Month: November 2021

Fatalities have been confirmed after a driver of an SUV plowed through a Christmas parade in a Milwaukee suburb. A live video feed of the Holiday Parade from the City of Waukesha showed a red SUV breaking through barriers and speeding into the roadway where the parade was taking place.  Waukesha is located about 15 miles from Milwaukee.

Waukesha Police Chief Dan Thompson said the SUV struck more than 20 people, including children. Fire Chief Steve Howard said that 11 adults and 12 “pediatric patients” were transported to nearby hospitals. Police chief Thompson and fire chief Howard declined to comment on the number of fatalities until families of the victims could be notified. Several social media reports claim shots were fired from the SUV; however, Thompson clarified during a press conference that the shots were fired by a police officer attempting to stop the SUV. No one was injured by the gunfire.

Waukesha Mayor Shawn Reilly called the incident a “horrible, senseless tragedy,” adding, “My heart goes out to those injured as well as to their families My heart goes out to those who are witness to these events. My heart goes out to those who lost a loved one tonight.” Wisconsin Gov. Tony Evers tweeted that he and his wife, Kathy were “praying for Waukesha tonight and all the kids, families, and community members affected by this senseless act. I’m grateful for the first responders and folks who acted quickly to help, and we are in contact with local partners as we await more information.”.”

The FBI will assist local authorities, who are currently leading the investigation. Thompson said it is a “very fluid investigation” and that one person of interest is in custody in the case.

Editorial credit: Juli Hansen / Shutterstock.com

Two of the 17 people taken hostage in Haiti last month have been freed, their church organization said Sunday. According to the Ohio-based Christian Aid Ministries, both members are “safe” and “in good spirits,” No further information, including the identities of those freed or how their release was secured, was given. The church group said: “While we rejoice at this release, our hearts are with the fifteen people who are still being held.”  The FBI, which is helping Haitian authorities recover the captives, declined to comment.

The missionaries were kidnapped by the ‘400 Mawozo’ gang on Oct. 16. There are five children in the group of 16 U.S. citizens and one Canadian, including an 8-month-old. Their Haitian driver also was abducted, according to a local human rights organization. The leader of the 400 Mawozo gang has threatened to kill the hostages unless his demands are met. Authorities have said the gang was demanding $1 million per person, although it wasn’t immediately clear that included the children in the group.

The release comes as Haiti has seen a spike in gang-related violence and kidnappings. The U.S. government recently urged U.S. citizens to leave Haiti, and on Friday, Canada announced it was pulling all but essential personnel from its embassy. Haiti also is trying to recover from the July 7 assassination of President Jovenel Moise and a 7.2 magnitude earthquake that struck in mid-August, killing more than 2,200 people and destroying tens of thousands of homes.