criminal-justice27.385 min read
Electrolyte powder, not drugs, found in van tied to Houston ICE shooting, officials say
1 month ago•Source: The Texas Tribune
Criminal Justice News
The latest criminal justice stories, summarized by AI
Featured Criminal Justice Stories
View original source
16.485 min•1 month ago
Timothy Busfield Says He’s Been ‘Canceled’ Amid Child-Sex‑Abuse Indictment
Emmy-winning actor Timothy Busfield testified to a Albuquerque grand jury that he has been canceled and will never work again after being indicted on four counts of criminal sexual contact of a child tied to alleged abuse of two boy actors on The Cleaning Lady; he maintained his innocence and claimed the allegations were for money and revenge by the boys’ parents, while prosecutors noted an internal Warner Bros. review found no substantiation—a judge will decide on a motion to dismiss as a potential trial is eyed for next spring.
More Top Stories
2
Carrollton mall shooting: two dead, three wounded; suspect in custody
The Texas Tribune•3 months ago
3
Timonium lawyer murdered by son-in-law after protective-order turmoil
thebanner.com•3 months ago
More Criminal Justice Stories
Timonium attorney killed in domestic incident; son-in-law charged with first-degree murder
A 74-year-old Timonium attorney, Robert W. MacMeekin of Fine, Kelly & MacMeekin, was killed in a domestic-related shooting at his home in the Millgate neighborhood of Phoenix, Baltimore County. His son-in-law, 41-year-old Mark Thomas Ryan of Bel Air, has been charged with first-degree murder and the use of a firearm and is being held without bond; Ryan appeared in court, with a bail review and a preliminary hearing scheduled for this month.
Baltimore records record-low April homicide count, lowest since 1970
Baltimore logged four homicides in April—the lowest monthly total since 1970—marking a broad drop in violence, with about 10% fewer killings and nonfatal shootings than a year earlier; officials credit cross-agency collaboration and evidence-based violence-intervention strategies, though city leaders emphasize that violence remains high and public perceptions may lag behind the statistics.
Texas Executes Broadnax After Supreme Court Denies Final Appeal
Texas death-row inmate James Broadnax was executed by lethal injection after the U.S. Supreme Court denied his final appeal tied to a cousin’s confession in the 2008 Garland double murder; the case also involved DNA evidence and allegations of racial bias during jury selection. Broadnax, who maintained his innocence in his final words, became Texas’s third execution of 2026, with further executions scheduled, including Edward Busby on May 14.
Texas Executes Broadnax in Controversial Lyrics-Based Death Penalty Case
James Broadnax, 37, was executed by lethal injection in Texas after courts rejected appeals over the use of rap lyrics in his sentencing, questions about the racial makeup of the jury, and a new confession from his cousin in the double-murder case that helped prompt review. The case drew support from rappers and scholars who argued art should not drive punishment in capital cases.
Texas Death Row Inmate Broadnax Faces Thursday Execution Amid Final Appeals
Absent last-minute intervention by the U.S. Supreme Court, Texas death-row inmate James Broadnax is scheduled to be executed Thursday for the 2009 murder of two music producers in Garland, a sentence his lawyers say relies on co-defendant Demarius Cummings’ confession that Broadnax did not pull the trigger; the case has featured arguments about due process, race in jury selection, and ongoing appeals.
Chicago officer's bodycam reveals 90-second pause after fatal shooting of partner Krystal Rivera
A Chicago Police Department officer fatally shot his partner, Krystal Rivera, and bodycam footage shows the shooter taking cover for about 90 seconds after the shooting as investigators review the incident.
Minnesota Sues Feds to Force Evidence in ICE Shootings, Testing Immunity and Accountability
Minnesota prosecutors filed a federal lawsuit against the Department of Homeland Security and the Justice Department to obtain evidence and the identities of federal agents involved in the shootings of Renee Good, Alex Pretti and Julio Cesar Sosa-Celis during Operation Metro Surge, after the Trump administration refused to cooperate. The move, centered on Touhy letters, tests whether federal immunity under the Supremacy Clause can shield agents from state prosecutions and faces extradition and logistical hurdles, signaling a lengthy, high-stakes battle with broad implications for accountability in immigration enforcement. Moriarty’s office is also investigating 14 additional cases of possible federal-agent misconduct, highlighting nationwide scrutiny of use-of-force and transparency in federal operations.
Downtown Austin bar shooting leaves 3 dead, 14 injured; FBI probes terrorism link
Three people died (including the suspected gunman) and 14 were injured after a gunman opened fire at Buford's on downtown Austin's Sixth Street early Sunday; the shooter was fatally shot by police. The FBI is investigating, with officials noting indicators of a possible nexus to terrorism, while authorities praised the rapid response that helped save lives.
Ex-downstate officer sentenced to 20 years for Sonya Massey murder
A white former downstate police officer was sentenced to 20 years in prison for the murder of Sonya Massey.
Glen Burnie man indicted for stealing 240 government cellphones
A former congressional staffer from Glen Burnie, Christopher Southerland, 43, was federally indicted for theft of government property after allegedly ordering 240 cellphones for the House Transportation and Infrastructure Committee and selling at least 200 at a pawn shop from January–March 2023; investigators traced the scheme when a pawned phone connected to the House Technology Service Desk, revealing unaccounted devices. The indictment was unsealed in October; his attorney did not comment.