Sean Grayson, a former Illinois sheriff’s deputy, has died while serving a 20-year prison sentence. His fatal shooting of Sonya Massey, a Black woman, became a flashpoint over police use of force. Grayson was convicted of second-degree murder in October. Massey had called 911 to report a prowler, and body-worn camera footage showed Grayson shooting her in the face. He was sentenced in January. Grayson had been diagnosed with colon cancer before the shooting. His request for medical release was denied in May. Massey’s death led to protests and legislative changes in Illinois.
Alex Jones won a Texas court ruling that reduced one of the defamation lawsuit judgments against him for calling the Sandy Hook Elementary School shooting massacre a hoax by more than $40 million. For the bombastic conspiracy theorist, it was a rare legal victory amid multiple punishing financial verdicts that forced him to file for bankruptcy. Sandy Hook families have yet to collect a dime from Jones while he still broadcasts. But Jones still faces a defamation judgment of $1.25 billion in a Connecticut lawsuit and nearly $6 million that remains in the Texas case.
The trial of the man accused of orchestrating Tupac Shakur's 1996 murder has begun. Jurors heard this week about the night the rap giant was shot in Las Vegas after a brawl involving Duane “Keffe D” Davis's nephew. Davis allegedly procured the gun used in the shooting. His lawyers dispute this, claiming his past statements were exaggerated. Witnesses, including police and former gang members, have provided testimony, though some were uncooperative. Davis admitted to his involvement in past interviews that were played in court. He claims his family's safety is at risk because of the prosecution. The trial is expected to last about a month.
A Texas court has slashed a $50 million judgment against Infowars founder Alex Jones to about $6 million over falsely calling the 2012 Newtown, Connecticut, school shootings a hoax. The ruling does not affect a $1.25 billion judgment against Jones in Connecticut, but is a significant legal victory for him after being found liable for damages for claiming the mass shooting didn’t happen. Despite the multiple financial judgments against him in Connecticut and Texas, Jones has yet to make any payments to victims' families. He is fighting the judgments through lengthy appeals in both states.
An 18-year-old with a sword attacked a school Friday in central Sweden, killing one person and seriously injuring two others. Police Chief Tommy Alriksson said the attacker at the school in Fagersta was arrested. Shots were fired during the arrest. The attack took place at the Brinell School, northwest of Stockholm. Two teenagers were seriously injured, and one other person was taken to the hospital. Prime Minister Ulf Kristersson called it a “serious incident” right after the summer break. Several nearby schools were locked down, and roadblocks were set up.
Texas court slashes $50M judgment against Infowars founder Alex Jones over falsely calling 2012 school shooting a hoax.
Jurors heard Duane “Keffe D” Davis tell detectives in 2008 that his nephew Orlando “Baby Lane” Anderson fired the shots that killed Tupac Shakur. Davis' interview was played in a Las Vegas courtroom Thursday at a trial over the 1996 killing in Las Vegas. Davis is accused of orchestrating the drive-by shooting of the 25-year-old hip-hop superstar. The interview is essential evidence in the state’s case against the 63-year-old Davis. Prosecutors told jurors in opening statements that they would lean heavily on Davis’ own admissions in interviews with police and on podcasts, as well as the 2019 memoir he co-wrote, “Compton Street Legend.” Davis has pleaded not guilty.
A Florida man convicted of fatally shooting his estranged wife and wounding his mother-in-law has been executed. Tuesday’s lethal injection continued the state’s aggressive use of the death penalty under Republican Gov. Ron DeSantis. William Frances Silvia was pronounced dead Tuesday evening following a three-drug injection at Florida State Prison near Starke. He’s the 13th prisoner put to death this year in Florida, which has two more executions scheduled in September. Florida has carried out more than half of the nation’s 23 executions to date in 2026. Silvia was convicted of first-degree murder and attempted first-degree murder for the 2006 attack on his estranged wife, Patricia Silvia, and her mother.
Minnesota's attorney general is suing the governor of Texas, asking a federal judge to compel the extradition of a federal immigration agent charged with wounding a man and then lying about it during an immigration crackdown in Minneapolis. Attorney General Keith Ellison says Texas Governor Greg Abbott has not signed papers to extradite Immigration and Customs Enforcement agent Christian Castro since his arrest in Texas in May. Abbott said he won't respond to extradition requests from Minnesota until the state acknowledges fault in ongoing fraud investigations Trump used to justify his immigration surge there.
Some members of Tupac Shakur's family left the courtroom before prosecutors showed autopsy photos at the trial of Duane “Keffe D” Davis. Davis is charged with orchestrating Shakur's 1996 fatal shooting in Las Vegas. A forensic pathologist on Tuesday described Shakur's bullet wounds. Shakur died six days after being shot. The prosecution says Davis planned the shooting in retaliation for his nephew's beating earlier that night. His lawyer called the prosecution's narrative “fiction.” Jurors saw video of Shakur’s entourage attacking Davis’ nephew hours before the shooting. Davis could face life in prison if convicted. He has pleaded not guilty.