Foreign

4 Killed, 10 Injured in California Party Shooting

By Web News 192

At least four people have been killed in a mass shooting at a child’s birthday party in California.

Ten others were injured in the shooting at a restaurant on Saturday evening, in the state’s northern city of Stockton.

Local police say the victims include both adults and children. The conditions of the injured have not been confirmed.

A suspect is still on the loose and police say they believe the shooting may have been “targeted”.

The San Joaquin County Sheriff’s Office said the shooting happened shortly before 18:00 local time (02:00 GMT on Sunday), and is appealing to anyone with “information, video footage, or who may have witnessed any part of the incident” to come forward.

Spokeswoman Heather Brent described the incident as “unfathomable”, adding: “This is a very active and ongoing investigation, and information remains limited.

“Early indications suggest this may be a targeted incident, and investigators are exploring all possibilities.”

Stockton’s Mayor Christina Fugazi called the shooting “unacceptable”.

“Families should be together instead of at the hospital, standing next to their loved one, praying that they survive.”

California has some of the strictest firearm laws in the US, and has in recent years faced challenges to it.

BBC / Titilayo Kupoliyi

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Foreign

Man Wrangles with Winner of $2bn Lottery, Alleges Ticket Theft

By Web News 1189

The winner of a record $2bn (£1.6bn) US Powerball lottery draw is being sued by a man claiming the lucky ticket was stolen from him.

Edwin Castro, who lives in California, chose to take last November’s jackpot in one lump sum of $997.6m.

But now Jose Rivera, a fellow Californian, says in a civil complaint that the prize money should be his.

Mr Castro has not commented. The California Lottery earlier said it was confident he was the rightful winner.

In a statement from February, the California Lottery said it always checked prize money claimants and “has the utmost confidence in its process for doing so”.

Mr Rivera’s lawsuit was filed in the Superior Court in the city of Alhambra.

He alleges that he bought the winning ticket on 7 November 2022 – and that it was stolen later that day by a man who was not Mr Castro.

The complaint does not provide details about how the ticket might have ended up with Mr Castro.

Powerball tickets cost $2 and a winner has two options to claim their winnings. They can choose to receive the full amount in an annuity paid over 29 years – but almost all winners opt for a smaller, upfront cash payment instead.

The game, which began in 1992, is played in 45 of the 50 US states, the capital city of Washington, DC, and in the US territories of Puerto Rico and the Virgin Islands.

The winnings are subject to federal taxes of between 24% and 37%, and, in most cases, state taxes. Only 10 states – including California – do not have state taxes on lottery winnings. In several locations, such as New York City, the winnings are also subject to municipal taxes.

BBC/Simeon Ugbodovon

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Foreign

California: 13 Days, 6 Mass Shootings

By Web News 395

At least three people have been killed and four injured in the second mass shooting to erupt in Los Angeles County in eight days and the sixth in California this month, according to police.

The latest shooting occurred at the weekend in the upscale Beverly Crest neighbourhood of Los Angeles, bordering Beverly Hills.

A senior LAPD source told ABC News that the three people killed were found in a car outside of the rental home. The two wounded individuals were found nearby and two others were taken to area hospitals in private vehicles, police said.

A spokesperson for the LAPD, Sgt. Bruce Borihanh said at a news conference that the shooting occurred in front of the rental home.

Two of the injured victims were in critical condition, police said while no arrests were immediately announced.

Borihanh said investigators were trying to determine if the shooting occurred during a party at the rental house.

A motive for the shooting remains under investigation.

The Beverly Crest episode came just eight days after a January 21 mass shooting in the Los Angeles County city of Monterey Park, where 12 people were fatally shot at a dance studio allegedly by a 72-year-old man, who died from an apparent self-inflicted gunshot wound when police cornered him in a van in Torrance, California.

The two Los Angeles County mass shootings are among six that have occurred in California since January 16, when six people, including a teenage mother and her baby, were found fatally shot at a home in Goshen, a semi-rural area in the state’s San Joaquin Valley.

The Tulare County Sheriff’s Department, which has yet to announce any arrests, said the shooting appeared to be a targeted attack by two gunmen possibly connected to a drug cartel.

There have been 48 mass shootings nationwide in the first month of 2023, according to the Gun Violence Archive, a website that tracks shootings in the US.

FRCN Abuja / Titilayo Kupoliyi

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Sport

Tiger Woods Recovering From Car Crash

By Web News 894

Golf legend, Tiger Woods was involved in a single-car crash on Tuesday morning, February 23, in California, and was taken to a hospital, where he underwent surgery over multiple leg injuries.

An official statement has been released from Woods’ official account after the car crash, providing an update on Woods’ medical status after his surgery at Harbor-UCLA Medical Center. 

“We thank everyone for the overwhelming support and messages during this tough time,” the statement read. “As previously communicated, Tiger was involved in a single-car accident earlier this morning in California. He has undergone a long surgical procedure on his lower right leg and ankle after being brought to the hospital.”

“Mr. Woods suffered significant orthopedic injuries to his right lower extremity that were treated during emergency surgery by Orthopaedic trauma specialists at Harbor-UCLA Medical Center, a level 1 trauma center. Comminuted open fractures affecting both the upper and lower portions of the tibia and fibula bones were stabilized by inserting a rod into the tibia. Additional injuries to the bones of the foot and ankle were stabilized with a combination of screws and pins. Trauma to the muscle and soft-tissue of the leg required surgical release of the covering of the muscle to relieve pressure due to swelling.” – Anish Majajan, MD, Chief Medical Officer & Interim CEO at Harbor-UCLA Medical Center.

“He is currently awake, responsive, and recovering in his hospital room,” the statement read.

“Thank you to the wonderful doctors and hospital staff at Harbor UCLA Medical Center, the Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department, and the Fire Department. Your support and assistance have been outstanding.

“There are no further updates at this time and we continue to thank you for your well-wishes and privacy for him and his family.

Frcn, Abuja