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Man Kills Boss Over Pic

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Loved ones of "Jimmy the Greek Taverna" owner Dimitrios Karaloukas gathered to celebrate his life at the Glades Road restaurant he owned and loved Friday, one day after the man was fatally stabbed by an employee police said was angry about a photo.  

"He would just hang out, and just sprawl out. Had a nice personality. Just a very nice man -- the whole family," one person said. "We all, everywhere, feel terrible."

Tilus Lebrun, 36, was arrested Thursday evening after deputies say he fatally stabbed Karaloukas in a restaurant because the boss took a photo of him without his permission, according to the Palm Beach County Sheriff’s Office.

He worked at Jimmy The Greek Taverna Restaurant in Boca Raton, where witnesses say he pulled out a knife and stabbed the restaurant’s 61-year-old owner. Officials say the owner was sitting down in the restaurant when he was attacked by Lebrun. He was stabbed three times on his left side and once in his back and later died of his injuries.

An unidentified male who was an employee at the restaurant was also attacked by Lebrun. The victim was stabbed numerous times and is undergoing lifesaving surgery at Delray Medical Center, authorities said.

Deputies found Lebrun near the restaurant outside wearing an apron and holding a large knife. He later told deputies, “I killed him because he took my photograph on March 2nd and posted it on the internet,” according to authorities.

Lebrun has been charged with first degree premeditated murder and murder while engaged in a certain felony offense.

He was being held without bond Friday. It is not known at this time if he has an attorney.


Pa. Man Killed in Bahamas

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A Pennsylvania father and husband was murdered during a business trip to The Bahamas.

Carl Yerger, of Fleetwood, Pa., was stabbed multiple times near a resort in Bimini, a set of islands on the western edge of the archipelago, an officer with the Royal Bahamas Police Force confirmed to NBC10.com.

The 45-year-old’s body was found at 7 a.m. Friday morning and had multiple stab wounds, officials said. An official cause of death is pending an autopsy.

Co-owner of Custom Milling & Consulting in Fleetwood, Pa., Yerger was conducting business on the island when he was killed, his wife Rebecca Yerger told NBC10.com. The couple have two sons – Tate, 7, and 10-year-old Ty.

He also was the president of the Oley Valley Youth Sports League.

“He was unique, caring, ambitious, detailed, organized, courageous, a problem solver, and mediator,” the league’s board of directors wrote in a statement. “His efforts earned him the support and loyalty of both new and long-time volunteers and coaches.”

Investigators say they have taken four men into custody in relation to the crime, but no one has been charged.

Police also have not released an official motive, but believe it may have been a random act.

The death investigation is ongoing.


Contact Vince Lattanzio at 610.668.5532, vince.lattanzio@nbcuni.com or follow @VinceLattanzio on Twitter.



Photo Credit: Oley Valley Youth League

Thousands Head to Hartford for St. Paddy's Day Parade

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Thousands of spectators lined the route to watch more than 5,000 marchers make their way from Capitol Avenue and through the streets of downtown Hartford for the city's 43rd annual St. Patrick's Day Parade.

Parking lots in the area opened at 5 a.m. as drivers pulled in ready to set up and tailgate. While the parade was not scheduled to start until 11 a.m., revelers arrived hours in advance to get a front row seat to the festivities.

“We've been coming to this parade for 15 years now,” said Simsbury resident John Ackles. “We went to bed early last night to get up early today and to make sure we have our spot.”

The spots went quickly in the parking lot on Asylum Street, and the grills were fired up soon after.

“We are making corn beef and cabbage,” Donald Kelly, of Hartford, said. “I’m Irish and my wife is Irish and there’s no better place to be on a day like today.”

A few tailgaters even brought heaters after learning their lesson on a cold day at the parade last year. With such a long winter, they did not want to take any chances.

“The heater is an upgrade from last year and we’re all layered up. I got another couple of layers in the truck,” Aaron Jones, of Manchester, said.

Bars and restaurants opened up as early as 7 a.m. to accommodate all of the spectators as Hartford police monitored the area, making sure it did not get out of control.



Photo Credit: NBCConnecticut.com

Boy's Cupcake Argument Goes Viral

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Three-year-old Mateo likes to argue. A lot.

When Mateo's mom Linda took a YouTube video of him arguing and arguing with her over cupcakes, it didn’t just get a few clicks, it went viral.

As of Tuesday, Linda and Mateo’s video had more than 3 million hits and 2,082 comments.

It was picked up by a number of sites and even featured on the Ellen DeGeneres Show.

Ellen also posted the video on her Facebook page, saying: “I want this little boy to come to my show immediately. I want to retain him as my lawyer.”

And Linda and Mateo – who are from San Jose, Calif. – are actually on their way to the Ellen Show.

“My 3-year-old must argue and debate everything,” Linda Beltran wrote on her YouTube page.

And she’s right. Mateo is a debating machine, unabashedly referring to his mom as “Linda” and “honey” in the video in order to prove a point about why he should have cupcakes for dinner.

When Linda asks Mateo why he asked his grandma for cupcakes even though she told him “no cupcakes,” Mateo tries to reason with her.

“You need to listen to me ‘cos I’m the mom,” Linda says. And then after a while: "I'm done arguing with you."

But Mateo keeps pleading his case: “Linda, listen, listen, listen … You are not listening to me.”

Linda has also posted other videos of Mateo on YouTube, including those of Mateo singing and making lunch.

According to RTM, Linda taught her son to use her first name for emergency purposes. And this time, the site said, the emergency turned out to be cupcakes.

Amber Alert: Police Seek Family

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Police issued an Amber Alert Saturday for four children and their non-custodial parents after the children were taken by force from their grandmother's Los Angeles home Friday, officials said.

“I’m asking you to just do the right thing and bring the children in,” said Los Angeles Police Capt. Martin Baeza. “The reason that we’re reaching out to the public is that we’re concerned for the children's safety.”

The children were taken into protective custody by the Department of Children and Family Services (DCFS) and put into the care of their grandmother, according to the Los Angeles Police Department.

The children's parents took them from the grandmother's home in the 1400 block of Indian Street in Los Angeles' Boyle Heights neighborhood at 12:30 p.m. Friday, police said. Police said the parents may have a history of violent behavior. 

"The information that was provided to us by the grandmother was that the father is known to be violent with both all the children and the mother," LAPD Officer Sally Madera said.

The father, Enrique Felix, is described as a Hispanic man, 28 years old, 5 feet 10 inches tall with black hair and brown eyes. The mother, Rose Chaidez, is described as a Hispanic woman, 5 feet 2 inches tall with red hair and brown eyes.

The children were identified as 7-year-old Enrique Felix, 5-year-old Justin Felix and 1-year-old twins Veronica Felix and Janeth Felix.

They may be in a dark plum or gray Chrysler PT Cruiser with tinted windows, a missing a rear hub cap and a paper license plate with black letters, and no official state tag.

Anyone with information was urged to call 323-342-8900.
 

1 Dead, 1 Critically Hurt After Hartford Shooting

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Main Street is closed at the intersection of Kensington Street in Hartford after two men were shot, one of whom has died, according to Hartford police.

Police said the shooting happened around 1:15 p.m. The victims suffered serious injuries. One has died and the other is in critical condition, according to police.

Homicide detectives are actively investigating.

It's the second homicide of the year in Hartford.

Authorities said the shooting is not related to the St. Patrick's Day parade, which has been taking place in this city this morning.

Check back for updates.

Boy Escapes Attempted Kidnapping

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A man tried to kidnap an 11-year-old boy in Queens, but fled when the child's father arrived, police said Saturday. 

The boy was waiting to be picked up after school Friday in Flushing when a man drove up and said, "Get in the car, I'll take you somewhere nice Upstate," police said. When the boy refused, police said the man got out of the car, grabbed the child's hands and tried to pull him inside the vehicle. 

That's when the boy's father arrived at the corner of Colden Street and 45th Avenue, police said, and the suspect fled in a dark blue four-dour sedan.

Anyone with information is asked to call Crime Stoppers at 1-800-577-TIPS (8477).



Photo Credit: NYPD

Teacher Launches Grammar Movement

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A Southern California teacher has launched a movement to help reduce the use of texting lingo by students as part of a month-long effort she calls the "gramMARCH Challenge."

"R u ready 4 da gramMARCH challenge? Save the d8 on ur calendar bc it will b n event u dnt wanna miss," a press release humorously stated.

The gramMARCH Challenge is a movement created by Heather Shotke, a middle school teacher who noticed that students were using abbreviated forms of language typically used on social media - LOLs, OMGs, emoticons - in their schoolwork as well.

"I am disappointed and appalled," Shotke said. "Kids are using 'text language' in their academic work and they think it is acceptable because that is how they are communicating with their friends on social media. It worries me that they cannot differentiate between a formal, school assignment and a text to a friend."

For the month of March, those taking on the gramMARCH challenge will write using proper grammar, full sentences and use entire words in text messaging, formal writing and all forms of written communication.

Muscatel Middle School in Rosemead and Rowland High School and Rowland Heights are some of the participating schools, according to Shotke’s Twitter feed.

The Pew Research Center’s Internet Project estimates that teens ages 14 to 17 send an average of 100 text messages a day.

"Anecdotally, it takes about 30 days for something to become a habit," Shotke said. "So, if we can get people to accept the gramMARCH Challenge and write with proper grammar in all communications – including texts, tweets, Kiks, Instagram captions and status updates on Facebook – for the month of March, we may be able to make the shift back to intelligent communication."

More information on the movement can be found on the gramMARCH website.



Photo Credit: gramMARCH.org

Derby Couple Sues Metro-North for $10M Over Derailment

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A woman injured last May when the Metro-North train she was riding home from a work conference in New York derailed and was struck by another train in Bridgeport is suing the railroad for $10 million.

Linda Pacelli, of Derby, filed the suit in U.S. District Court yesterday along with her husband. The lawsuit claims Metro-North’s negligence caused the derailment and collision, according to a copy of the document obtained by the New Haven Register.

Pacelli was one of 73 passengers, two engineers and a conductor who were injured when the train derailed May 17 of last year and was struck by another train. She suffered a spinal fracture and required surgery and left her with lasting pain.

A Federal Railroad Administration investigation found a broken rail joint on section of the track where the derailment occurred. Metro-North inspectors reportedly found the broken joint two days before the derailment but said it didn’t pose a problem.

Pacelli and her husband Francesco, who was not on the train but claims loss of consortium, are requesting $10 million in damages for Pacelli’s medical care, surgery, physical therapy, medication and time away from work, according to the lawsuit.

An attorney representing the couple, Steven Errante, told NBC Connecticut, his client will never ride a train again because of the trauma. Even after surgery, he says Lina remains in pain and doctors expect it'll be that way for the rest of her life.

"Lina Pacelli got thrown very hard out of her seat, hit various people and poles, and ended up with a compression fracture of her back," said Errante.

Errante says that  incident scarred her for life.

"As she would tell you she is not the same person, can't do the same activities, is very concerned about any future accidents, falls, so forth," said Errante.

Lina's lawsuit states that the Bridgeport derailment and collision was caused by negilgence.

Errante says he'll file another lawsuit against the railroad on behalf of another Bridgeport passenger next week.
 
With the release of the FRA report, he expects the courts will see 20 to 30 similar suits regarding the Bridgeport derailment filed within the next month or two.

According to the Connecticut Post, this is the fourth lawsuit filed in relation to the Bridgeport derailment.

The National Transportation Safety Board continues to investigate.

A spokesperson for Metro-North said the railroad is aware of the lawsuit but could not comment on pending legislation.



Photo Credit: Debby Burke

One Person Dead After Canoe Capsizes

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A spokesman for the Connecticut Department of Energy and Environmental Protection says a 24-year-old man pulled from the cold waters off the coast of the Long Island Sound in Milford has died.

According to Milford Fire Captain Greg Carman, a canoe with a woman and man aboard overturned just after 2:00 p.m. The woman was rescued immediately and was found conscious and alert.

Officials said Jeffery Young of North Caldwell, New Jersey, was found about a half hour later and was unresponsive. Crews immediately started CPR.

Both the woman and Young were rushed to Milford hospital, where Young died. The woman was treated for hypothermia and released, said DEEP.

The U.S. Coast Guard  provided mutual aid, according to the Stratford Fire Department.

EnCon Police are investigating the incident



Photo Credit: Google Maps

Strange Man Offers 10-Year-Old Candy in Norwalk

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Norwalk police are investigating after a strange man offered candy to a 10-year-old and asked the student to get in his van, authorities said.

According to police, the stranger approached the 10-year-old Cranbury Elementary School student in front of the Meadow Gardens Housing Complex at 49 Meadow Street on March 11. Police said the child ran away and notified his or her father, who called police March 13.

Police said the man stayed in his van. There was no physical contact between the child and the suspect.

The suspect is described as a white man between 30 and 40 years old with a scar on his right cheek. Police said he was wearing glasses and a green hooded sweatshirt and drove a dark blue van with tinted windows.

According to police, the child saw the same man driving a white van past the same location the following day. The white van reportedly did not stop.

Authorities said the gender of the child is being withheld at the discretion of investigators.

Anyone with information is asked to contact Norwalk police at 203-853-3111. Residents can submit anonymous tips at www.norwalkpd.com or text “NPD,” followed by the message, to CRIMES (274637). 



Photo Credit: NBC Philadelphia

Ridgefield High School Student Killed in Crash

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A 15-year-old Ridgefield High School struck by a car last night has died, according to police.

Police said the teen was struck in the area of 570 Ridgebury Road around 9:30 p.m.

She was transported to Danbury Hospital with life-threatening injuries and later died at the hospital.

The teen has not been identified. Police said the driver stayed at the scene and was interviewed by investigators.

Ridgebury Road was closed between Benson Road and Chestnut Hill Road while police and fire officials responded to the scene.

The high school posted an alert on its website canceling a play performance following the accident.



Photo Credit: Steve Coulter, Ridgefield Press

Chicagoan Plows Block for 35 Years

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Chicago winters are no walk in the park, that’s why city resident Albin Hoffman took it upon himself to make things easier for his neighbors.

For nearly 35 years Hoffman has been clearing snow from the sidewalks of his entire block in the 6600 block of South Karlov Avenue.

“He doesn’t really speak to a lot of folks, he doesn’t ask anybody, he just does it,” said neighbor Antonio Lopez. “He literally, every time it snows, is so consistent. He does the whole block and has been doing it for years and years.”

But on March 5, Hoffman’s snow blower broke beyond repairs and he wasn’t sure he’d be able to continue clearing the snow. So he decided to write a letter to his neighbors, encouraging them to enjoy clearing the snow as much as he did.

“I don’t know whether I will invest in a new machine, keeping in mind my age,” he wrote. “In the future, if I am no longer able to clear the snow, and you are shoveling, do it with a smile on your face, the way I did. After every snow cleaning I loved to look at the work done, with a smile and thought that our sidewalk and block was the cleanest in the whole city of Chicago.”

Area residents said Hoffman has made this seemingly unbearable winter that much more tolerable.

“It was just awesome. It like made me believe in people again,” Lopez said of the letter. “You just know that there’s people out there that really have that sense of community and it was a really bright spot since this winter’s been really tough on people.”

Lopez said that another resident even took over clearing snow on the block after heavy snow fell on the area Wednesday and Hoffman couldn’t clear it.

With the potential for more snow late Saturday, Lopez wasn’t sure if that resident would clear the walkways again, but said he’s confident someone will continue Hoffman’s tradition.

“There’s still people in Chicago that care for their neighbors,” he said. “I think somebody will take over. I don’t have a snow blower, but if I did I would do it.”

In his letter, Hoffman said he hoped that his neighbors would continue to keep the block cleared. He thanked area residents who chipped in to help him pay for gas and maintenance of the machine and said he was proud to help them out in the cold and snowy times.

“It was my pleasure to relieve elderly people of this hard work, and also working people, by letting them sleep or hug their lovely wives for another few minutes longer while I was cleaning snow.”

Hoffman also apologized for the “loud noise” during his early morning cleanings, but he continued to lighten his neighbors’ winter blues with one final sentence.

“Spring is around the corner, the snow will be gone, therefore keep smiling,” he wrote.



Photo Credit: Antonio Lopez

Man Found Shot in Shelton Driveway

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A man was found lying in a driveway with a gunshot wound in Shelton Saturday night.

Dispatchers received a 911 call about a shooting at Agawam Trail at 8:45 p.m.,accoridng to Lt.  Bob Kozlowsky from Shelton Police.

The victim was rushed to a local hospital with serious injuries.

Detectives are still on scene investigating.

 


 

 

 

 

Alexandria on Edge After Murders

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Three high-profile murders in Alexandria have residents on edge. A man was arrested this week as a person of interest, but it’s not clear how involved he was in the murders. News4's Derrick Ward reports.

Man Killed By Police Taser Mourned

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Loved ones gathered Saturday to say their final goodbyes to Treon Johnson.

The 27-year-old died earlier this month after he was Tasered.

Police said they responded to a 911 emergency disturbance call in the area of East 7th Avenue and 24th Street and found Johnson was beating two dogs. Johnson resisted arrest and was shot with a Taser, police said.

Yet, family members said they are still struggling to understand the loss.

"Were looking for a little understanding," said Johnson's brother, Donald Harris.

Police said they had to subject to using physical force -- a Taser and pepper spray -- after the 27-year-old responded with violence. The dogs' owner told police he saw Johnson jump into his backyard and start beating a dog with a metal pipe. But Harris said that wasn't the case.

"My brother was getting off work," Harris said. "He went to go urinate and a dog bit him on the leg. He ended up in a tree, throwing mangoes at the dog."

Johnson allegedly tried to run from police after the incident. Investigators said his health declined after he was shot with the Taser. Three hospital transfers later, he was gone.

"Tree," as Johnson was known to his friends, was one of three men featured in "Dawg Fight," a documentary film directed by Billy Corben about hand-to-hand combat and backyard brawls in West Perrine. "Dada 5000," one of the fighters featured in the film, said Johnson was full of promise.

"He was a photographer, an inspired entertainer, a fighter and a friend," the fighter said.

According to medical records obtained by NBC 6, Johnson had a healthy history. The medical report also shows that he had marijuana in his system and he collapsed prior to the arrest.

Meanwhile, his friends are asking for the use of Tasers to be curbed.

"The laws definitely need to be changed on the enforcement of Tasers. To me it's just as deadly as a gun," friend Chanel Simone said.



Photo Credit: NBC 6 South Florida

Man Charged With DUI After Colliding With Police Cruiser

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A 25-year-old man is charged with DUI and other offenses after colliding with a Middletown police cruiser at the intersection of Washington and High streets overnight.

The crash happened near Wesleyan University just before 1 a.m. Sunday. Police said Officer Patrick Kiely was stopped at a red light when a Ford Focus driven by Christopher Griffiths, of New Britain, struck him from behind.

Kiely received minor injuries and was treated and released from Middlesex Hospital, police said.

Griffiths was not injured. His passenger, 24-year-old Rudy Lockhart, of Bristol, was also taken to Middlesex Hospital for treatment of minor injuries.

Griffiths was charged with driving under the influence, operating with a suspended license and traveling too fast for conditions.

Lockhart was charged with possession of less than 4 ounces of marijuana.

Anyone with information or who may have witnessed the crash is urged to call Middletown Police Officer Douglas Clark at 860-638-4064. 

10 People Displaced by East Windsor Apartment Fire

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Ten people in four families have been displaced by an early-morning apartment fire in the Broad Brook section of East Windsor, fire officials said.

Authorities said the fire broke out at an apartment complex at 35 Mill Street/Route 191 just after 5:30 a.m. Sunday.

The fire started in apartment 35A and was contained to an office-type room there. Fire officials said the building sustained heavy smoke and water damage and has been condemned.

The Red Cross is assisting eight adults and two children who lost their homes.

No one was injured in the fire.

East Hartford Stabbing Victim in Serious Condition

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A man is in serious condition after he was stabbed multiple times early Sunday morning in East Hartford, according to police.

Police said the stabbing happened around 3:30 a.m. at the corner of Burnside Avenue/Route 44 and Bidwell Street.

Officers arrived on scene to find a man suffering frmo multiple stab wounds. He was taken to Hartford Hospital for treatment.

The victim has not been identified.

Anyone with information is asked to contact East Hartford police at 860-528-4401 or submit an anonymous tip to 860-289-9134.

Hartford Police Investigate Stabbing

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Hartford police are investigating a stabbing at Norma's Cafe at 379 Capitol Avenue overnight.

It's not clear how many people were injured. Police said the stabbing happened around 1:45 a.m. Sunday.

No additional information was immediately available. 

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