WORLD NEWS FLASH
UNITED STATES
What started as a routine service of a warrant ended in an incident so tragic it got a response from the nation’s highest ranking official.
Between 1-2 p.m. on April 29, U.S. Marshals and an officer with the Charlotte- arrived at a house on Galway Drive to serve a felony warrant to 39-year-old Terry Clark Hughes, Jr. Shockingly, Hughes and another suspect opened fire with an illegally modified AR-15, killing three of the Marshals and the police officer. Four other Marshals were injured in the shootout, which ended after Hughes was shot dead after a SWAT team was called in. The other shooter, who was not identified as of deadline, was taken into custody.
CMPD Chief Johnny Jennings released the names and conditions of CMPD officers wounded in the incident.
CMPD Officer Michael Giglio, hired in February of 2021, was treated for gunshot wound injuries and released from the hospital. CMPD Officer Jack Blowers, hired in February of 2023, was also treated for his gunshot wound injuries and was released from the hospital. CMPD Officer Justin Campbell, hired in June of 2020, sustained injuries resulting in a broken foot. He was treated and released from the hospital. Also, CMPD Officer Chris Tolley remains in stable condition.
Tragically, Thomas M. Weeks Jr., 48, of Mooresville, North Carolina, died in the line of duty at approximately 1:30 p.m. April 29 when the suspect opened fire on the group of law enforcement officers, killing Weeks and three others.
Weeks was a 13-year veteran of the U.S. Marshals Service (USMS), serving in the Western District of North Carolina for the last 10 years.
Also, Marshals Sam Poloche and Alden Elliot died at the scene, and officer Joshua Eyer was initially in critical condition but died in the hospital several hours later.
The shooting was so tragic, it even garnered the attention of President Biden, who gave a statement.
“Four brave law enforcement officers – including a Deputy U.S. Marshal – were killed in the line of duty. They are heroes who made the ultimate sacrifice, rushing into harm’s way to protect us. We mourn for them and their loved ones. And we pray for the recoveries of the courageous officers who were wounded.
“When a law enforcement officer puts on that shield in the morning and heads out the door, their family members dread the phone call – the very call that came today. It’s like losing a piece of your soul. To the families of those we lost: Jill and I, and all Americans, are here for you. And we will always be here for you.
“We must do more to protect our law enforcement officers. That means funding them – so they have the resources they need to do their jobs and keep us safe. And it means taking additional action to combat the scourge of gun violence. Now. Leaders in Congress need to step up so that we ban assault weapons and high-capacity magazines, require safe storage of guns, and pass universal background checks and a national red flag law.
“Enough is enough. May God Bless these fallen heroes.”
MASS SHOOTING UPDATE
Information recent as of 4-30-2024 at 12 p.m.
2024 Mass Shooting Stats: (Source: Mass Shooting Tracker – https://www.massshootingtracker.site/data/?year=2024)
- Total Mass Shootings: 166
- Total Dead: 240
- Total Wounded: 620
- Shootings Per Day: 1.37
- Days Reached in Year 2024 as of April 30: 121
WORLD
CAMPUS PROTESTS CATCH GLOBAL EYE
The UN High Commissioner for Human Rights on April 30 said he was troubled by “a series of heavy-handed steps” taken by some universities in the United States to disperse and dismantle Gaza war protests.
In recent days, demonstrations unfolding through tented encampments on school grounds – sparked by students at New York’s prestigious Columbia University who are demanding authorities divest from Israel due to its occupation and military assault on Gaza – have spread nationwide.
University authorities from the west to east coast have taken different approaches, ranging from Columbia’s initial response to authorize police to clear protests by force to continuing negotiations and allowing the encampments to remain.
Columbia’s protesters ignored an ultimatum from the university to leave the camp or risk suspension on April 29. Early the next morning, students took over historic Hamilton Hall on campus, barricading themselves inside.
The building was one of those occupied in civil rights and Vietnam war protests by students in 1968.
The university president announced earlier that dialogue with protesters had failed, and the institution would not bow to demands to divest from Israel.
In his statement on April 30, UN rights chief Volker Türk said that freedom of expression and the right to peaceful assembly were “fundamental to society,” particularly when there is sharp disagreement on major issues as there is in relation to the conflict in the Occupied Palestinian Territory and Israel.
He noted that in recent weeks, thousands of university students in the US have been protesting the war, and many demonstrations have taken place without incident.
But, there have also been hundreds of arrests following interventions on some campuses by security forces. Many have subsequently been released while others still face charges or academic sanctions.
“I am concerned that some of law enforcement actions across a series of universities appear disproportionate in their impacts,” he stressed.
The rights chief emphasized that any clearly anti-Semitic conduct and speech was totally unacceptable and deeply disturbing. Anti-Arab and anti-Palestinian conduct and speech are equally reprehensible, he said.
“Incitement to violence or hatred on grounds of identity or viewpoints – whether real or assumed – must be strongly repudiated,” he continued. “We have already seen such dangerous rhetoric can quickly lead to real violence.”
He said any violent conduct should be addressed on a case-by-case basis rather than through sweeping measures “that impute to all members of a protest the unacceptable viewpoints of a few.”
Action taken by authorities and law enforcement officials to restrict such expression needs to be carefully scrutinized to ensure they do not go beyond what is demonstrably necessary to protect the rights and freedoms of others or for another legitimate aim, such as the maintenance of public health or order, Mr. Türk said.
“Here, as elsewhere, responses by universities and law enforcement need to be guided by human rights law, allowing vibrant debate and protecting safe spaces for all.”
The High Commissioner emphasized that any restrictions to fundamental freedoms of expression must be guided by “legality, necessity and proportionality” and applied without discrimination.
“US universities have a strong, historic tradition of student activism, strident debate and freedom of expression and peaceful assembly,” Mr. Türk said.
“It must be clear that legitimate exercises of the freedom of expression cannot be conflated with incitement to violence and hatred.”
UNITED KINGDOM / AFRICA
UK SANCTIONS UGANDAN OFFICIALS
On April 30, UK Deputy Foreign Secretary Andrew Mitchell announced sanctions on high profile Ugandan politicians charged with corruption, and the Speaker of the Parliament of Uganda.
It is the first time the UK government has used the Global Anti-Corruption Sanctions regime on individuals involved in corruption in Uganda.
The three individuals, two of whom were previously ministers responsible for Uganda’s poorest region, Karamoja, and have been charged with corruption at Uganda’s Anti-Corruption Court, will be subject to travel bans and asset freezes.
The two former ministers sanctioned – Mary Goretti Kitutu and Agnes Nandutu – stole thousands of iron sheets used for roofing and infrastructure from a Ugandan government-funded project aimed at housing some of the most vulnerable communities in the region, providing them to prominent politicians and their families instead.
The Speaker of the Parliament, Anita Annet Among, benefited from the proceeds.
Over 60% of people in Karamoja live in poverty and many suffer from the devastating impacts of drought and insecurity.
Secretary Mitchell said, “The actions of these individuals, in taking aid from those who need it most, and keeping the proceeds, is corruption at its worst and has no place in society. The Ugandan courts are rightly taking action to crack down on those politicians who seek to line their own pockets at their constituents’ expense.
“Today the UK is sending a clear message to those who think benefiting at the expense of others is acceptable. Corruption has consequences and you will be held responsible.”
The three individuals sanctioned:
- Anita Annet Among, who has been the Speaker of the Parliament of Uganda since 2022.
- Mary Goretti Kitutu, who was the Minister for Karamoja Affairs between 2021 and 2024.
- Agnes Nandutu, who was the State Minister for Karamoja Affairs between 2021 and 2024.
These measures follow previous UK sanctions under the Global Anti-Corruption sanctions regime, which has targeted individuals involved in serious corruption cases across the world, including Bulgaria, Lebanon, Moldova, Russia, South Africa, South Sudan, and Venezuela.
Since its introduction in April 2021, the UK has introduced sanctions on 42 individuals and entities under this regime globally to combat corruption across the world.
