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Network Provider to Drop 8chan After El Paso Shooting

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Internet services provider Cloudflare announced on Sunday that it planned to cease doing business with an online forum that a gunman apparently used before killing 20 people in El Paso, Texas, NBC News reported, citing a statement released by the company.

Cloudflare’s CEO, Matthew Prince, wrote in a blog post that his company was dropping 8chan after gunmen in Christchurch, New Zealand, and Poway, California, also used the site.

The anonymous forum, which the Anti-Defamation League has tied to the rise of online extremism, had shown itself to be “lawless,” Prince said. "That lawlessness has caused multiple tragic deaths. Even if 8chan may not have violated the letter of the law in refusing to moderate their hate-filled community, they have created an environment that revels in violating its spirit.”

In El Paso, investigators are “reasonably confident” that suspect Patrick Crusius, 21, posted an anti-immigrant screed on the site shortly before the shooting. That note referenced the mass killing in Christchurch, when a white supremacist gunman allegedly gunned down 51 people and posted links to a livestream of the attack on 8chan.



Photo Credit: Mark Ralston/AFP/Getty Images

2 Ambulances Requested After Crash in Tolland: Tolland Alert

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Emergency crews are responding to a crash in 600 block of Merrow Road in Tolland and Tolland Alert Tweeted that two ambulances have been requested.

Tolland Alert reports that the initial reports indicated there was a rollover with possible entrapment.



Photo Credit: NBC Connecticut

Vehicle Hits House in Norwich

El Paso Mom Died Shielding Baby. Dad Died Shielding Them Both.

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With incredible strength, 25-year-old El Paso shooting victim Jordan Anchondo's aunt and uncle shared the worst news they could've imagined.

"My niece, Jordan, we lost her yesterday," Elizabeth Terry, Anchondo's aunt, said.

Anchondo and her husband, Andre, were inside the Walmart with their 2-month-old newborn baby, Paul. They were buying school supplies for the couple's 5-year-old daughter.

"She was an amazing personality, strong willed, the light of our family," Terry said about her niece. "A huge character, a huge, just big person inside and out."

When the gunman entered and opened fire inside the superstore, the young couple were struck. Paramedics told the family the mother shielded her baby boy from the bullets, breaking his fingers as she collapsed to the ground. 

"They identified her iPhone watch, the iWatch, and my brother was able to see tattoos on her body that she had that were pretty distinct," Jesse Jamrowski said about his niece. "Her baby was covered in blood, bruised up."

Jordan Anchondo was pronounced dead at the hospital. It wasn't until late Sunday afternoon that the family learned Andre Anchondo had died, too.

"[Andre] shielded her and she shielded the baby, and that's how he was able to survive," Jordan's father, Paul Jamrowski, said in an interview Monday on the "TODAY" show.

The family said Andre Anchondo was excited about being a dad again, this time to a baby boy. But now, three young children are left without their parents.

"And Jordan was the epitome of love," Terry said. "A selfless mother--not perfect--she was young. I started as a young mother, as well. But an amazing mother: loving; loyal; caring."

It's that love the family says has kept them strong, and a message they hope will ring across the country.

"Be there for each other, just be a better human," Terry said. "This is such a senseless crime, such a senseless act and she deserved better, her husband deserved better."



Photo Credit: NBCLA

Connecticut Officials to Rally for Federal Action on Gun Violence After Shootings in El Paso, Dayton

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Connecticut officials are calling for the federal government to take action to prevent gun violence after deadly mass shootings in El Paso, Texas, and Dayton, Ohio within 24 hours of each other this weekend.

Shooting in El Paso, Texas

El Paso authorities said 20 people were killed and 26 others were injured when a man opened fire at a Walmart near a mall on Saturday morning.

The suspected shooter, 21-year-old Patrick Crusius, has been booked on capital murder charges, according to police.

U.S. Representatives Rosa DeLauro and John Larson reacted to the news of the El Paso shooting with a call for action.

"The El Paso mass shooting is tragic. My heart goes out to the victims, their families, and the entire community. This is not normal. We must address the epidemic of gun violence in our country with action," Rep. DeLauro tweeted.

"Yet another tragedy has struck our nation. My heart breaks for the victims and their families in El Paso. We must end this epidemic of violence that’s tearing our nation apart," Rep. Larson added in a tweet.

Congressman Jim Himes also tweeted a statement demanding a change following the El Paso shooting.

"I ran out of words long ago. No other country has this problem. If you aren’t acting to solve this problem now, you are complicit. Spare me your pathetic pseudo-pious thoughts and prayers. Tell me what you will do now or keep quiet and hang your head in shame. #ElPasoShooting," he tweeted.

Shooting in Dayton, Ohio

Less than 24 hours later, a man wearing body armor, armed with a rifle and high-capacity magazines opened fire on a line of people waiting to get inside a bar overnight in Dayton, Ohio, officials said. The suspected shooter was quickly killed by police and has been identified by a senior law enforcement official as 24-year-old Connor Betts.

Authorities said nine people were killed, not including the shooter and at least 27 others are injured.

Calls for Action

On Sunday, Gov. Ned Lamont released a statement also calling for action.

“There is a real epidemic of domestic terrorism growing in this country, with at least one of this weekend’s mass shootings reportedly perpetrated by a white nationalist. These are acts of evil generated by an expanding ideology of hatred. It’s far past time that leaders throughout our country take action against this plague that is tearing our nation apart," he said.

“We need leadership, particularly in Washington, that will not be owned by special interests. We need leadership that will not cave to the NRA and will act in the best interest of the people of our country. We need action because thoughts and prayers will not stop mass murder,” Governor Lamont added.

U.S. Senator Chris Murphy also tweeted that something must be done following both shootings.

"These young men contemplating mass murder take note of the inaction of their government, shooting after shooting, and their broken minds infer endorsement by our silence. If you're doing nothing - again - after the last 24 hours, the blood is soaking deeper into your hands," Sen. Murphy said.

U.S. Senator Richard Blumenthal also tweeted that his heart is with the victims of the tragedies.

"Senseless unspeakable gun violence claims more innocent victims & rips apart another community. Our hearts go to the families & all hurt, & deep thanks to first responders. Enough is enough. We know what must be done to end this epidemic of violence," Sen. Blumenthal said.

Connecticut Citizens Defense League Response

President of the Connecticut Citizens Defense League Scott Wilson also released a statement sending sympathies to everyone involved in the shootings in El Paso and Dayton.

"Our sympathies go out to the victims of recent mass shootings. The murder of innocent people by crazed individuals is not something we as an organization condone. Our support of the Right to Keep and Bear arms is based in the belief that we as Americans should always have the means to protect ourselves and our families from harm," he said in part.

"Given that there are already thousands of laws pertaining to firearms across our country, it is difficult to conceive of any law that would stop someone from attempting to commit the most vile act of mass-murder," he added.

State Police: Run, Hide or Fight

Connecticut State Police also remind citizens that if they are ever in an active shooter situation, they should run, hide or fight, whichever one is safest. Then they should call or text 911 when it's safe to do so.

About the Rally

Governor Lamont, Senator Blumenthal, Senator Murphy, other members of Connecticut’s Congressional delegation, state legislators, representatives of gun violence prevention organizations and advocates will hold a rally at 11:30 a.m. to urge federal action on gun violence prevention measures.

The news conference will be held on the north steps of the State Capitol in Hartford



Photo Credit: Mark Ralston/AFP/Getty Images

Crews Respond to Gas Leak in Glastonbury

Waterbury Police Seek Tips to ID Driver in Fatal Hit-and-Run

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A pedestrian who was struck in a hit-and-run in Waterbury has died and police are asking anyone with information to come forward. 

Waterbury police said 69-year-old Henry Pearson, of Waterbury, was struck around 2:20 a.m. on Saturday in the area of 937 North Main St. and died from the injuries he sustained. 

The dark colored sedan that struck him was traveling north and fled, police said. They said the vehicle sounded loud, possibly because of a loud muffler. 

Police are investigating and ask anyone with information to help the police identify the driver and vehicle to call Officer Frank Lee of the Traffic Unit at (203) 346-3975.



Photo Credit: Waterbury Police

One Taken to Hospital After Fire in New Haven

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One person was taken to the hospital to be treated for smoke inhalation after a fire on Peck Street in New Haven that has displaced seven people. 

The fire is at the two-family house at 345/357 Peck St. and it was reported around 4:30 a.m. Monday.

Residents of 357 Peck St. should be allowed to get back into their side of the house soon, officials said. 

Fire officials believe the fire started in a bedroom, but they are continuing to investigate.



Photo Credit: NBC Connecticut

Evacuations Underway in Hebron Due to 'Non-Compliant Individual'

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Hickory Drive in Hebron is being evacuated because of a “non-compliant individual,” according to state police.

State police said they are assisting the state marshal on a civil matter in Hebron.

State police said the incident is active and under investigation.



Photo Credit: NBC Connecticut

Two Charged in Manchester Bank Robbery

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Manchester police have arrested two people who are suspected in an armed robbery of one bank and an attempted robbery of another. 

Police said they responded to the TD Bank at 180 Deming Street at 1:30 p.m. Sunday after a holdup alarm went off. 

Police said a 40-year-old man who appeared nervous approached the tellers holding an empty bag, then left without cash and fled in a red Chrysler Town and Country minivan that a woman was driving. 

As police were at TD Bank, a holdup alarm went off at United Bank at 234 Tolland Turnpike and officers determined the description of the robber matched the man from the attempted robbery at the other bank, police said. 

He had passed a note to the teller that demanded cash and implied he had a gun, police said. Then he fled in the same minivan that was seen at TD Bank, police said. 

The minivan was found at Motel 6 at 51 Hartford Turnpike. 

Police identified the owner of the car as 42-year-old Babi Czernek, of Manchester, and said they found her nearby.

Dale Robbins, 44, of South Windsor, was found in the motel. 

Inside the room Czernek and Robbins had rented, police found a large amount of cash, a .22-calibre handgun and the note that was passed to the teller, according to police. They said they also found items used as a disguise in the robbery. 

Charges filed against Robbins in connection with the United Bank robbery include first-degree robbery, first-degree conspiracy to commit robbery, third-degree larceny, third-degree conspiracy to commit robbery, first-degree threatening and first-degree conspiracy to commit threatening. 

Charges filed against him in connection with the attempted robbery at TD Bank include first-degree conspiracy to commit robbery, first-degree criminal attempted robbery, sixth-degree conspiracy to commit larceny and sixth-degree criminal attempted larceny. 

Charges filed against Czernek in connection with the United Bank robbery include first-degree robbery, first-degree conspiracy to commit robbery, third-degree larceny, third-degree conspiracy to commit robbery, first-degree threatening and first-degree conspiracy to commit threatening. 

Charges filed against Czernek in connection with the TD Bank include first-degree conspiracy to commit robbery, first-degree criminal attempted robbery, sixth-degree conspiracy to commit larceny and sixth-degree criminal attempted larceny. 

Robbins was held on $400,000 bond and Czernek was held on $300,000 bond. 

Anyone with information is asked to call Manchester Police at 860-645-5500. 



Photo Credit: Manchester Police

Victim of Hit-and-Run in Hartford Has Died: Police

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A woman who was injured in a hit-and-run in Hartford Monday afternoon has died, according to police.

Police said a woman who they believe to be a 55-year-old Hartford resident was struck in the area of 400 Hillside Ave. just before noon Monday and was transported to Hartford Hospital, where she was pronounced dead at 1:49 p.m. 

Police are notifying the woman's family, so they have not released her name.

Investigators are searching for the vehicle that left the scene. A description was not immediately available.

Check back for updates.



Photo Credit: NBC Connecticut

Motorcyclist Injured in Baltic Crash

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One person has life-threatening injuries after a motorcycle crash in Baltic Monday. 

Officials said the crash happened on Bushnell Hollow Road around 11:47 a.m. and the injured person was transported to Backus Hospital in Norwich and then flown Hartford Hospital. 

The Baltic and Lisbon fire departments and state police responded. 

Bushnell Hollow Road is closed.



Photo Credit: NBC Connecticut

1 Arrested in Death of Dog Set on Fire: Police

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West Haven police have identified two suspects facing charges in connection with the death of a dog that was set on fire.

Police have arrested the owner of the dog, 35-year-old Latrice Moody, and have identified 41-year-old Maurice Jackson as a second suspect in the case.

Firefighters and police responded to Beach Street near Second Avenue and Third Avenue around 10 a.m. on Friday, July 5 after a fire was reported in the Sandy Point Beach parking lot and they found a small dog dead at the scene, according to police.

Investigators said it appears the dog was already dead when it was set on fire with an accelerant and abandoned in the parking lot.

Moody is charged with animal cruelty, breach of peace, illegal dumping and open burning. Police also hold an arrest warrant for Jackson charging him with breach of peace, illegal dumping, and open burning. Detectives are actively looking for Jackson and anyone with information on his whereabouts should contact the West Haven Police Department at 203-937-3900.



Photo Credit: West Haven Police Department

FIRST ALERT: Severe Storms Possible Wednesday

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The NBC Connecticut meteorologists have issued a First Alert for storms that will move through Wednesday.

Any storms that develop have the potential to become strong and possibly severe. They move in during the afternoon and evening.

With the heat of the day and significant instability, severe thunderstorms are possible. Heavy rain, small hail, vivid lightning and locally damaging wind will be the primary threats as storms move through.

Thursday will be warm and humid once again with another round of showers and storms possible.

For the full forecast anytime, click here.



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Police Offer Lifesaving Advice for Before and During a Mass Shooting

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What's Happening Inside UnidosUS Conference in San Diego

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You are watching a live stream from inside the San Diego Convention Center.

Some of the top Democratic presidential candidates are speaking Monday at the national conference for UnidosUS, the nation’s largest Hispanic civil rights and advocacy organization.

Attendees will hear from former Vice President Joe Biden, U.S. Sen. Kamala Harris, D-Calif.; U.S. Sen. Amy Klobuchar, D-Minn.; former Housing and Urban Development Secretary Julián Castro; and U.S. Sen. Bernie Sanders, I-Vt. 

2:40 p.m. 

Speaking on the need for gun reform and the people of El Paso, Sen. Amy Klobuchar said, “people in Washington, D.C. have to show the courage and power...of immigrants in our communities.”

2 p.m. 

Vice President Joe Biden was the first presidential candidate to take the stage and told the crowd he had planned to talk about education but needed to address the events that happened in El Paso, Texas, and Dayton, Ohio, over the weekend.

“We can’t fix the problem if we refuse to name the problem,” he said. “This is white nationalism, this is white supremacy, this is about hate.”

 

Check back throughout the day.



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Lawmakers, Families Call for Stricter Federal Gun Laws

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Lawmakers and loved ones of gun violence victims stood side-by-side on the steps of the state capitol Monday, many calling on Congress to skip their summer recess and vote to tighten federal gun laws.

“Let’s have a ban on assault weapons and high capacity magazines. Let’s have universal background checks,” U.S. Sen. Richard Blumenthal (D) told the crowd.

Tara Gottlieb’s parents were shot and killed by a robber in their Fairfield jewelry store in 2005.

“I sort of felt like it was a random act of violence but I now I don’t find it to be random at all. I think it’s preventable,” said Gottlieb. “If you have an ounce of compassion in you do your job, call a vote, pass legislation to keep our country safe,” was her message to lawmakers in Washington.

Saturday’s shooting at an El Paso, Texas Walmart is being investigated as a case of domestic terrorism after the shooter’s racist online writings surfaced. Saying the situation lies squarely on the shoulders of the president, Hartford Mayor Luke Bronin called Donald Trump the “Hater in Chief.”

“If you believe Mr. President that hate pulled the trigger then those who enable hatred pull the trigger,” Bronin said.

In his speech to the nation Monday, the president denounced the two mass shootings over the weekend that took the lives of more than 30 people.

“In one voice, our nation must condemn racism, bigotry and white supremacy. These sinister ideologies must be defeated. Hate has no place in America.”

No Republican lawmakers spoke at the rally. Lt. Gov. Susan Bysiewicz made a point at the outset of saying those on the other side of the aisle were invited.

“Let me say that the silence on the other side is deafening,” said Bysiewicz.

Republican Party Chairman JR Romano told NBC Connecticut he wasn’t invited to the rally.

Romano called the rally, “highly partisan,” and “instead of coming together, (the Democrats) rhetoric is divisive.”

He reiterated the president’s statement calling for the death penalty for the El Paso shooting suspect and said, “any form of terrorism has no place in the United States.”

Gun control advocate Marcus Wilson hopes lawmakers don’t lose sight of the problems plaguing inner cities as they search for solutions to mass shootings.

“I know plenty of close friends, relatives, that got shots. Some still alive. Some got killed,” said Wilson. It shouldn’t take for a mass shooting for us to come together. I feel like had we done this before this would have avoided a lot of problems and issues.”

Dozens of members from the national gun control advocacy group, Moms Demand Action, flanked lawmakers on the steps of the Connecticut Capitol on Monday.

“I couldn’t not be here. It’s too important. It’s a life or death issue,” said Gottlieb, a member of the group.

“What I have in common with those people is that a mother and a father and families and friends had to hear the news that their loved one is not coming home,” said Tammy De La Cruz tearfully.

Those were the words De La Cruz heard in 2016. She said her 24-year-old son with an infectious smile, Joey Gingerella, was fatally shot around the corner of their Groton home while coming to the aid of a woman being beaten by her boyfriend.

“My son made the ultimate sacrifice. He risked his life to save another,” she said.

De La Cruz recently joined Moms Demand Action. She said Monday was her first rally. She said she’s sick of the inaction in Washington.

“I’m just, I’m done,” she said.

De La Cruz, who spent the weekend rallying outside the White House at a national Moms Demand Action conference, said Monday’s rally brought back painful memories of her loss. However, she said she’s not giving up on her son’s legacy.

“I’m his voice now. He doesn’t have one. I’m his voice,” she said.



Photo Credit: NBC Connecticut

White Nationalism-Fueled Violence Is on the Rise, But FBI Is Slow to Call It Domestic Terrorism

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The massacre that left at least 22 people dead and two dozen wounded Saturday in a city that hugs the U.S.-Mexico border will be treated as a domestic terrorism case, but many acts of white nationalism-fueled violence are not classified as such, stoking concerns that the government is not doing all it could to address an increasingly dangerous national security threat.

Extremist-related murders spiked 35 percent from 2017 to 2018, "making them responsible for more deaths than in any year since 1995," according to the Anti-Defamation League (ADL). Last year, every one of those extremist-related murders was carried out by a right-wing extremist, NBC News reports.

Meanwhile, white supremacist propaganda distribution nearly tripled from 2017 to 2018, according to the ADL, which also documented a rise in racist rallies and demonstrations.

The Justice Department is documenting the same trends. Hate crimes in the country increased by 17 percent from 2016 to 2017, marking the third straight year of a spike in hate crimes, according to an FBI report released last November. While the FBI and Justice Department have clearly identified a white nationalist domestic terror problem, they have been slow to identify the crimes as such, which deprives the ensuing investigations of resources and fails to thwart subsequent acts of extremist violence, national security experts say.

"You don’t have that domestic terrorism offense that allows it to be counterterrorism agents and prosecutors who are investigating it," said Mary McCord, who led the Justice Department’s national security division under President Barack Obama.



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Proposal Suggests Selling XL Center to Create a Casino: Report

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State officials are reacting to a report of a proposal to bring a casino to Hartford.

The idea, floated in a Hartford Courant report, would be to end the East Windsor casino plan and sell the XL Center to the tribes, but there’s no formal action that’s been taken.

This comes out just days after a bipartisan group of lawmakers proposed the Mashantucket Pequot and Mohegan tribes open a casino in Bridgeport and be allowed to have sports betting at Foxwoods and Mohegan Sun, as well as online.

A spokesperson for Gov. Ned Lamont said he finds the idea about the XL Center interesting, but there’s been no movement on it. He and others do agree that something needs to be done regarding the aging arena.

“What’s important to me is to have a revitalized XL Center that brings Hartford back to life, and I think XL is a big part of that,” Lamont said.

“There's just no question that the XL center is obsolete,” added Hartford Mayor Luke Bronin. “It's desperately in need of modernization and investment and I think it's important not just to the city of Hartford but to the region and to the state of Connecticut.”

MMCT, a joint venture of the two tribes, released a statement about the situation, saying,

"The Tribes believe that Hartford can be part of a larger gaming bill, which is why they support the bipartisan, bicameral legislation that was announced last week that would include the development of an entertainment zone in the Capital City. However, they are not willing to walk away from the Tribal Winds Casino in East Windsor, a project where they've invested nearly $20 million.”

The governor’s spokesperson said Lamont wants to see a broad solution for gambling, including brick and mortar, lottery, and sports betting.



Photo Credit: NBC Connecticut

'Know the Signs' to Prevent Acts of Violence

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After a mass shooting, often disturbing details about the shooter come to light as well as potential warning signs that went unnoticed. Connecticut-based Sandy Hook Promise has trained more than 7 million people nationwide through its Know the Signs campaign, preventing multiple acts of violence.

Co-founder Nicole Hockley lost her son, Dylan, in the shooting at Sandy Hook Elementary School in 2012. She believes the nation is in a crisis.

“We have a crisis in our country and the longer we take to address it with real solutions, the more it is going to keep happening.”

In an interview Monday at their Newtown headquarters, Hockley said they train people to recognize red flags, such as withdrawal, irrational anger and a fascination with weapons. She said often the shooter leaves a hate-filled manifesto or a trail of disturbing social media posts.

“How do we teach our children how to reach out to someone who’s socially isolated or if they’re seeing a disturbing post, how do we teach our child that it’s not enough to just like it or retweet it?”

Over the years, the organization has been a beacon for gun violence prevention, creating several powerful public service announcements centered around its Know the Signs campaign. One of them captures the perspective of someone portraying a school shooter, depicted as a loner.

“We need to teach our kids how to be upstanders and not just passively see something and say, ‘well that’s going on but I’m not going to a part of that.’ That’s part of the reason we’re in such a mess right now. It’s that apathy.”

Hockley urges parents to talk to their kids about reporting any alarming behavior even if they think it’s harmless and reaching out to peers who may be hurting.

“Teaching kids to be upstanders and to lean in when someone needs help. That’s going to be a huge cultural shift just in itself.”



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