Foreign

Former US prison guard reportedly shot herself

By Web News 654

US police say they have captured an escaped inmate after a 10-day manhunt, and that a guard suspected of helping him has died after shooting herself.

Murder suspect Casey White, 38, is in custody while Vicky White, 56, died in hospital following their arrest in Indiana.

The pair vanished from a Lauderdale County, Alabama, prison on 29 April.

They are believed to have been romantically involved.

According to officials, they were last seen as she was transporting him to a bogus mental health evaluation.

It was Ms White’s last day at work before retirement. She had recently sold her home and told colleagues she planned to spend more time at the beach.

Late on Monday, the Vanderburgh County Coroners Office confirmed that Vicky White died in a local hospital after shooting herself during the pair’s arrest.

More information on her death is expected to be released on Tuesday following an autopsy.

Lauderdale County Sheriff Rick Singleton said earlier that the couple’s vehicle crashed after a police chase in Evansville, Indiana, at which point Casey White surrendered.

“We got a dangerous man off the street today. He is never going to see the light of day again,” he said.

The US Marshals Service said the two had previously been last seen on Friday driving a copper-coloured Ford Edge with an Alabama registration plate.

On Monday, Sheriff Singleton described the 6ft 9in Casey White as “extremely dangerous” and advised law enforcement not to “take any chances” with him.

Meanwhile, Ms White had a spotless record as a prison guard.

“I would have trusted Vicky with my life. I really mean it,” Lauderdale County District Attorney Chris Connolly told reporters. “If we needed something from the jail, she was our go-to person, solid employee. That’s why it’s so shocking.”

Casey White was charged in September 2020 with murder over the stabbing of 58-year-old Connie Ridgeway. He was already serving 75 years for a series of violent crimes in 2015, including burglary, vehicle theft and a police chase.

According to authorities, he allegedly confessed to the murder, but later pleaded not guilty by reason of insanity, and was awaiting trial at the Lauderdale County Jail when he disappeared.

He faces execution if convicted.

BBC /Taiwo Akinola

Foreign

Mass Shooting Leaves Eight Dead at Fedex Facility in Indianapolis

By Web News 762

Eight people have been killed and many injured in a shooting in the US city of Indianapolis, police say.

Witnesses heard several gunshots at a FedEx facility and one said he had seen a man firing an automatic weapon.

The gunman, thought to have been acting alone, is reported to have killed himself. Authorities said there was no further threat to public safety.

Police say several of the injured are in hospital. Flights from the nearby airport are not affected.

“As officers arrived, they came into contact with an active shooting incident,” city police spokeswoman Genae Cook said, adding that it had taken place at around 23:00 local time (03:00 GMT).

“After a preliminary search of the grounds, inside and out, we have located eight people at the scene with injuries consistent to gunshot wounds. Those eight were pronounced deceased here at the scene.

Ms Cook said four of the injured had been transported to hospital, one in a critical condition. Many others were treated at the scene or themselves sought treatment in hospital.

She said the motive for the killing was unclear.

Ms Cook paid tribute to the officers involved.

“It is very heart-breaking and, you know, in the Indianapolis Metro Police Department, the officers responded,… they went in and they did their job,” she said.

“And a lot of them are trying to face this because this is a sight that no-one should ever have to see.”

‘Sub-machine Gun’

A FedEx statement said the company was aware of the shooting and co-operating with the authorities.

“Safety is our top priority, and our thoughts are with all those who are affected,” it said.

Local media quoted FedEx worker Jeremiah Miller as saying he had seen the gunman firing.

“I saw a man with a sub-machine gun of some sort, an automatic rifle, and he was firing in the open. I immediately ducked down and got scared,” he said.

Last week, President Joe Biden announced his first steps since taking office to tighten gun controls following a series of mass shootings.

It includes efforts to set rules for certain guns, bolster background checks and support local violence prevention.

The Gun Violence Archive puts the number of gun violence deaths from all causes at 12,395 so far this year in the US, of which 147 were in mass shootings. Last year saw a total of 43.549 deaths, and 610 in mass shootings.

BBC