- CrimeDoor
- Posts
- This Week in Crime: June 8 - 14, 2024
This Week in Crime: June 8 - 14, 2024
Top Stories of the Week
Chiquita Brands International Ordered to Pay $38.3m in Damages for Funding Armed Group in Colombia
West Palm Beach, Florida - A Florida federal court has ruled in favor of the surviving family members of eight Colombian men killed by the United Self-Defense Forces of Colombia (AUC), holding Chiquita Brands International liable for funding the armed group. The court ordered Chiquita to pay $38.3 million in damages to the victims' families.
Families and Survivors Gather to Remember Victims of Pulse Nightclub Shooting
Orlando, Florida - Eight years after the tragic shooting at Pulse nightclub, families and survivors came together on Wednesday evening to honor the memories of the 49 victims. The Pulse Remembrance Ceremony, held at Steinmetz Hall, marked the culmination of a day filled with events across the city, including Greenwood Cemetery and First United Methodist Church downtown.
Siclaly Santiago-Leon, cousin of Luis Daniel Wilson-Leon, who lost his life in the attack on the LGBTQ safe haven, emphasized the importance of keeping their memory alive. She expressed the fear that loved ones may be forgotten, stating, “As family members of the 49 angels, we have vowed to never let that happen.”
The ceremony took place amidst ongoing efforts by city officials to establish a permanent memorial at the site of the nightclub. This initiative follows a failed attempt by the onePulse Foundation, which has left some feeling skeptical about the latest endeavor. Mayor Buddy Dyer acknowledged the difficulties faced by families and survivors over the past year but expressed hope that a renewed effort would turn the desire for a memorial into a reality. He envisioned a space where people could grieve, reflect, and honor the 49 victims and survivors every day.
Suspect Detained in Stabbing Attack on American Instructors in China
Jilin City, China—Chinese police have apprehended a suspect in the stabbing attack on four American instructors from Iowa’s Cornell College, who were teaching at Beihua University in Jilin City, China. The incident occurred on Monday in Beishan Park, where a 55-year-old man named Cui allegedly stabbed a foreigner and three other foreigners accompanying him. A Chinese individual who attempted to intervene was also stabbed. The motive behind the attack remains unknown as authorities continue their investigation.
The injured victims were promptly rushed to a hospital, and according to Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesperson Lin Jian, none of them are in critical condition. Cornell College President Jonathan Brand confirmed that the instructors were attacked while accompanied by a faculty member from Beihua University. The incident took place during a public holiday in China.
The U.S. State Department has acknowledged the reports of the stabbing and is closely monitoring the situation. The attack comes when both China and the United States strive to enhance people-to-people exchanges to improve bilateral relations amid ongoing trade tensions and international disputes.
In Other Crime News
Houston, Texas - Texas Inmate Escapes Courthouse, Holds Prosecutor at Knifepoint in Wild Escape. Read More.
Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia- US Returns $156m in Assets Linked to 1MDB Scandal to Malaysia. Read More.
Lawrence, Kansas- Former Illini Star Terrence Shannon Jr. Found Not Guilty in Rape and Sexual Assault Case. Read More.
New York, New York- US Supreme Court Reverses Ban on Bump Stocks, New York Leaders Express Outrage. Read More.
Crime History
(Morgan Nick - The Morgan Nick Foundation)
June 9, 1995 - Morgan Nick
On June 9, 1995, 6-year-old Morgan Nick attended a nighttime Little League game with her mother, Colleen, about 30 miles from their home. At approximately 10:15 p.m., Morgan got permission from her mother to join other children catching fireflies in the parking lot 50 yards away from the bleachers.
Morgan was standing about 12 feet from the other children by her mother’s car when she was reportedly approached by a man in his mid-20s with salt-and-pepper hair and a grizzled beard. He drove a red pickup truck with a white camper.
When the other children returned to the bleachers at around 10:45 p.m., Morgan was not with them. The children told Colleen that Morgan was waiting by the car. Colleen went to the parking lot, but her daughter was not there.
Listen to The CrimeDoor TV Podcast!
Now on Spotify and Apple Podcasts!