolds High wrestling team. Her sixth grade daughter Ava stays busy with wrestling and youth soccer.

The RAV4 gets a lot of use with service projects and shuttling the Killian children to school and sports activities, but Brittany says she’s not altogether comfortable with all the attention that has come from her nationwide recognition.

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.

Lifelong Packers fans score dream gender reveal party thanks to surprise Cameo from former quarterback Brett Favre

CNN Newsource on January 17, 2026

By Ellie Nakamoto-White

Click here for updates on this story

    ADOLPHUS, Kentucky (WDJT) — Some couples bond over their love of movies or art.

Well, one husband and wife duo in Kentucky met and fell in love over the Green Bay Packers.

“My mom’s family is from Wisconsin originally, my grandparents grew up in a small town in Wisconsin — dairy farmers and everything like that,” said Hailey Brewster. “I was basically just raised to love the Packers.”

Even though she was raised in Tennessee, her family stayed loyal to the green and gold.

“We’d watch them every Sunday, Monday, Thursday, whatever day it was, we were gonna have them on TV,” Brewster recalled.

Then she met her now-husband, Logan, who she would learn was also a big fan.

“We’d talk about the games and stuff, then that turned into dating, then we got married,” Brewster said.

So, when they learned they were expecting this summer and began planning a gender reveal party, the couple knew they had to stay true to their favorite team.

“We thought about it for a while and we were like, okay; we want to make it unique, we want to make it true to ourselves,” Brewster said. “So that was another question we had for ourselves, like how are we going to do the reveal? It has to be some football theme; we want it to be Packers-themed if possible.”

They ended up decking their living room out with Packers baby merch and footballs, complete with a little taste of Lambeau Field.

“Cheese curds, bratwurst, dips, tailgating-type food,” Brewster said.

But the real star of the show? A Cameo video from none other than former quarterback Brett Favre, who delivered the news they’re having a baby boy.

“Was still shocking, actually, seeing it on the screen. Like, oh gosh, there he is, this is awesome!” Brewster said. “My dad asked afterward, he’s like, so was that really him or was that AI or something? And I was like, no that’s really him, and he’s like, well that’s crazy, and I’m like, yep!”

It’s a touchdown the two never expected to score, but one they’ll cherish for life.

“It’s just amazing how we can have that for the rest of our lives, to show our son one day and just remember that amazing day,” Brewster said.

They’re currently working on their baby name list and, yes, Brett is on it.

“My husband really loves it, he’s like, Brett Brewster, that really sounds amazing we should do that. He’s trying to win me over right now, I’m 50/50…I like it, but it’s on the table, but not for sure thing or anything like that,” Brewster said. “[The Packers are the best team, in my opinion, in the NFL and honestly in the country, I think, and I wouldn’t want to be a fan of any other team.”

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.

Program places Atlanta police officers in neighborhoods they patrol to reduce crime

CNN Newsource on January 17, 2026

By Nakell Williams

Click here for updates on this story

    ATLANTA (WUPA) — In several metro Atlanta neighborhoods, residents say safety feels closer to home as police officers move into the communities they serve.

Safer and connected is how neighbors describe areas participating in the Atlanta Police Foundation’s Secure Neighborhoods Program. It’s an initiative created to reduce crime by placing officers directly in the neighborhoods they patrol.

Officer Rodney McIntyre recently moved into the Carey Park community through the program, becoming both a protector and a neighbor.

“It’s kind of surreal,” McIntyre said about living where he works. “They gave me $75,000, which is unheard of, which was a blessing.”

McIntyre has worked in law enforcement for more than 10 years. He moved from Miami, Florida, not long ago. When he’s off duty from the Atlanta Police Department, McIntyre said he keeps things simple, watching TV and cooking.

“I cook a lot. If you’re looking for some good ox tails, you know, some nice, boiled peanuts, I’ve got you,” he said jokingly.

Across the street from Officer McIntyre, resident Mikayla Leverette said knowing a police officer lives nearby gives her peace of mind, especially when it comes to her children’s safety.

“I feel like he’s an asset to our community, especially living right across the street,” Leverette said. “It’s nice to have that extra set of security.”

Leverette, who moved into the neighborhood in May of 2025, said she’s noticed changes in traffic behavior since McIntyre moved into the community.

“I feel like they’re more cautious because they see his car out there on the corner,” she said. “They actually stop at the stop sign now, which makes it safer for all of the kids in the neighborhood.”

She added that the difference is especially noticeable when children are getting off the school bus.

“I also feel like it’s safer, especially with me having kids as well,” Leverette said.

The Atlanta Police Foundation says these everyday changes reflect broader success. Leaders say crime is down 30 percent in Vine City since the first officers moved into the neighborhood through the program in 2016. Overall, crime dropped about 10 percent after the first year an officer moved into the designated neighborhoods.

Nikki Glanton, vice president of communications & public affairs for the Atlanta Police Foundation, said the Secure Neighborhoods Program focuses heavily on new home construction. For years, the foundation has partnered with local builders to construct and sell homes to qualified Atlanta police officers in neighborhoods such as English Avenue and Vine City.

The goal, Glanton said, is to strengthen relationships between officers and residents while reducing crime.

Officers who participate must commit to serving and engaging in community activities at least 10 hours per month. Many of them spend that time mentoring young people or supporting neighborhood initiatives.

McIntyre said living in Carey Park allows him to support the community even when he’s off duty and spends a lot of time engaging with them.

“I put myself out there a lot,” he said.

McIntyre said his home was about $100,000 cheaper through the program.

Atlanta Police Foundation officials said nearly 50 officers have participated since it launched nearly a decade ago, a number the foundation hopes will continue to grow as more neighborhoods see the impact firsthand.

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.

Suspects travel from New York City to steal $16,000 in weight-loss drugs from Philadelphia-area pharmacy

CNN Newsource on January 17, 2026

By Ross DiMattei, Bill Seiders

Click here for updates on this story

    PHILADELPHIA (KYW) — Police say a group of suspects traveled from New York City to Bucks County to carry out a targeted robbery at a pharmacy, stealing thousands of dollars’ worth of high-demand weight loss medications and raising concerns about a growing black market.

The robbery happened around 9 a.m. Thursday at Smart Choice Pharmacy on Street Road, according to Bensalem police.

Investigators said three suspects attacked a delivery driver as he was unloading medication at the pharmacy. The suspects stole two boxes containing GLP-1 weight loss drugs, including Mounjaro, Ozempic and Trulicity. The medications were valued at about $16,000, police said.

“This is kind of very surprising, the way this happened,” Jigar Patel, a pharmacist at Smart Choice Pharmacy, said.

Patel said he was stunned by the crime, noting that he has never experienced anything like it in more than a decade in the retail pharmacy business.

“Shocked. Shocked,” Patel said. “Never ever happened in my 10-plus years of retail business.”

Police said the suspects fled the scene in a gold-colored Toyota and nearly struck a witness who was attempting to record the robbery. Officers located the vehicle and recovered the stolen medication minutes later. All three suspects were taken into custody and face multiple charges, including robbery, theft and assault.

Bensalem Township Public Safety Director William McVey said investigators believe the crime was carefully planned.

“It’s interesting when someone travels over two hours to one specific pharmacy in our township to do something like this,” McVey said. “It was definitely targeted. It’s very interesting the type of medication they’re going after.”

GLP-1 weight loss drugs have surged in popularity and can cost more than $1,000 per month without insurance coverage. Police and pharmacists say their high value and limited availability may be fueling an underground market.

“Not everyone can get their hands on it,” Patel said. “These are $1,000 drugs. For anyone that’s not easily able to pay for it, this becomes an alternate route.”

Pharmacy employees told police they received suspicious phone calls and emails in the days leading up to the robbery, with callers asking about delivery schedules. Authorities are now urging pharmacies to be alert to similar warning signs.

“If someone’s making phone calls asking about when deliveries are coming, possibly notify your police department,” McVey said. “Make sure the parking lot’s clear before you’re accepting $16,000 worth of product or more. That has value to some people, and criminals will find it.”

Police said they are continuing to investigate and hope the robbery does not signal a broader crime trend targeting pharmacies.

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.

Suspect found guilty of involuntary manslaughter in 2021 SF ‘Grandpa Vicha’ murder case

CNN Newsource on January 16, 2026

By Dan Noyes and Suzanne Phan

Click here for updates on this story

    SAN FRANCISCO (KGO) — The jury has reached a verdict in the murder trial of Vicha Ratanapakdee, an 84-year-old man who was killed in San Francisco’s De Anza neighborhood in 2021.

Antoine Watson is guilty of involuntary manslaughter and guilty of force likely to produce great bodily harm, but not guilty of murder in the first or second degree.

Vicha Ratanapakdee’s daughter told the I-Team’s Dan Noyes that she’s “disappointed and painful.”

It was five years ago this month “Grandpa Vicha” was attacked in San Francisco’s Anza Vista neighborhood.

Surveillance video showed Watson running and then pushing Vicha to the ground.

He struck his head and died days later.

Watson was 19 at the time and testified he didn’t call 911 because he was scared the police would arrest him and panicked.

Vicha’s death became one of the flashpoints in the Stop Asian Hate movement during the pandemic.

I’m very surprised by the outcome of this verdict,” said Clark.

“What you saw on that video appears to be an intentional attack of an elderly man. It was a very vicious attack which could suggest implied malice — enough for a second degree murder,” said Clark.

The victim’s daughter and many others believe the attack was because Grandpa Vicha was Asian.

But the case was not charged as a hate crime.

“I think what the defense was able to demonstrate was this was an impulsive act by a young man, not a targeted attempt to kill,” said legal analyst, Steven Clark.

Watson testified he did not notice Grandpa Vicha’s age or race, but was angry after a bad day.

Experts say Watson may soon be walking out of jail with time served.

“When you look at what he is facing, now that it’s involuntary manslaughter, which is a maximum of four years, he’s likely to receive credit for time served and walk out the door,” said Clark.

Watson has already spent five years in custody while waiting for the trial.

Thursday afternoon, Watson’s mother declined to speak ABC7 News.

The prosecution and the defense in this case return to court Jan. 26.

Thursday night, San Francisco Supervisor Alan Wong released the following statement:

“I have no words for the disappointment I feel from the verdict in the murder trial of Vicha Ratanapakdee. Grandpa Vicha inspired me and so many community members to step up, volunteer our time, and Stop Asian Hate. The murder of Grandpa Vicha was malicious, evil and the perpetrator should be dealt an adequate punishment for his crimes. My heart is with the Ratanapakdee family today. No verdict can undo their loss, but they deserved better than this outcome. Justice was not served.”

Stewart Chen, an adovciate for public safety in Oakland’s Chinatown area, AAPI leader in Oakland shared this text:

“Calling this ‘involuntary’ does not reflect the reality or the fear it caused Asian elders everywhere. Justice should fully recognize the value of our seniors’ lives and send a clear message that violence against elders will not be minimized.”

“The system just told every Asian elder in America: your life is negotiable,” said Forrest Liu, a Stop Asian Hate activist.

“The brutal and senseless attack on Grandpa Vicha Ratanapakdee was a catalyst for San Francisco’s younger generation to mobilize and raise our voices to protect our elders,” said Amy Lee, co-founder of Dear Community, an organization that originated in response to anti-Asian hate violence. “For far too long, Asian elders have been treated as martyrs for others’ trauma, pain, and bad days-no more. These arguments minimize Asian lives, and we stand with Grandpa Vicha for justice.”

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.

ICE detains sole caregiver of 13-year-old boy

CNN Newsource on January 16, 2026

By Leanne Suter

Click here for updates on this story

    POMONA, Calif. (KABC) — A 13-year-old Pomona boy is facing another painful loss after the uncle who has been raising him was detained by federal immigration authorities this week, according to family members.

For Bryan Gonzalez, the detention of his uncle and sole caregiver, Jose Oleaz, comes two years after the deaths of his aunt Yesenia and Oleaz’s sister Alejandra, who were killed by a DUI driver.

Yesenia had been in the process of adopting Bryan at the time of her death. Oleaz, who was married to Yesenia, had since stepped in to raise him and sought to continue the adoption process.

“My dad’s like such a good person, and he’s the one that always has to put up with the worst things,” Bryan told Eyewitness News.

Oleaz, 34, was taken into custody Wednesday during a raid in Pomona.

Bryan said his first reaction was fear for his uncle’s safety.

“The first thought that came to my mind was me hoping that he was OK and that nothing bad happened to him,” he said.

Family member Jorge Gonzalez said Oleaz had been working at the same landscaping company for many years.

“He’s very responsible, very hardworking. He’s the nicest person I know, and for this to happen to him is just devastating,” he said.

Oleaz came to the U.S. more than 20 years ago from Mexico.

Relatives say Oleaz is the family’s primary breadwinner and also cares for his father, who has cancer. Family members say he has no criminal record and is devoted to his family, especially Bryan.

“You are taking people away from their kids, their families,” Bryan said.

A GoFundMe has been created to help cover basic expenses and hire an attorney for the family. Loved ones say Oleaz has been devoted to giving Bryan stability and helping him avoid the foster care system.

“He always pushes me to do better,” Bryan said. “He’s a great dad.”

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.

Video shows man trying to set Massachusetts police chief’s cruiser on fire, investigators say

CNN Newsource on January 16, 2026

By Mike Sullivan

Click here for updates on this story

    ABINGTON, Massachusetts (WBZ) — A man is accused of trying to set the Abington, Massachusetts police chief’s cruiser on fire Friday morning.

Abington Police said surveillance video from their parking lot showed 39-year-old Franklin Cederholm walk up to Chief Patrick Molloy’s car and pour gasoline over the front of the vehicle around 9 a.m.

Molloy said that an officer saw the man approaching through his office windows and quickly went outside to investigate. Once outside, the officer smelled gasoline and saw Cederholm pouring gas from two-gallon water containers. Molloy explained that, thanks to the officer’s quick action, he was not able to finish emptying one.

“I’m very thankful that we have such a talented group of people here that act quickly and decisively and took care of this issue extremely quickly,” Molloy said.

In the video, posted to the department’s Facebook page, Cederholm can be seen being taken into custody. Police said Cederholm also had a lighter on him.

“Certainly this could’ve turned into something real dangerous,” Molloy said. “If that car went up, it’s right next to the building, so the building would’ve gone up.”

Abington Police said surveillance video showed Franklin Cederholm pouring gasoline on the police chief’s cruiser before he was confronted by an officer on Jan. 16, 2025.

Cederholm is charged with attempted arson, malicious damage to a motor vehicle and trespassing. Police said more charges could come as their investigation continues.

Cederholm was sent to Bridgewater State Hospital for a mental health evaluation, police said. He will later be arraigned in Brockton District Court. The department is still investigating a motive. Molloy said that Cederholm is not familiar to them.

The Abington Fire Department came and cleaned off the gasoline, according to Molloy.

Abington, Massachusetts is 21 miles south of Boston.

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.

‘A homage to veterans’: Preserving 250 years of service, one story at a time

CNN Newsource on January 16, 2026

By Jennifer Emert

Click here for updates on this story

    BREVARD, North Carolina (WLOS) — At the Veterans History Museum of the Carolinas, America’s past is told through personal sacrifice, not just dates and battles.

America’s 250-year history is filled with defining moments shaped by service and sacrifice. As part of WLOS’s Amazing America 250 series, we traveled to Brevard, North Carolina, where that history comes to life at the Veterans History Museum of the Carolinas, one veteran, one story at a time.

When you talk about 250 years of American history, “they’re saying that’s ancient history,” said Bobby Kotlowski, Vice President and Curator of the museum. “But history is important.”

Much of that history is written through war and the people who lived it.

“The Veterans History Museum is a homage to veterans, not just here, but this whole country,” Kotlowski said. “It’s a way that we honor the memory of those who came before us.”

Telling History Through the Individual The museum focuses on conflicts from World War I to the present day, but Kotlowski says the goal is not to overwhelm visitors with timelines or statistics.

“We try to tell an individual story,” he said. “People look at Vietnam now the way I looked at the Civil War growing up. If we don’t remember, we’ll repeat the problems of the war.”

That perspective, Kotlowski said, helps visitors better understand the present.

“We’ve been fighting wars since becoming a nation, even before we were a nation,” he said. “Look at what’s happening in the world today.”

A Classroom for the Next Generation

Beyond its exhibits, the museum also serves as a learning space for students of all ages. A growing library allows middle school, high school, and college students to research military history on site.

“They can come here and research military history right here,” Kotlowski said. “We have a great plethora of books.”

The Stories That Often Go Untold

At the heart of the museum are the personal stories that don’t always make it into textbooks, the soldiers behind the uniforms.

“We focus on the guy in the trenches or flying that one aircraft,” Kotlowski said. “These guys were married. They had families. They had a mom and dad.”

This year, the museum launched a new initiative highlighting individual biographies throughout the exhibits, including Vietnam veterans Sergeant First Class Mike Dirocco and Sergeant Phil Maran.

Remembering the Cost of Freedom

Kotlowski says those personal connections are key to keeping history alive.

“People forget quickly,” he said. “This place is a reminder of that. People may not want to remember wars, but they will remember that individual, their father, grandfather, or grandmother.” It’s a reminder that the freedoms many enjoy today came at a cost paid by ordinary people whose sacrifices should never be forgotten.

The Amazing America 250 series continues through July 4th.

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.

Washington D.C. U.S. Attorney Jeanine Pirro files a personal injury lawsuit

CNN Newsource on January 16, 2026

By Bill Heltzel, Westchester County Business Journal

Click here for updates on this story

    Westchester County, NY (westfaironline.com) — Consolidated Edison Co., the mammoth public utility that serves the New York City region, is facing a rather formidable opponent in a local personal injury lawsuit.

Jeanine Pirro, the United States Attorney for the District of Columbia, accused Con Ed and the City of Rye of negligence, in a complaint filed on Jan. 8 in Westchester Supreme Court. Rye is in Westchester County, which is north of New York City.

“Defendants were negligent, careless, and reckless,” the complaint states, “in failing to warn Ms. Pirro of [a] dangerous condition.”

Pirro, 75, has close legal ties to Westchester, as a former county court judge and district attorney from 1991 to 2005. She also has hosted the Judge Jeanine Pirro show on The CW and Justice with Judge Jeanine on Fox News. She has been an ardent supporter of Donald Trump, and last May the president named her as the interim U.S. Attorney for the District of Columbia.

The D.C. prosecutorial position is considered one of the most powerful in the nation because of its location at the seat of the federal government and for the types of civil and criminal cases that often are of national significance. She recently announced, for instance, a criminal investigation of Federal Reserve Board Chairman Jerome Powell.

On Aug. 2, she was confirmed as the full U.S. attorney.

Weeks later, around 1:45 p.m., Thursday, Aug. 28, Pirro, 75, was injured near the intersection of Purchase Street and Library Place, in Rye, according to  the lawsuit. She claims she was walking on the roadway, tripped over a large wooden block, and sustained “bruises and contusions to the head, eye, face and shoulder areas, together with pain, discomfort and limitation of movement.” She was confined to bed, required medical treatment, and “continues to experience pain and suffering, inconvenience, loss of enjoyment of life, and economic damages.”

Con Ed had been working near the intersection and failed the leave the roadway in a safe condition, according to the complaint. The city knew about the dangerous condition, but failed to remedy it within a reasonable time.

The complaint does not say why Pirro was walking on the roadway. She owns a house about a mile away, and the scene is near City Hall and the Rye public library.

She is demanding unspecified monetary damages.

Pirro is represented by her former husband, attorney Albert J. Pirro Jr., who also has a connection to President Trump. He was pardoned on conspiracy and tax evasion charges five years ago, on the last day of the president’s first term in office.

The lawsuit was filed as a verified complaint, whereby a plaintiff affirms the accusations as true, to the best of her knowledge, under penalty of perjury. In this case, Albert Pirro attested to the truthfulness of the accusations, based on his review of records and conversations with Jeanine Pirro, and because “plaintiff is not in the county in which I maintain my office.” Albert Pirro has an office in the Westchester city White Plains. Con Ed spokesman Allan Drury said the company does not comment on pending litigation. The Rye law department did not reply to message asking for its  response to the allegations.

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.

Peter Katz
pkatz@westfairinc.com

Suspect found guilty of involuntary manslaughter in 2021 SF ‘Grandpa Vicha’ murder case

CNN Newsource on January 16, 2026

By Dan Noyes and Suzanne Phan

Click here for updates on this story

    SAN FRANCISCO (KGO) — The jury has reached a verdict in the murder trial of Vicha Ratanapakdee, an 84-year-old man who was killed in San Francisco’s De Anza neighborhood in 2021.

Antoine Watson is guilty of involuntary manslaughter and guilty of force likely to produce great bodily harm, but not guilty of murder in the first or second degree.

Vicha Ratanapakdee’s daughter told the I-Team’s Dan Noyes that she’s “disappointed and painful.”

It was five years ago this month “Grandpa Vicha” was attacked in San Francisco’s Anza Vista neighborhood.

Surveillance video showed Watson running and then pushing Vicha to the ground.

He struck his head and died days later.

Watson was 19 at the time and testified he didn’t call 911 because he was scared the police would arrest him and panicked.

Vicha’s death became one of the flashpoints in the Stop Asian Hate movement during the pandemic.

I’m very surprised by the outcome of this verdict,” said Clark.

“What you saw on that video appears to be an intentional attack of an elderly man. It was a very vicious attack which could suggest implied malice — enough for a second degree murder,” said Clark.

The victim’s daughter and many others believe the attack was because Grandpa Vicha was Asian.

But the case was not charged as a hate crime.

“I think what the defense was able to demonstrate was this was an impulsive act by a young man, not a targeted attempt to kill,” said legal analyst, Steven Clark.

Watson testified he did not notice Grandpa Vicha’s age or race, but was angry after a bad day.

Experts say Watson may soon be walking out of jail with time served.

“When you look at what he is facing, now that it’s involuntary manslaughter, which is a maximum of four years, he’s likely to receive credit for time served and walk out the door,” said Clark.

Watson has already spent five years in custody while waiting for the trial.

Thursday afternoon, Watson’s mother declined to speak ABC7 News.

The prosecution and the defense in this case return to court Jan. 26.

Thursday night, San Francisco Supervisor Alan Wong released the following statement:

“I have no words for the disappointment I feel from the verdict in the murder trial of Vicha Ratanapakdee. Grandpa Vicha inspired me and so many community members to step up, volunteer our time, and Stop Asian Hate. The murder of Grandpa Vicha was malicious, evil and the perpetrator should be dealt an adequate punishment for his crimes. My heart is with the Ratanapakdee family today. No verdict can undo their loss, but they deserved better than this outcome. Justice was not served.”

Stewart Chen, an adovciate for public safety in Oakland’s Chinatown area, AAPI leader in Oakland shared this text:

“Calling this ‘involuntary’ does not reflect the reality or the fear it caused Asian elders everywhere. Justice should fully recognize the value of our seniors’ lives and send a clear message that violence against elders will not be minimized.”

“The system just told every Asian elder in America: your life is negotiable,” said Forrest Liu, a Stop Asian Hate activist.

“The brutal and senseless attack on Grandpa Vicha Ratanapakdee was a catalyst for San Francisco’s younger generation to mobilize and raise our voices to protect our elders,” said Amy Lee, co-founder of Dear Community, an organization that originated in response to anti-Asian hate violence. “For far too long, Asian elders have been treated as martyrs for others’ trauma, pain, and bad days-no more. These arguments minimize Asian lives, and we stand with Grandpa Vicha for justice.”

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.