Man Killed by Lightning at Venice Beach Identified

Nick Fagnano, 20

A 20-year-old man who died in the hospital after being struck by lightning at Venice Beach on Sunday has been identified, officials said. Seven other beachgoers were also hospitalized, including one with critical injuries.

Nick Fagnano, of Los Angeles, died at Marina Del Rey Hospital, according to information provided from the hospital to the Los Angeles County Coroner's Office.

The victims were in or near the water next to the pier when the bolts touched down about 2:20 p.m., the Los Angeles Fire Department said.

"All of a sudden it was the loudest thunder I've ever heard, it was like a scene out of 'Jaws,' all the mothers were going into grab their kids to drag them out of the water," said witness Joe Doro.

Thirteen people, who were all in or near the water when the bolts touched down, were checked out by firefighters at the scene. Eight of them were taken to hospitals, including seven adults and a 15-year-old, the LAFD said.

A swimmer who was released from the hospital Sunday night said he doesn't remember the lightning strike, but recalls being rescued by friends from the water after suddenly losing consciousness.

"The next thing you know I was struggling to get my head back above the water," said the swimmer, who identified himself only as Paul. "Thank God they were brave enough to just jump in and not hesitate."

"I understand one person didn't make it. I just want to say that my thoughts go out to that person's family," Paul added.

A video taken at the scene shows the frantic moments when rescuers pulled another person who appeared to be unconscious out of the water.

A beachgoer who was about 50 yards away from the pier said he felt a jolt of electricity from his feet to the top of his head when the lightning struck.

"We all got up off the ground and we were just amazed by what had happened," Eric Amparansaid. "We saw some commotion by the waterline and another person was struck by the lightning, and he was unconscious lying on the beach. The lifeguards were already there doing CPR on him."

Witnesses said the clap of thunder sounded like an explosion.

"A flash and simultaneously the loudest clap of thunder I’ve ever heard in my life, because it was so close. I thought it was like a bomb almost," said witness Ned Walker.

On Santa Catalina Island, a 57-year-old man who was on an Avalon golf course was also struck by lightning. He was hospitalized in stable condition, the Los Angeles County Sheriff's Department said. He was expected to survive.

In Redondo Beach, a home and car parked in its driveway in the 1600 block of Haynes Lane were damaged by a bolt of lightning. No one there was hurt.

As of 11 p.m. Sunday, hundreds of Southern California Edison customers in Redondo Beach were without power. The utility said it hopes to have power restored by 6 a.m. Monday.

The lightning strikes occurred as a thunderstorm hit the island, causing minor flooding and setting two small fires in the brushy backcountry that were quickly doused.

Monsoon conditions moving in from Arizona were expected to bring small amounts of rain -- up to a quarter-inch -- all throughout Los Angeles County through the evening, according to David Sweet, a meteorologist with the National Weather Service in Oxnard.

“There is that potential for brief heavy amounts,” Sweet said of the rain. “In most places it will be small.”

In Avalon, about two-thirds of an inch was recorded in about 30 minutes, weather officials said. One man was apparently injured in a lightning strike and minor flooding reported in the area, according to wire reports.

After a cloudy night, the sun was expected to be out again Monday. Temperatures were expected in the mid to upper 70s inland areas and 80s and 90s inland.

Weather officials said the rainfall was too localized to make any dent in the state's ongoing drought crisis.

Psalm 18:14

Yea, he sent out his arrows, and scattered them; and he shot out lightnings, and discomfited them.

Psalm 144:

5 Bow thy heavens, O Lord, and come down: touch the mountains, and they shall smoke.

6 Cast forth lightning, and scatter them: shoot out thine arrows, and destroy them.

N.Y.C. ‘Segregated’ Condo Gets Green Light For Separate Entrance For Poor Residents

POOR DOOR

Extell, a Manhattan high-rise luxury condo developer, has reportedly been given the green light to proceed with their plans to add a separate entrance to the building for the poor, and the controversial and segregationist proposal was approved by New York’s Department of Housing Preservation and Development, according to the New York Post.

The Upper West Side  33-story building, which is still in throes of construction, will consist of 219 luxury units that face the Hudson River, but Floors 2 through 6 have been allotted for those families whose annual income falls below $51,540, which makes up about 60 percent of the area’s median income.

The city’s Inclusionary Housing Program is a boon for developers because, in addition to generous tax breaks, they are allotted more square footage for their properties if they allow a certain number of  lower-income families to reside within their properties.

Since news of the “poor door” plans leaked out last year, there have been those who are campaigning against the move, demanding equality and not separatism. “A mandatory affordable housing plan is not a license to segregate lower-income tenants from those who are well-off,” New York Assembly member Linda B. Rosenthal told the West Side Rag last August. “The developer must follow the spirit as well the letter of the law when building affordable housing, and this plan is clearly not what was intended by the community.”

The West Side Rag compared the “poor door” arrangement to servants and nobles quarters in “Downtown Abbey,” which is a TV drama that follows the fortunes of a wildly dysfunctional aristocratic English family at the beginning of the twentieth century.

James 2:6

But ye have despised the poor. Do not rich men oppress you, and draw you before the judgment seats?

 Wisdom of Solomon 2:10

Let us oppress the poor righteous man let us not spare the widow nor reverence the ancient gray hairs of the aged

 Ecclesiasticus (Sirach) 13:3

The rich man hath done wrong and yet he threateneth withal the poor is wronged and he must intreat also

CPD chief says no evidence police officer fired in Romney Street shooting

19-year-old Denzel "Jaba" Curnell

Charleston Police Chief Greg Mullen said there was no evidence that a police officer fired any firearm in a Romney Street shooting incident that took the life of 19-year-old Denzel "Jaba" Curnell on Friday.

Mullen said he would not comment on specific evidence as the SLED investigation into the Friday night shooting at the Bridgeview apartment complex on North Romney Street is still underway.

However he addressed key points in response to rumors, speculation and inaccurate information he said has been circulated while SLED investigated the incident.

"Mr. Curnell was not shot in the back," Mullen said, directly disputing rumors repeated since the incident. Mullen referred to a statement from the coroner earlier Monday that confirmed Curnell died of a single gunshot wound to the head, and was not shot in the back.

Mullen said there is no evidence that the Charleston police officer on the scene discharged his weapon. Mullen identified the officer as male police officer who has been with Charleston police for three years and is assigned to a community action team where he "works daily with the community and children to improve communities and make them safer for residents."

According to Mullen, at the time of the incident, the officer was working an off-duty assignment at the Bridgeview apartment complex, which Mullen said was an ongoing assignment that's part of the department's partnership with the owners of the apartment complex.

"As confirmed by the coroner earlier today, Mr. Curnell was not shot in the back as has been widely reported," Mullen said.

According to Mullen, there was no evidence that the officer in the incident discharged any weapon, and stated that Curnell was armed at the time of the incident. Mullen said the weapon Curnell was armed with was recovered from the scene.

Mullen also addressed an email sent sent to Charleston City Council and other officials nearly two hours after a deadly shooting Friday referred to the incident as a "possible suicide."

"That's a routine procedure for us when we have incidents within the city. City Council members have been asked to be notified and that's what we do," Mullen said Monday afternoon.

In the email, obtained by Live 5 News' Harve Jacobs, Charleston Police spokesperson Charles Francis reported police were on the scene of a possible suicide that occurred at 10:30 p.m. at an apartment complex on North Romney Street.

Before Mullen's press conference Monday afternoon, Charleston County Coroner Rae Wooten released a statement in an attempt to address "a number of concerns" surrounding Curnell's death:

I have become aware of a number of concerns surrounding the tragic death of Denzell Curnell on June 20, 2014.

In an effort to clarify misinformation or misconceptions, I would like to provide the following information:

The decedent, Denzell Curnell, did not sustain a gunshot wound to the back but, died as a result of a single gunshot wound to the head.

The investigation by SLED and the Coroner’s Office is ongoing and until such time as it is complete, I will not make a ruling as to the “Manner” of death.

SLED is continuing the investigation.

"I am confident that once the investigation is complete, they will see the officer's actions were appropriate and this was a very tragic situation that no one will completely understand," Mullen said.

Earlier on Monday, CPD released a police report which stated that an off-duty Charleston police officer called for help following Curnell's shooting death.

The manner of death, according to the coroner's office, was still under investigation.

According to an incident report, a Charleston police officer who was working a uniformed off-duty assignment at Bridgeview Apartments called for assistance around 10:32 p.m. in reference to shots fired. The off-duty officer reported that shots had been fired and the victim was down near a building at 127 N. Romney Street.

He also stated that "a large crowd was gathering and he needed additional units for crowd control."

When authorities arrived on the scene, the off-duty officer was reportedly found standing beside his patrol car with the victim lying face down and motionless in the street in front of the patrol car.

"After the senior commander arrived on scene and learned of the circumstances surrounding the death, she recognized immediately the potential for community concern surrounding this incident," Mullen said on Monday."Therefore she made a wise and imprudent decision to contact SLED and request that they assume the lead role in the investigation to avoid any possible concerns that can be voiced."

Investigators with the South Carolina Law Enforcement Division were called in after a report the death occurred following a struggle with a Charleston police officer. SLED officials were contacted at 11:35 p.m. Friday, according to SLED spokesman Thom Berry.

The investigation would include if the struggle was related to the shooting, when the shot was fired, who fired the fatal shot and how many weapons were involved, Berry said.

Berry said a report SLED received indicated there was a struggle in which a gun was fired. Berry said one person was dead, and the officer in the incident was okay. Charleston police officials say the officer is on administrative leave, which authorities say is normal for any officer involved in such an incident.

According to Berry, SLED agents investigated the scene until 3 a.m. on Saturday and returned to the area later Saturday morning.

Several neighbors in the area reported late Friday night and early Saturday morning that the incident was a fatal shooting. A large police force was spotted in the area of the Bridgeview Apartments during the investigation. Police officers blocked off traffic in the area.

Zechariah 11:5

Whose possessors slay them, and hold themselves not guilty: and they that sell them say, Blessed be the Lord; for I am rich: and their own shepherds pity them not.

Deuteronomy 28:50

A nation of fierce countenance, which shall not regard the person of the old, nor shew favour to the young:

Two University of Texas football stars arrested for 'gang raping female student and taking a picture of the attack' in their campus dorm room

Kendall Sanders, 20, (left) and Montrel Meander, 19, (right) forced themselves on a friend after Meander brought her back to his dorm room for sex, police say

'We've been monitoring and addressing the situation with Kendall and Montrel since it was brought to our attention,' Strong said in a statement released by the school. 

'It's been made clear to everyone on our team that treating women with respect is one of our core values, and I'm extremely disappointed that two young men in our program have been accused of not doing that.'

The sexual assault charges carry prison terms of two to 20 years. Telephone messages left with attorneys for both players were not immediately returned.

According to arrest affidavits filed by police, the alleged victim knew both men.

Police said they were called to her dorm at 3.43am and found the woman under an entryway service desk, crying, barefoot and disheveled. 

The women told police she had gone to Austin's Sixth Street entertainment district with friends and agreed to return to Meander's dorm where they began to have consensual sex.

Sanders then knocked on the door and Meander let him in, according to police. The woman said Meander went into the bathroom and that Sanders forced her to have vaginal and anal sex.

Meander returned and joined the assault despite her telling both of them to stop, according to police. She told police that she also suspected that Sanders used his mobile phone to take a picture or video of her.

Detectives separately interviewed both players at the university police station. Police said the players agreed to let police look at pictures on their phones and detectives said they found at least one photo of the victim.

'The university campus must be an environment free from all sexual assault and violence,' Texas President Bill Powers said. 

'At the University of Texas at Austin, student safety is our top priority and we are involved with the national efforts to prevent a culture of sexual violence from taking root on campuses. We educate all of our students about preventing sexual assault and vigorously investigate all allegations so we can take the appropriate action.'

Sanders, a junior, has played in 23 career games and started seven last year. He has 39 career receptions for 376 yards and one touchdown. Sanders was suspended for the 2013 season opener after a drunken-driving arrest. 

Meander is a redshirt freshman who did not play last season.

Deuteronomy 22:25

But if a man find a betrothed damsel in the field, and the man force her, and lie with her: then the man only that lay with her shall die.

Judges 20:

4 And the Levite, the husband of the woman that was slain, answered and said, I came into Gibeah that belongeth to Benjamin, I and my concubine, to lodge.

5 And the men of Gibeah rose against me, and beset the house round about upon me by night, and thought to have slain me: and my concubine have they forced, that she is dead.

6 And I took my concubine, and cut her in pieces, and sent her throughout all the country of the inheritance of Israel: for they have committed lewdness and folly in Israel.

Lawsuit alleges discrimination at Buffalo Wild Wings

Two Cincinnati women have filed a federal civil rights lawsuit against Buffalo Wild Wings, claiming they were victims of racial discrimination while employees at the Forest Park restaurant location.

"I was not used to such hatred coming from anyone," said Erica Jackson, who along with another former employee, Nikkea Berry, is suing the Minnesota-based restaurant chain.

The African American women filed the lawsuit in federal court in early July. According to the federal filing, they are seeking monetary damages in excess of $75,000 for lost wages and emotional distress.

Jackson and Berry told FOX19 Investigates that they and other African-American workers were repeatedly subjected to racist jokes, remarks and behavior.

The women, who worked at the Forest Park Buffalo Wild Wings from 2006 until they were fired in 2013 said they loved their jobs until there was a management change in 2012.

"It was never like that before. It was like a big ole family before with our other manager," Berry said.

According to court documents, during staff meetings an assistant manager repeatedly told an offensive, sexually charged joke that involved a pregnant African American woman and a chicken wing.

Jackson said that's when she and several other employees filed a formal complaint with Buffalo Wild Wings' corporate human resources.

But instead of disciplining the assistant manager, the lawsuit alleges Buffalo Wild Wings promoted him to general manager of the Forest Park restaurant. The lawsuit alleges the racist behavior continued.

"He went to another young man and called him the name of every other black male employee and then said, 'Oh, I'm sorry, you all look alike,'" said Jackson.

The lawsuit also alleges the restaurant management team posted a photo of food items standing in a police line-up with a turkey wearing a shirt that read "I'm with stupid." The food items were labeled with employee names, some of them black workers.

According to the lawsuit, in 2013 the manager also threw a plate at an African American cook.

Jackson and Berry said several employees filed a second compliant with corporate human resources. The women said they were fired a short time later for "performance related" reasons.

FOX19 Investigates attempted to speak with the manager of the restaurant on two occasions. The second time we were asked by another manger to leave.

In an email, a Buffalo Wild Wings corporate spokesperson said company policy is to not comment on pending litigation but takes any allegations of employee discrimination seriously and is reviewing these allegations carefully.

Jackson and Berry claim that what happened to them was a systematic plan to have less interaction between African American employees and customers. FOX19 Investigates staff saw a number of African American workers serving customers at the Forest Park location.

However, FOX19 Investigates found a promotional video on the Buffalo Wild Wings corporate website that tells a different story. The video, aimed at prospective employees, is introduced by the company CEO.

It shows employees working at the chain's "most engaged" restaurant team of the year at a location in Memphis, Tenn. The video shows satisfied customers being served by happy workers, who participate in team huddles and high fives with co-workers and managers. But FOX19 Investigates noticed that in the nearly two-minute video, only non-African American workers were interacting with customers. African American workers are seen briefly only in the back of the restaurant or in the kitchen.

"If this is happening and it's happening at corporate, I'm concerned that more people could be going through this in the organization," said Rob Richardson, the plaintiffs' attorney.

Jackson and Berry insist they are not disgruntled employees, but the lawsuit is about taking a stand against racist discrimination.

"In 2014 you'd have thought so many years had passed since it was in our face," Jackson said. "I would like justice to be served, whatever that may be."

Jackson and Berry also filed complaints with the U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission. In fiscal year 2013, there were nearly 100,000 discrimination complaints filed nationally. In Ohio, there were more than 3700. Of that number, about 35 percent were based on race.

Job 8:22

They that hate thee shall be clothed with shame; and the dwelling place of the wicked shall come to nought.

Psalm 21:8

Thine hand shall find out all thine enemies: thy right hand shall find out those that hate thee.

Psalm 83:2

For, lo, thine enemies make a tumult: and they that hate thee have lifted up the head.

Isaiah 60:

14 The sons also of them that afflicted thee shall come bending unto thee; and all they that despised thee shall bow themselves down at the soles of thy feet; and they shall call thee; The city of the Lord, The Zion of the Holy One of Israel.

15 Whereas thou has been forsaken and hated, so that no man went through thee, I will make thee an eternal excellency, a joy of many generations.

16 Thou shalt also suck the milk of the Gentiles, and shalt suck the breast of kings: and thou shalt know that I the Lord am thy Saviour and thy Redeemer, the mighty One of Jacob.

Maryland parents accused of keeping autistic sons locked in basement

These photos released July 21, 2014 show John and Janice Land, who are accused of keeping their autistic twin sons padlocked in a basement room of their house in Rockville, Md. every night for six years

A Rockville, Maryland couple has been arrested and charged with locking their 22-year-old autistic twin sons in the basement of their home.

Montgomery County police told WTTG-TV that the room had no lights, a strong smell of urine, and only a single comforter was provided for the men to sleep on. Police also said the room only had one window, which was far too small for either man to climb through in case of an emergency,

The Washington Post reported that police arrested 57-year-old John Land and 59-year-old Janice Land this past Thursday after showing up at the couple’s home to serve a search warrant on an unrelated matter. Once inside, police discovered that one of the doors in the basement was secured from the outside with a deadbolt. When they opened it, they discovered the room and the two men inside. 

According to court documents, John Land told police he had been locking up his sons every night between about 10 p.m. to just before 5 a.m. for the past six years in order to prevent them from leaving the house unsupervised, as had happened in the past. The Lands said the twins are nonverbal, and can only communicate by pointing at objects. 

The Post reported that John Land claimed to police that he had recently removed furniture from the room because it had become soiled, and planned to purchase new furniture when he could afford it. Court documents also claimed that when officers asked how the Lands would know when their sons wanted something, John Land said he would eventually be awakened by their screams and yells. 

"I don't know how anyone would think that's an acceptable way to keep anybody," Natalie Larson, a neighbor of the couple who works with disabled children, told MyFoxDC.com 

Sharon Drennan, another neighbor, said her now-20-year-old son was friends with the Lands' other children and told her about the conditions in the home. She says she contacted authorities as far back as three years ago, but nothing was ever done.

"There were cops in that house several times and [they] never removed the children," Drennan said. "And it came to this? This long?"

John Land's brother says the police report is all lies and his brother and sister-in-law love their sons and took care of them the best they knew how. He says police are targeting the couple because their other children have had run-ins with police.

The twins are in protective custody. The Lands have been released on bond, but face facing two counts each of false imprisonment and two counts each of vulnerable adult abuse of a family member. 

Deuteronomy 28:54

So that the man that is tender among you, and very delicate, his eye shall be evil toward his brother, and toward the wife of his bosom, and toward the remnant of his children which he shall leave:

Deuteronomy 28:56

The tender and delicate woman among you, which would not adventure to set the sole of her foot upon the ground for delicateness and tenderness, her eye shall be evil toward the husband of her bosom, and toward her son, and toward her daughter