Teacher protected students during Florida school shooting

When gunfire started, Parkland math teacher Shanthi Viswanathan kept a cool head.



From the Sun-Sentinel: "Mrs. V" knew something wasn't right when the second fire alarm of the day sounded shortly before classes were to end at Marjory Stoneman Douglas High.

Rather than let her Algebra II students out, Shanthi Viswanathan made them get on the floor in the corner of the room. But first she put paper over the window in the class door so no one could see in.

Her actions probably saved her students, said Dawn Jarboe, whose son Brian was in the class.

More here: Florida school shooting: Teacher protected her kids from chaos — and from cops

Four dead in UPS employee's shooting rampage

Gunman Jimmy Lam opened fire on his co-workers, then turned the gun on himself.



A United Parcel Service employee opened fire during a meeting with co-workers at one of the company's San Francisco packing facilities, killing three employees before fatally shooting himself.

UPS gunman targeted his victims, witnesses say

According to witnesses, 38-year-old gunman Jimmy Lam appeared to specifically target three fellow employees. Durning a Wednesday morning meeting, Lam walked up to driver Benson Louie, 50, and shot him. As his co-workers fled the room, he shot Wayne Chan, 56, in the back, and then walked up to him and "finished him." Mike Lefiti, 46, was running from the building when Lam went out onto the street and shot him.

At least two other people were injured in the shooting, which prompted a massive police response to the UPS warehouse in Potrero Hill. When officers confronted Lam inside the building, he shot himself in the head.

"The suspect put the gun to his head and discharged the weapon," Assistant Police Chief Toney Chaplin told reporters, adding that police did not fire any shots. Two guns were recovered at the scene.

Hasan Minhaj rips Congress to shreds over gun control

"Is this what you want your legacy to be?"



While Democrats were in the middle of a marathon filibuster on the Senate floor over gun control legislation on Wednesday, comedian Hasan Minhaj was unleashing his own impassioned call to action before a room full of congress people and pundits at the Radio and Television Correspondents Association Dinner.

After delivering the usual barrage of jokes about the likes of Donald Trump, Hillary Clinton and Fox News, the The Daily Show correspondent devoted the last few minutes of his speech to address Sunday's shooting massacre that killed 49 people at a popular gay nightclub in Orlando, ferociously calling out the complicity and inaction of the "do-nothing Congress" -- and all of us, really -- that led to this horrific moment.

Watch as Hasan Minhaj destroys the room with truth and hilarity -- and damn, looks good while doing it:

Montana cop accused of pulling gun while drunk at party

Phillip Jay Clark allegedly pointed his gun at an Asian man he called "an ISIS."



What is up with drunken cops brandishing guns this week? In Montana, a sheriff's deputy was arrested for allegedly assaulting and pulling a gun on an Asian man he called "an ISIS" while drunk at a party.

Sheriff's Deputy Faces Felony Charge of Assault With a Weapon

49-year-old Lewis and Clark County sheriff's deputy Phillip Jay Clark was arrested on a felony charge of assault with a weapon. He is accused of pointing the gun at a man's chest three times with his finger on the trigger while "super intoxicated" at a bonfire outside his home last month.

Sheriff's deputy arrested for DUI after brandishing gun

Benjamin Lee pointed a gun at Jack-in-the-Box employees because the drive-thru line was too slow.



Asians behaving badly... firearem-brandishing drunken cop edition. In the Bay Area, a sheriff's deputy was arrested for allegedly brandishing a gun while drunkenly ordering food at a fast food drive-through window.

Deputy brandished gun at Santa Clara drive-through, officials say

33-year-old Santa Clara County sheriff's deputy Benjamin Lee was arrested early Sunday morning on suspicion of driving under the influence and brandishing a firearm. Why? Why did he pull out his gun?

The drive-through line was apparently taking too long.

Cincinnati police officer killed in shootout

Officer Sonny Kim, a decorated 27-year veteran, was fatally shot while responding to an emergency call.



The city of Cincinnati is mourning a decorated veteran police officer who was shot and killed Friday during a fatal shootout after responding to an emergency call about "an erratic man armed with a firearm."

Cincinnati police officer Sonny Kim fatally shot in Madisonville

48-year-old officer Sonny Kim, was killed in a shootout after responding to a 911 call about a gunman acting erratically in the Madisonville neighborhood. Several shots were fired between the suspect and officers, and Officer Kim, who was wearing body armor, sustained fatal injuries. The suspect was also shot and killed.

Kim, a 27-year veteran of the Cincinnati Police Department, was a husband and father of three boys. He also worked as the owner and main karate instructor at the Japanese Karate-Do dojo in Symmes Township.

He is remembered for his passion, dedication and service.

Victims' families file lawsuit over Isla Vista killings

Parents of slain roommates say Elliot Rodger's deadly rampage could have been prevented.



The families of the three UC Santa Barbara students who were killed in Elliot Rodger's deadly rampage in Isla Vista last year have filed a federal lawsuit against Santa Barbara County, the county Sheriff's Department and the apartment complex where Rodger lived, alleging all ignored warning signs that he was dangerous.

Families of Elliot Rodger's slain roommates sue sheriff's, apartment

Rodger killed six UC Santa Barbara students and injured 14 others before taking his own life on May 23, 2014.

The lawsuit was filed by the parents of David Wang and James Hong, who were Rodger's roommates, and the parents of George Chen, who was a friend of Wang and Hong. They three students were each ambushed in the apartment and stabbed repeatedly to death before Rodger went out on a shooting spree.

The lawsuit alleges a failure on several levels, by multiple agents, to recognize red flags that Roger was potentially unstable, violent and a possible danger to himself or others.

Family man murdered in Louisville highway shooting

Christopher L. McCullum is accused of fatally shooting Mukhtar Ahmed on Interstate 71.



Tragic news out of Kentucky... This week in Louisville, a 43-year-old man was arrested and charged with murder in connection with the fatal shooting of a motorist while driving on Interstate 71.

Attorney identifies driver shot, killed on I-71

Christopher L. McCullum was charged with the murder of 41-year-old Mukhtar Ahmed, a husband and father of three, who was shot and killed in the southbound lanes of I-71 moments after dropping off his daughter at school. Ahmed was found dead in his SUV, which wound up in the highway median.

Dr. Vivek Murthy is the Surgeon General we need right now

Sign the petition to tell the Senate to stand up to the NRA and confirm Dr. Murthy.



As you might recall, President Obama nominated Dr. Vivek Murthy, a highly qualified and experienced medical professional, to the post of U.S. Surgeon General nearly a year ago. While his credentials make him a no-brainer for the job, Dr. Murthy's confirmation have been stalled by the usual partisan politics.

A Surgeon General nominee 'tied up in politics'

Dr. Murthy, a guy who probably knows many more things about health and medicine and stuff than you, has some thoughts about gun violence in this country: it is bad, and it is indeed a health care issue. This opinion put him in the sights (no pun intended) of Republicans and the NRA, who decided to block his nomination.

So now, in the midst of some serious public anxiety over the Ebola virus, America finds itself without a Surgeon General, whose job is to effectively and authoritatively communicate what the public needs to know in situations like this. Raise your hand if you would appreciate the leadership of someone like Dr. Murthy right now.

This online petition implores the Senate to stand up to the NRA and confirm Dr. Murthy as surgeon general now. As I write this, the petition has more than 70,000 signatures.

75-year-old man pleads insanity in double murder case

James Pak is accused of fatally shooting two teenagers over parking dispute



Follow-up on this story out of Maine... This week in York County Superior Court, a 75-year-old man pleaded not guilty by reason of insanity in the fatal shooting of two teenagers in December 2012.

Biddeford landlord pleads insanity in killing of teens

James Pak faces two counts of murder in the deaths of 19-year-Derrick Thompson and 18-year-old Alivia Welch, who were shot to death in the apartment where Thompson lived with his mother, who was also wounded in the shooting, but survived. According to authorities, Pak shot them after a dispute over parking.

Pak had initially pleaded not guilty last year to two counts of murder. He is also accused of aggravated attempted murder and elevated aggravated assault for allegedly shooting Johnson's mother, and burglary for breaking into the apartment.

Man shot to death after getting out on the wrong floor

26-year-old Stephen Guillermo mistakenly went to the wrong apartment unit



Tragic news out of San Francisco, where a man was shot to death by a fellow tenant late Saturday night when he went to a unit on the wrong floor of his apartment building after returning home from a night out.

Man shot to death after he gets out on the wrong floor

26-year-old Stephen Guillermo, who lived on the fifth floor, mistakenly pressed the wrong button on the elevator, got out on the third floor, and went to the wrong unit. He was shot and killed by the unit's tenant, 68-year-old Amisi Sudi Kachepa, when he entered the apartment.

Remembering the victims of the Navy Yard shooting

By now, you've heard the awful, tragic news of Monday's mass shooting at the Washington Navy Yard, where a gunman killed twelve people before being shot to death by law enforcement officials. There has been a great deal discussed about the shooter and his motives. This post is about the victims.

Rest in peace: Michael Arnold, 59; Martin Bodrog, 54; Arthur Daniels, 51; Sylvia Frasier, 53; Kathleen Gaarde, 62; John Johnson, 73; Mary DeLorenzo Knight, 51; Frank Kohler, 50; Kenneth Proctor, 46; Gerald R. Read, 58; Richard Michael Ridgell, 52; and Vishnu Pandit, 61.

Here's some more information on Mr. Pandit, who was fatally shot in the head:

SJSU nursing student killed by stray bullet

In San Jose, police are asking for the public's help in finding the shooter responsible for killing a San Jose State University student who was shot while riding in a car on Saturday night: Police Searching for Leads in Murder of SJSU Nursing Student.

19-year-old Kimberly Joyce Chico, who was studying nursing at SJSU, was in the passenger seat of a friend's car, riding through downtown San Jose, when she was hit by a stray bullet fired by someone outside. She was pronounced dead at the hospital. The driver of the car wasn't injured.

With no motive and no suspects, police believe it's a tragic instance of Chico being in the wrong place at the wrong time:

SALDEF calls on community support for hate crime victim

A few months ago, I wrote about Florida hate crime victim Kanwaljit Singh, who was followed after closing up his convenience store and shot six times while driving over a bridge -- targeted for wearing a turban in accordance with his Sikh faith. Fortunately, he survived and is slowly on his way to a full recovery.

The person or people who attacked Mr. Singh have yet to be apprehended. The FBI and local law enforcement are still investigating the incident and have released information about the missing suspect truck: S-10 or GMC Sonoma-style truck, single-cab, dark blue or black truck with a license plate and Ford decal or emblem on the right rear bumper: Florida Sikh Shot While Driving Fears Loss of Business, Suspects Remain at Large

Campus attack thwarted at University of Central Florida

Holy crap. On Monday in Orlando, police identified the body of James Oliver Seevakumaran, a former business school student who killed himself before he was able to carry out a planned armed attack on the campus of the University of Central Florida: James Seevakumaran, evicted UCF student, ID'd as man found shot dead on campus; planned wider attack, police say.

Seevakumaran's body was found in with a .45 caliber handgun, a .22 caliber tactical weapon, hundreds of rounds of ammunition, and a backpack filled with makeshift explosive devices, as well as notes and writings that indicated a carefully planned attack timeline.

Police believe Seevakumaran pulled a fire alarm in an apparent attempt to force other students out in to the open so he could slaughter them. But instead, he killed himself when police arrived to quickly for him to carry out his plans.

Sikh man targeted in Florida hate crime shooting

In Port Orange, Florida police are looking for the shooter responsible for a hate crime against a Sikh man who was targeted for wearing a turban: Sikh man was followed by attackers before shooting, police say.

According to police, Kanwaljit Singh was heading home from work at his convenience store last month when he was shot at six times while driving over a bridge. He had apparently been followed miles.

Singh was struck by two bullets that pierced his torso and one of his thighs, and spent several weeks in the hospital's intensive care unit. He was released just this week.

Police have released surveillance video of the victim's vehicle being tracked by the suspect vehicle from International Speedway Blvd in Daytona Beach to where the shooting took place:

Man charged with killing 9-year-old boy in shooting attack

Dammit. Last week in Minnesota, a man was charged with murder after allegedly opening fire at passing cars and killing a 9-year-old boy: Nhan Tran, Minn. man, charged in shooting attack that injured 2 women, killed 9-year-old boy.

34-year-old Nhan Tran was charged with killing fourth-grader Devin Aryal, who was riding by in a minivan and shot multiple times, including in the head. His mother was shot in the arm. Another woman was also injured.

According to witnesses, Tran was just walking down the block in the St. Paul suburb of Oakdale, shooting at passing cars. According to the criminal complaint, Tran was carrying close to 200 rounds of ammunition and two large knives when he was arrested. What the hell was wrong with this guy? Tragic.

74-year-old landlord charged in deaths of two teen tenants

Damn. Last weekend in Portland, Maine, a 74-year-old landlord was arrested in the shooting deaths of two teenage apartments tenants: Maine man, 74, held in deaths of teenage tenants.

James Pak is charged in the murders 19-year-old Derrick Thompson and 18-year-old Alivia Welch, who were renting out the apartment attached to Pak's home. Thompson's mother was also shot twice, but survived by pretending to be dead.

According to police, the shootings possibly occurred over a dispute about late rent and where the tenants parked their cars during a snowstorm:

"Cars & Guns & Common Sense" by Jeff & Hudson Yang

This is so great. Our friend Jeff Yang sat down and talked with his 9-year-old son Hudson about the shootings at Sandy Hook. Hudson, being kind of an awesome kid, wanted to do something about it, so they spent the afternoon creating this amaaazing comic entitled "Cars and Guns and Common Sense" by Jeff (story) and Hudson Yang (art):

Man arrested for posting school shooting threats

Dammit. Man, come on. Over the weekend, authorities in Southern California arrested a man who allegedly posted a message on Facebook threatening shootings at multiple elementary schools: 9 guns seized when man arrested for alleged school shooting threats.

24-year-old Kyle Bangayan was arrested at his parents' home in East Hollywood, where Los Angeles police offers and FBI agents seized nine guns. Bangayan was booked on suspicion of making criminal threats.

No specific targets were mentioned in the Facebook post, but Bangayan's alleged threat referred to "kindergarten and elementary school kids":