(NEW YORK) -- Horse-drawn carriage rides will be suspended in Central Park until next week following the death of an 18-year-old Indian tourist who was in a runaway carriage with his family.

The move comes after growing calls from advocates and elected officials to fully ban the rides following a string of incidents over the last year where people and the horses were put in danger.

The Transport Workers Union announced Thursday, a day after Romanch Mahajan was killed, that rides would be suspended while they assess safety protocols. The union announced on Friday that the suspension would continue until at least Tuesday.

The 18-year-old victim was with his parents and younger brother in a carriage Wednesday afternoon when the driver got out to take a picture of the family and suddenly the horse took off "for unknown reasons," according to the TWU and police.

The carriage clipped the wheel of another carriage and toppled, according to TWU Local 100 Administrative Vice President Alexander Kemp.

Mahajan fell out of the carriage, and died at the hospital later in the afternoon, police said.

Deepak Mahajan, the victim's father, told the New York Times Thursday that his son jumped out of the carriage to help his wife, Priya, who fell out of the carriage first.

This was the first time the family had visited New York City, Deepak Mahajan told the Times.

The other family members suffered minor injuries, police said. This is the first time a person has been killed during a carriage ride in the park, according to the union.

An investigation is ongoing, police said.

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(WASHINGTON) -- The Justice Department on Friday refused to issue a signed declaration from acting Attorney General Todd Blanche verifying that it no longer intends to pursue President Donald Trump's "Anti-Weaponization Fund."

The DOJ's refusal comes after a federal judge last week gave the administration seven days to verify in a declaration that it wouldn't create the controversial fund.

"Such declarations are unnecessary and the compelled testimony of senior officials from the Executive Branch implicates serious separation of powers concerns," the DOJ said in a court filing Friday to U.S. District Judge Leonie Brinkema, who last week issued an injunction indefinitely blocking the administration from creating the fund.

Brinkema had given the Trump administration seven days to verify in a declaration from acting Attorney General Todd Blanche and Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent that it wouldn't create the fund, which she said would likely lead to the dismissal of the lawsuit she was overseeing against the fund.

But in their filing Friday, the department argued that Brinkema's offer was a potentially unconstitutional infringement of the executive branch by effectively requiring "testimony" of top officials on a matter that the administration has repeatedly said would not be moving forward.

The fund, which was announced last month by the DOJ to compensate those who allege they were wrongly targeted under the Biden administration, was proposed in exchange for Trump agreeing to drop his $10 billion lawsuit against the IRS as well as two civil claims for $230 million related to the Russia collusion investigation he faced during his first term in office and the 2022 search of his Mar-a-Lago estate -- sparking accusations of self-dealing and a bipartisan uproar over the possible use of taxpayer money to pay rioters who attacked the U.S. Capitol on Jan. 6, 2021.

In her ruling last week, Judge Brinkema pointed repeatedly to President Trump's own shifting statements in recent weeks about the fund, including his pointed attack on Brinkema herself after she had temporarily paused the fund earlier this month, in which he referred to her as a "radical left judge."

"When the president of the United States says he's disappointed that something is not going forward," Brinkema said, that would only add to the evidence that the fund might "rear its head" in the future. 

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(STOCKTON, Calif.) -- Two Northern California stores were burglarized and had thousands of dollars worth of Pokémon trading cards stolen within hours of each other this week, according to police and the stores' owners.

Investigators in Stockton are looking for clues and suspects in the Wednesday burglaries, which have become the latest incidents in a string of Pokémon card thefts across the country.

Police do not immediately know if the two burglaries are connected.

The first incident took place at Dragon's Den Games around 1:55 a.m. local time when a hooded suspect broke a glass display case and made off with the cards in under a minute, according to police and surveillance footage.

Tom Douglas, the store's owner, told ABC affiliate KXTV that the thief was only looking for one thing in his store.

"They're looking for Pokémon [cards],” Douglas said. “They're not interested in board games.”

Around 3:30 a.m. a suspect, who was also wearing a similar black hood, broke into JNA Collectibles on Fremont Street, roughly three-and-a-half miles away from Dragon's Den Games, according to police and surveillance footage.

JNA Collectible's owner, Joshua Lawson, told KXTV that the suspect used a crowbar to break through the front door, smash a glass display case with the Pokémon cards and flee the scene with the cards in just a minute.

"In one minute, I lost thousands of dollars," he said.

Lawson noted Pokémon cards can range in value from about a dollar to tens of thousands of dollars for some graded cards. There have been similar thefts in California, New Jersey and other states.

"This is a problem for every single store in this area," Lawson said.

Douglas told the affiliate that the ongoing thefts are one of the reasons he's decided to close Dragon's Den Games at the end of the month after nearly a decade of business.

He said the store has been burglarized four times since January.

“This is brand new this year,” Douglas said. “It kind of feels like it came out of nowhere."

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(WASHINGTON) -- The cost to repaint the Lincoln Memorial Reflecting Pool has ballooned to more than $14.65 million -- exceeding the original estimated cost of the no-bid contract by more than $4 million, according to federal contract data.

In addition to the repainting by Atlantic Industrial Coatings, the National Park Service paid $1.74 million to Green Water Solutions, an Ohio-based company, earlier this year to install a "nano bubble" system to kill algae, using a similar no-bid contract to speed up the work in time for Fourth of July celebrations.

Between the two companies that received separate contracts for the resurfacing and filtration systems, the project is set to cost more than $16 million. The status of the payments to the contractors was not immediately available in the federal government’s contract database.

The Interior Department said in a statement via X, "The advanced nanobubbler technology very effectively killed the algae that has plagued every Lincoln Reflecting Pool reopening—most infamously Obama's reopening—since 1922. The Reflecting Pool water is crystal clear, and our National Park Service team is now vacuuming up the dead algae resting on the bottom of some parts of the Reflecting Pool—just like the destroyed Iranian Navy resting on the bottom of the Persian Gulf."

Trump has repeatedly defended the project, though the new paint job -- described in the contract documents as a “seamless, monolithic, waterproof, antimicrobial, and anti-algae system suitable for continuous submersion” -- and appears to be peeling, and an algae bloom has overtaken the reflecting pool.

“As a developer, I've probably built more than 100 swimming pools in different buildings I built, and I have some really good pool builders,” Trump said in April about the project. “They're great people. I have such great respect for contractors that are good and such disdain for contractors that are bad. They charge you more money and they give you a bad job, but we -- we don't accept it.”

In the two weeks since the repainting of the reflecting pool was completed, Atlantic Industrial Coatings was also awarded two payments totaling $1.54 million, a total of $14.65 million since it began the project. Contracting documents offered few details about the extra payments, other than saying the work was within the scope of their original agreement and describing it as " PAINT LINCOLN REFLECTING POOL.”

The millions of dollars being paid to the contractor are taxpayer funds. ABC News has sent repeated requests to Atlantic Industrial Coatings for comment.

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(KANSAS CITY, Mo.) -- The FBI said it's offering a reward of up to $25,000 for information leading to the arrest and conviction of the suspect in a string of shootings in Kansas City, Missouri.

Oscar Sanchez-Munoz, 22, is not only the suspect in Tuesday's five shootings, but he is also wanted for allegedly shooting at a car days earlier in Wyandotte County, Kansas, the FBI said.

On June 11, an adult and a child were driving in Wyandotte County when their car was struck by gunfire, police said.

Then on Tuesday evening, five shooting incidents -- including one that was deadly -- unfolded in close succession from west to east along the Interstate 70 area, according to Kansas City, Missouri, Police Chief Stacey Graves.

The four surviving victims -- three adults and one teenager -- told officers they were driving when one or more shots were fired into their cars, Graves said.

The teen was hospitalized in stable condition, one adult suffered life-threatening injuries, and the other two surviving victims had non-life-threatening injuries, Graves said.

An Uber driver taking passengers to the Kansas City World Cup game was among the victims, Graves said, and responding officers drove the fans to the match.

A motive is not known, Graves said.

On Tuesday night, Sanchez-Munoz allegedly barricaded himself inside a house in Independence, Missouri, east of Kansas City, and engaged in a standoff with police, authorities said.

At about 12:45 a.m., police reported the house was on fire, and firefighters responded and extinguished the blaze, Graves said. When responders entered the house, Sanchez-Munoz was not there, Graves said.

Sanchez-Munoz is considered armed and dangerous, authorities said, and they urge anyone who sees him to call 911.

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(NEW YORK) -- Several flash flood emergencies continued to hit Gulf states Thursday night into Friday morning as the remnants of Tropical Storm Arthur, the first named storm of the Atlantic hurricane season, wreaked havoc, resulting in at least one death and serious damage in several cities.

And the forecast shows more heavy rain and extreme weather heading toward the region this weekend.

In Louisiana, Gov. Jeff Landry declared a statewide emergency in response to the storm, citing widespread rainfall, severe storms and flooding concerns across the state.

The emergency order follows reports of tornadoes and more than a foot of rain in some areas over a 24-hour period. State officials said the storm has caused dangerous conditions, including flooding, downed trees and damage to homes and businesses.

A flash flood warning in Dallas escalated Friday to "considerable" with 2 inches per hour rainfall rates and at least 4 inches of rain fallen so far, according to the National Weather Service.

The city's emergency management department reported that multiple roads in downtown Dallas were impassable due to high water, especially under overpasses. 

Several flash floods took place overnight Thursday in Seminary and Sanford, Louisiana, where homes and businesses were taking in water due to more than 10 inches of rainfall, according to the NWS.

Water rescues took place overnight as vehicles were stranded and left in flood waters. 

Parts of Louisiana reported more than 20 inches of rainfall, according to the NWS. Plaucheville and Moreauville were hit especially hard, with more than 100 homes flooded, NWS noted.

Some cars in these neighborhoods were seen floating down roads. 

Meanwhile, the Mississippi Emergency Management Agency said crews were at the scene of the Anchor Lake Dam, located near the city of Carriere, in southern Mississippi, to monitor the conditions there but reported the dam "has not been breached" and was functioning as designed.

However, about 30 homes had been evacuated as a precautionary measure.

In a social media post Thursday, Mississippi Gov. Tate Reeves said the dam was being monitored.

"At this time, according to MDEQ, the system is functioning as designed – water is flowing through the primary and auxiliary spillways. However, there is very little storage capacity remaining and there is additional precipitation predicted. If that happens, it could quickly overwhelm the spillways and compromise the structure," he said.

Reeves also said a county road crew worker was killed during cleanup operations in Franklin County, in southwestern Mississippi.

The Pearl River County Office of Emergency Services said in an update late Thursday that the Mississippi Department of Environmental Quality had identified areas of erosion around the dam caused by the recent heavy rainfall but "expressed a high level of confidence in the dam’s structural integrity."

The agency lifted an evacuation order for homes near the dam later Thursday night, but officials urged residents to pay attention to alerts.

Earlier, the NWS said a flash flood emergency was issued for Anchor Lake Dam and areas downstream on the East Hobolochitto Creek.

The NWS had earlier reported that the Anchor Lake Dam had failed, citing local emergency management, though it later issued an update that the dam "is being monitored for possible failure."

A rare High Risk, level 4 of 4, for life-threatening flood potential was in place over southern Mississippi, southern Alabama and western Florida panhandle along the central Gulf Coast Thursday, the NWS said. 

Historically, a third of all flood-related fatalities and 80% of all flood-related damages occur in such high-risk areas, according to NWS data.

On Friday, the NWS issued a level 3 of 4 flash flood risk in place for parts of Louisiana, Mississippi, Alabama and the Florida panhandle, as rainfall rates of 2 to 3 inches per hour are possible. 

A flood watch extends from eastern Louisiana through central Georgia through Friday.

Forecasters are also watching the soil conditions in these areas.

Since some locations saw over a foot of rain in the last 24 hours, any additional heavy rain on the ground will quickly lead to heightened flash flood risks, according to the NWS.

One of the reasons for the continuing flood threats across the South is how incredibly moist the atmosphere is overhead, which is translating into dangerous heat indices. 

Feels-like temperatures are soaring above 110 degrees from Texas to Florida. 

New Orleans is under a heat advisory today for heat indices up to 110, Houston up to 112 and Corpus Christi up to 114. 

Editor's note: This story has been updated to reflect that the Anchor Lake Dam has not failed, as previously reported by the National Weather Service, and to correct the spelling of the Anchor Lake Dam. 

ABC News' Jason Volack and Jack Moore contributed to this report.

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(KNOX COUNTY, Ohio) -- A series of phone calls from a concerned mother helped set in motion what turned out to be a nationwide investigation that uncovered an alleged plot to attack the UFC Freedom 250 event at the White House last weekend and led to the arrest of one of the suspects, according to authorities.

ABC News obtained phone calls made to the Knox County Sheriff's Office in Ohio, including one by the mother of 19-year-old Tycen Proper, whom federal prosecutors have charged with conspiring against the United States, attempted murder of an officer of the U.S., and firearms crimes in connection with the alleged plot.

Authorities said Proper's mother first called her cousin, who happens to be the chief deputy of the sheriff's office, on June 10 -- just four days before the White House event was set to take place. The deputy chief later called the dispatch center to describe his conversation with Proper's mother and asked if a Danville, Ohio, police officer was available to go to her house and talk with her, according to the recordings obtained by ABC News.

"They are having some issues with their son, and I think, I don't think anybody's in immediate danger, as in this second, but I know she has concerns with weapons and ammo, and particularly a mindset that her oldest boy is in right now," the cousin said.

"She's probably going to call you," the cousin added, "But in case she doesn't, maybe dispatch him [a Danville police officer] up there right away so that he can get a handle on what's going on. She called me on my phone all panicky, and I'm like, 'Well, I'm at home, there's nothing I can do, but I'll call and get somebody on the way.'"

The dispatcher immediately issued a radio call to send an officer to Proper's home, saying that the mother had "concerns about her son and having problems with him. She did mention something about guns and ammo and wanting somebody to check out," according to the call recording.

A short time later, the mother called dispatch and said she wanted to file a report about her son to have it on record. The dispatcher asked if her son was there.

"Yes, we just got all of his guns and ammo out of his room and put it, got it out off our property. He just came inside and he's probably going to discover it's not in his room," Proper's mother replied.

"What's going on, though? Is he like, is he suicidal? What's going on?" the dispatcher asked.

"Oh no, he's just ... I don't ... we don't even know what he's wanting to do. He's wanting to leave this weekend and go with a group of people to help, like, fight the corrupt government," Proper's mother replied, according to the call recording.

By the end of the evening, Proper had been taken to Knox Community Hospital for an emergency medical admission, according to police records. Those records indicate he had a history of suicidal ideations.

According to body camera footage from the Knox County Sheriff's Office, also obtained by ABC News, after Proper left with deputies, his mother continued sharing her concerns with authorities.

"He's texting somebody. If you go ahead and get a hold of his phone or his text messages, it's all in there," she tells authorities, according to the body camera footage. "It's all on his phone. I saw him on Google Maps, he had a little pin dropped in it. I saw on Google maps, Washington, D.C."

Describing a conversation to police she said she had with her son, she said he told her, "It's a hit-and-a-run type of thing. I'm, like, Oh, that doesn't sound good."

The following day, the Knox County Sheriff's Office contacted the FBI, which searched Proper's iPhone, according to charging documents.

"During a preliminary search of the device, investigators observed chats on Signal groups that laid out detailed plans to conduct an attack in Washington D.C. with several unidentified confederates," charging documents stated. "In the chat, detailed imagery of the National Capitol Region and maps of the area were shared to a group of which PROPER was a member, highlighting sniper locations, potential drone launch locations, and other detailed tactical planning."

Later that day, investigators interviewed Proper at the medical facility where he had been taken where he "admitted to planning with others a coordinated attack against the United States government during the UFC event scheduled to take place on the White House lawn in Washington, D.C., on Sunday, June 14, 2026," according to the charging documents.

The phone calls from Proper's mother provide insight into what began as a local police investigation and quickly turned into a nationwide investigation involving the FBI, Secret Service and ATF that resulted in the arrests of five people in four states, including Proper.

"My client takes the allegations against him very seriously and we are going to take the case one step, and one day, at a time as we move the case forward," Joseph Patituce, attorney for Proper, said in a statement to ABC News.

According to police records obtained by ABC News, the guns, ammunition and other tactical gear that was taken from Tycen Proper's room by his family was located at the home of his grandfather and turned over voluntarily to the to the Knox County Sheriff's Office for safekeeping. Those items would eventually be the subject of a federal search and seizure warrant.

Authorities are still working to identify and locate other people whom they say may have been involved in the alleged plot.

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(WASHINGTON) -- As the city of Philadelphia fights to preserve the slavery memorial at the President's House, a federal appeals court ruled that the Trump administration can remove and replace the exhibit at the site of President George Washington's former home.

The Thursday ruling comes after the Trump administration stated in a court filing on Wednesday that it removed panels at the exhibit -- some of which were restored in February following a judge's order -- because they allegedly "disparage" Americans.

The outdoor memorial, "From Enslavement to Emancipation," is located at Independence National Historic Park. The exhibit tells the stories of the nine people enslaved by Washington.

The unanimous appeals court decision tosses a February district court ruling that ordered the National Parks Service (NPS) to restore the panels that were removed from the site. NPS took down the outdoor memorial in January before it was partially restored in February after a district court ruling, but not all materials were returned to the site.

The Third Circuit Court of Appeals ruled that while the city had standing to sue, the lower court wrongly interpreted the contract claims brought by the city and determined that they don't have merit. 

"In sum, the City has standing to sue because it alleges that its contractual rights were violated, but we should not, as the District Court did, mistake that jurisdictional determination for a conclusion that the City's underlying statutory and contract claims have merit. They do not," the appeals court ruling said.

ABC News reached out to the city of Philadelphia but requests for comment were not immediately returned.

Asked about the appeals court ruling and about a potential timeline for replacing the exhibit, a spokesperson for the Interior Department on Thursday provided ABC News with a three-word statement: "Trust in Trump."

The city of Philadelphia argued in a lawsuit filed in January that by removing the panels "without notice," NPS violated various congressional laws, as well as a 2006 agreement NPS made with the city and laid out the terms for building the exhibit, which opened to the public in 2010.

Amid pending litigation, NPS shared proposed changes to the panels at the slavery memorial that were published on its website in April.

The images shared by NPS don't show photos of the original panels, but share proposed new panels and revised text. Of note, are proposed changes to the panels titled "Presidents Washington and Adams on Slavery," and "The Constitution and Slavery."

The appeals court's ruling said, "These new panels are full of historical context. They highlight the momentous events that took place in the President's House and the other sites at Independence National Historical Park. They acknowledge the evil of slavery, including its injustices and hypocrisies, and, by telling the story of the nine slaves that Washington kept in the President's House, remind us of their essential humanity."

The ruling added, "Given all these developments, we cannot agree with the District Court that the exhibit removal six months ago was NPS's last word on the matter."

Avenging the Ancestors Coalition (ATAC), the advocacy group founded by attorney Michael Coard in 2002 to advocate for the building of the memorial, criticized the [proposed changes in an April statement, calling the replacement panels "deeply offensive."

"The National Park Service's most recent posting of proposed replacement panels at the President's House Slavery Memorial is deeply offensive and represents yet another troubling attempt to distort and censor American history," the group's statement said, criticizing NPS for not consulting with ATAC before proposing the new panels.

"What we are seeing now is not restoration--it is revision," ATAC's statement added. "It is an attempt to sanitize history and present a version of the past that is more comfortable, but far less truthful."

Meanwhile, a spokesperson for the Interior Dept. told ABC News in a statement on April 9 that the changes underscore the administration's commitment to "celebrating and acknowledging the full breadth of our nation's history."

"The hard work and sacrifices of the men and women who built this nation deserve to be remembered and honored," the spokesperson said. "By telling the full story, every triumph, every challenge, and every step towards a more perfect union we strengthen our shared understanding and ensure that future generations inherit not just the land we love, but the truth of the journey that brought us here."

The Interior Department told ABC News in several statements that the removal of the exhibit was made in compliance with a March 27, 2025, executive order in which President Donald Trump ordered the Interior Dept. to remove content that cast the United States' "founding principles and historical milestones in a negative light."

In the public filing on Wednesday, which stems from a separate lawsuit challenging the removal of materials at national parks across the country, the Interior Department indicated that while most glass panels at the slavery exhibit were restored in February after a judge's order, the "large format metal panels were damaged and not restored."

The government did not specify in the list the process for recreating the metal panels, writing "TBD" in that section.

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(NEW YORK) -- Some lucky stargazers in the United States will have an opportunity to catch a glimpse of the next solar eclipse, according to astronomy experts.

On Aug. 12, a partial solar eclipse will be visible from some parts of the U.S., from Alaska to North Carolina, according to NASA. Most of Canada, much of Europe and northwestern Africa will also be able to see the partial eclipse, according to NASA.

Those in the U.S. and southern Canada will only see a small "bite" taken out of the solar disk as the moon clips the sun, NASA said.

But the full show -- a total solar eclipse -- will pass over the Arctic Ocean, Greenland, Iceland, Atlantic Ocean, Portugal and northern Spain, according to the National Solar Observatory.

A sunset eclipse will even be visible for viewers along the western part of the eclipse path, from mainland Europe to Africa, according to NASA. A sunset solar eclipse occurs when the sun is setting while still partially eclipsed.

After Aug. 12, the next total solar eclipse will be visible on Aug. 2, 2027, in southern Spain and North Africa.

The difference between a total and partial solar eclipse

A total solar eclipse occurs when the moon slips in front of the sun. Viewers located in the center of the moon's shadow then experience a total solar eclipse, according to NASA. The moment of totality is when the moon completely covers the sun.

A partial solar eclipse occurs when watchers are inside the moon's shadow but outside the path of totality, according to NASA.

When the solar eclipse will occur

In the U.S., the maximum of the partial solar eclipse will occur in Anchorage at 8:21 a.m. local time but midday on the mainland. The maximum will occur in Bangor, Maine, at 1:53 p.m.; in Boston at 1:55 p.m.; in Detroit at 1:36 p.m.; in New York City at 1:54 p.m.; and in Philadelphia and Washington, D.C., at 1:53 p.m., according to NASA.

The total solar eclipse will occur at midday in a small, remote region of northern Russia. From Greenland to Iceland, totality will occur from late afternoon to early evening.

In Spain and northwestern Portugal, the sun will be fully eclipsed during the late evening, shortly before sunset, according to NASA. A sunset solar eclipse is a "rare spectacle," according to Space.com.

How to watch the eclipse safely

Anyone who plans to watch the partial solar eclipse will need safe solar viewing glasses to protect their eyes, according to NASA.

UV radiation, whether from natural sunlight or artificial rays indoors, can damage the surface tissue, cornea and lens of the eye, according to the American Academy of Ophthalmology.

The only time viewers can look directly at the eclipse without eye protection is during the brief moments of totality, when the moon completely covers the sun. It is never safe to look directly at a partial solar eclipse without eye protection.

Viewers can also use handheld solar viewers and other safe solar filters that block out most of the Sun’s light and prevent eye damage.

An indirect viewing method, such as a pinhole projector to cast images of the Sun, can also be used to see the partial phases of the eclipse, NASA said. The device has a small opening that projects an image of the Sun onto a nearby surface.

It is not safe to look at the eclipse through a camera lens, telescope, binoculars, or any other optical device while wearing eclipse glasses or using a handheld solar viewer because the concentrated solar rays could burn through the filter and cause serious eye injury, NASA said.

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(LOS ANGELES) -- The Los Angeles Police Department said it's investigating an incident in which an officer shot and killed a dog while answering a 911 call, which turned out to be a false alarm over a woman celebrating the New York Knicks' historic championship win on Saturday.

LAPD Chief Jim McDonnell said in a statement Wednesday that the department is thoroughly investigating the incident, which he called "incredibly tragic," and vowed transparency.

Around 8:55 p.m. Saturday, officers responded to a 911 call of a woman screaming inside a condo in Canoga Park, the LAPD said.

Witnesses and the son of the woman, however, later told ABC News Los Angeles affiliate KABC that she was just celebrating the Knicks' victory that night.

The LAPD said that while officers were speaking with a resident in the apartment at the center of the 911 call, a "large dog was barking by her side at the officers." The dog was wearing a Knicks shirt, witnesses told KABC.

The woman closed her door momentarily after officers asked her to secure the dog, who was named Jameson, police said. After she reopened it, the dog exited the apartment and allegedly "charged at one of the officers," prompting one of them to open fire, according to the LAPD.

Cell phone video circulated online of a woman crying over the dog's body, shouting "We were just celebrating the Knicks."

The neighbor who called police told KABC that they felt guilty about calling 911, but sincerely thought the woman was in trouble.

McDonnell sympathized with Jameson's family.

"The loss of a pet is deeply personal. For many, a dog is not simply an animal; it is a companion, a source of comfort, and a member of the family," McDonnell said in his statement.

"There is no incident more serious than when an officer fires a service weapon. For this reason, the LAPD has a specialized division of investigators specifically trained to handle these types of incidents. A thorough, multi-layered examination of this weekend's incident in Canoga Park is already underway, but it will take time to ensure fairness, transparency, and accountability," he added.

A memorial for Jameson was formed outside the condo and an online fundraiser has raised thousands of dollars for its family.

Local activists have called for more details about the incident, including body camera footage from the officers who responded to the call.

"The tragic killing of Jameson was unnecessary and unwarranted," Najee Ali, a senior organizer with the Los Angeles National Action Network, said during a news conference Tuesday.

"We demand immediate accountability, which can only happen through the prompt release of the body-worn camera footage and the names of the officers responsible for shooting and killing Jameson," he added.

Los Angeles Mayor Karen Bass also released a statement on Wednesday, saying that a thorough investigation will be conducted.

"Every life lost to violence is a tragedy, and we know that the devastating loss of Jameson will be felt by his family forever," she said.

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(SENATOBIA, Miss.) -- An officer who fired upon a vehicle, killing a 1-year-old boy, outside a Walmart in Mississippi has been placed on administrative leave, officials said, as outraged community members call for justice amid an ongoing investigation into the deadly shooting.

The incident occurred Sunday afternoon outside a Walmart in Senatobia, located in northwestern Mississippi about 40 miles south of Memphis, Tennessee.

Law enforcement officers who responded to a shoplifting call encountered two adults allegedly fleeing from the store with a child and going into a vehicle, according to the Mississippi Bureau of Investigation. Officers attempted to stop the vehicle, with one opening fire when the driver allegedly drove toward them, the bureau said. The child was killed and an adult critically injured, officials said.

One-year-old Kohen Wiley, his mother and a family friend were in the vehicle at the time, according to Ben Crump Law, which has been retained by the victim's family. Kohen was killed and the family friend was critically injured, the law firm said.

The officer involved in the shooting has been placed on leave, according to Senatobia city officials. The decision was made during a meeting with city officials on Tuesday.

The name of the officer has not been released. 

The Mississippi Bureau of Investigation is investigating the shooting. Mississippi Department of Public Safety Commissioner Sean Tindell, who oversees the bureau, promised transparency in the investigation. 

"To make no mistake, this is a very tragic situation," Tindell said during a press briefing on Tuesday. "I want the public to be assured that the Mississippi Bureau of Investigation will conduct its independent investigation."

He said five agents are working on the case, gathering evidence and witness statements, to ultimately present to the state's attorney general's office. He said investigators are also working to get security footage from Walmart.

"I would ask that the public maintain patience as much as possible," Tindell said. I know this is a very frustrating time, but maintain patience as this process is done."

Tindell declined to get into the details of the case due to the ongoing investigation. He said body-camera footage will be released once the investigation is completed.

Civil rights and personal injury attorney Ben Crump, who is representing Kohen's family, said the child's mother has not been charged with any crime and that she says she was "trying to communicate to officers that there was a baby in the car."

"They fired anyway, leading to the death of an innocent 1-year-old," Crump said in a statement. "We intend to seek justice for baby Kohen and the life that was stolen from him."

Kohen's mother, Vellesiya Wiley, said in a video released through her attorneys that her friend was being pursued for allegedly shoplifting diapers.

"I raised my baby up trying to show them that he was in the car," she said. "By the time I sat my baby down, it was like three to four shots. One of the shots hit him in his ribcage."

Wiley said her friend was driving the vehicle at the time.

"They tried to say that she forcefully was trying to drive and hit them, but they was all on the right side and she was driving towards the left," she said.

Protesters outraged over the deadly shooting gathered outside the Senatobia City Hall on Tuesday for a rally, some holding signs saying "Justice for Kohen."

Later that night, protesters gathered in the Walmart parking lot where the shooting occurred, shouting, "No justice, no peace." Officers in riot helmets and gas masks formed a line at the front doors of the store, at one point appearing to fire tear gas to disperse the crowd.

The Walmart temporarily closed, before reopening on Wednesday morning.

"We're saddened by what took place at our Senatobia, MS, store," a Walmart spokesperson said in a statement on Monday in response to the shooting. "The safety of our associates and customers is a top priority. We're working with law enforcement as they continue investigating."

City officials called the deadly shooting a "heartbreaking tragedy" while urging residents to await the results of the investigation.

"We understand that emotions are high and that many questions remain. We respectfully ask our community to avoid speculation and the spread of unverified information while the investigation is underway," the city said in a statement on Tuesday. "Please allow the investigative process to take its course so that the facts -- not rumors or assumptions -- guide our understanding of this tragic event."

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(PHILADELPHIA) -- The Trump administration can replace the slavery exhibit at the President's House in Philadelphia, a federal appeals court ruled on Thursday.

The unanimous decision by a three-judge panel tosses out a February district court injunction that ordered the National Parks Service (NPS) to restore the panels that were removed from the site.

The Third Circuit Court of Appeals ruled that the lower court does not have the jurisdiction over the claims that were brought against the Interior Department and the National Park Service by the city of Philadelphia.

NPS took down the outdoor memorial, which honors the lives of the nine enslaved Africans who were held at the site by President George Washington, in January. The exhibit was partially restored in February after a district court ruling, but not all materials were returned to the site. ABC News reached out to the city of Philadelphia and the Interior Department for comment.

In April, NPS published proposed changes to the panels.

"These new panels are full of historical context. They highlight the momentous events that took place in the President's House and the other sites at Independence National Historical Park," the appeals court ruling said.

This is a developing story. Please check back for updates.

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(CLARK COUNTY, Wash.) -- Heart-stopping video has been released showing the moment a deputy in Clark County, Washington, saved a 2-year-old boy who was left alone in a hot car on a 92-degree day.

Witnesses called 911 in May to report the child in a parked car, and the witnesses tried to create shade around the car as they waited for responders, the Clark County Sheriff's Department said on Wednesday.

Deputy Ben Hulsey arrived at the scene to find the 2-year-old strapped in his car seat, "sweating heavily, with his head tilted to the side and not responding," the sheriff's department said. The car had a small crack in the back window, authorities said.

Hulsey broke a window to rescue the little boy, who was checked by medics, authorities said.

Investigators determined the boy was left alone for about 16 minutes, the sheriff's department said. When deputies found his parents, they had been inside a nearby grocery store for almost 30 minutes, authorities said.

The parents are facing reckless endangerment charges, the department said.

"Never leave a child or pet alone in a vehicle. Not even for a few minutes," the sheriff's department said in a statement Wednesday. "If you see a child or pet left alone in a vehicle and believe they're in distress, don't hesitate to call 911. That's exactly what these community members did."

At least seven children have died in hot cars so far this year in the U.S., according to national nonprofit KidsAndCars.org. Last year, at least 37 children died in hot cars across the country, KidsAndCars.org said.

Click here for what to know to keep your children safe.

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(NEW YORK) -- Recently released polling on Americans' opinions of artificial intelligence gives us an updated look at how people are interacting with AI, what they are using it for and whether they are skeptical of the technology.

About half of American adults (49%) said that they have used chatbots like ChatGPT, Gemini or Copilot before, up from 33% in 2024, according to a Pew Research Center report released Wednesday.

The study found 42% of adults who used chatbots used them to search for information, 38% used it for work tasks, 25% for fun or entertainment, 24% for creating or editing images or videos, 20% for medical advice and another 20% for diet and fitness information.

About a quarter of Americans -- 24%-- said they used chatbots daily, according to Pew.

The Pew study found that, overall, while Americans under 50 years old were more likely than those 50 and older to use chatbots, use has risen over time among adults of all ages. And while men and women both use chatbots at roughly the same rate overall, more men use chatbots on a daily basis than women.

The share of Americans using AI bots for advice and information on health has also increased. A KFF study released Wednesday found that 29% of Americans said they used AI tools or chatbots at least monthly for information and advice on health, up from 17% in 2024.

Most of these users, 56%, are confident they can determine what is true and what is false when accessing health information on chatbots. Younger adults were more confident than older adults.

Still, Americans are skeptical of AI chatbots.

Pew found that more Americans (40%) said that AI will have a negative impact on society over the next 20 years while only 16% said it will have a positive impact. Americans are also more negative on AI's impact on themselves: 31% said it will have a negative impact over the next 20 years rather than a positive one (23%).

Younger adults are more wary about the impacts that AI will have on society and themselves than older adults, according to Pew. Nearly half of adults under 30 (48%) believe that AI will have a negative impact on society, compared to 39% of those 30 to 49 and 37% of those 50 and older. While 37% of adults under 30 said the impact on themselves will be negative, that falls to 30% among those 30 to 49 and 28% of those older than that.

Americans largely think AI is moving too fast: A 63% majority of adults said that AI is advancing too quickly, according to Pew, while 19% said it was moving at the right pace and just 2% said it was moving too slowly.

Americans are also concerned about personal information and AI. Pew found about 7 in 10 adults (71%) said that the use of AI will make personal information less secure.

While Americans don't trust big tech or AI companies to do what's best, they also don't trust the government to keep them in check.

A CNN poll, also released Wednesday, found 69% of Americans saying they trust companies developing AI tools "a little" or "not at all" to do what is best for their users.

Pew found a similar share of Americans voicing skepticism that the U.S. government will regulate AI effectively (67%).

Democrats have become less confident in the government regulating AI. In a 2024 Pew Research Center poll, 54% said they had not much or no confidence in the government regulating AI effectively, rising to 74% in the new Pew poll. Republicans' lack of confidence has declined over the same period from 70% to 61%. This divergence in the views of Democrats and Republicans over time may be because there was a Democratic president in 2024 and a Republican president now.

The Pew Research Center poll was conducted Feb. 17-23 among 5,119 U.S. adults with an error margin of +/- 1.6 percentage points, including 2,605 AI chatbot users with an error margin of +/- 2.2 percentage points.

The KFF poll and the CNN poll were both conducted May 7-31 among 2,480 U.S. adults and have an error margin of +/- 2.7 percentage points.

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(NEW YORK) -- In the foothills of the Appalachians, where a coal plant once operated, now sits a massive data center operated by Google -- and it's about to get even bigger.

This week the tech giant announced a $1.5 billion expansion of its Jackson County, Alabama site. The company gave ABC News a rare exclusive look inside the campus -- including its high-security server room -- as public backlash grows against the buildout of data centers nationwide.

"There's a lot of negative sentiment," Thomas Gamble, the Southern Corridor Area Manager for Google Data Centers, told ABC News. "As we're building, we're trying to figure out the best, most efficient use of all the power, the water, any of the systems we can."

Gamble, who grew up just five miles from the sprawling campus, said that the company pays for 100% of the power it uses at the facility, where corridors stacked with servers feed global demand for the company's offerings, from maps to email to video streaming.

"We're just a lot of servers storing information, just like books are in your library," Gamble said.

Google is one of several big tech companies that has signed on to a voluntary "Ratepayer Protection Pledge" pushed by the Trump administration that seeks to protect American households from paying more for electricity costs associated with the construction of new data centers.

But the public remains skeptical. A Gallup poll conducted this spring found that 71% of Americans oppose the construction of AI data centers in their area, citing concerns about quality of life, the economy, local resources, pollution, water usage, electricity bills, and AI in general.

Of the poll respondents who said they would be in favor of a data center in their area, two-thirds cited local economic benefits as the reason.

ABC News has observed this debate play out in contentious town halls across the country, where impassioned residents and local leaders wrestle over the presence of these facilities, which developers say deliver hundreds of jobs and renewed investment in regions that may be otherwise neglected.

Lawmakers in at least 14 states are now considering slowing or banning the development of data centers. Proposed moratoriums in these states all target new facilities, and in some cases, include requirements to study the impacts of data centers.

Opponents of data centers argue that moratoriums will allow additional time to explore their effects on local communities, while proponents argue the moratoriums will hamper AI development and hurt local economies.

The map below shows states that have recently considered moratoriums, and the status of bills that include language on data center development. Click on or scroll over any of the shaded states for details on the bills.

Back in Jackson County, Chamber of Commerce president Rick Roden says Google's data center has made him more excited about the future than he's ever been.  

"This changes our history, this changes our future, and we're now known as a technology area," he told ABC News. "We know that that's going to open doors that we would have never had open before, just because we landed Google."

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(LOS ANGELES) -- The eight people killed in an Air Force B-52 Stratofortress bomber crash in California have been identified.

The B-52 was on a "routine test mission" Monday morning when it crashed shortly after takeoff at Edwards Air Force Base and burst into flames, officials said.

Everyone on board was killed: four crew members, one civilian and three contractors, officials said.

The victims were identified by the base as: Col. Gregory Watson, 53, weapon systems officer, Boeing; Lt. Col. Gabriel Estrella, 40, weapon systems officer, Air Force Operational Test and Evaluation Center; retired Lt. Col. Miles Middleton, 50, pilot, Boeing; Maj. Alexander Davis, 34, weapon systems officer, 419th Flight Test Squadron; Maj. Robert Dee, 40, pilot, 419th Flight Test Squadron; Maj. Brad Hovey, 35, pilot, 419th Flight Test Squadron; Jeromy Smith, 32, flight test engineer, 419th Flight Test Squadron; and Christopher Rischar, 41, flight test engineer, JT4 contractor.

"They were dedicated professionals, beloved family members and irreplaceable teammates," Col. Thomas Tauer, 412th Test Wing Commander, said in a statement on Wednesday. "Our thoughts, prayers and deepest sympathies are with their families, loved ones and fellow Airmen, Air Force civilians and mission partners affected by this tragedy."

Two Boeing employees were among the victims. Boeing said in a statement, "The loss of Miles and Greg is deeply felt across our teams, and our hearts remain with their families, loved ones and those who worked with them."

The cause of the crash is under investigation, a process that will likely take several months, Col. James Hayes, deputy commander for the 412th Test Wing at the base, said Monday.

Test missions take place multiple times a day at Edwards Air Force Base, Hayes said.

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(SARATOGA SPRINGS, N.Y.) -- Seventeen horses died after a fire broke out in a barn in Saratoga Springs, New York -- a city famous for its rich equestrian heritage.

The Saratoga Springs Fire Department responded to a structure fire at the Saratoga Casino Hotel harness racing facility early Tuesday, officials said.

When firefighters arrived, the barn was "heavily" engulfed in flames, the department said in a statement. They were able to contain the fire and prevent it from spreading to adjacent buildings, but the majority of the horses died as a result of the fire.

After the fire broke out around 2:30 a.m., security personnel from both Saratoga Casino Hotel and the nearby Saratoga Racecourse -- along with emergency responders -- acted quickly to evacuate horses from neighboring barns and secure the surrounding area, according to the Saratoga Harness Horseperson's Association. About 350 horses are typically housed in the backstretch, the association said.

Seventeen horses being housed within the barn died, located in the backstretch area of the harness racetrack, according to the association. There were a total of 18 horses in the barn, the association noted.

The horses belonged to two trainers who stabled their horses in the barn. Trainer Robyn Mangiardi lost 11 horses, while trainer Timothy Benson lost six horses, the association said.

"The loss suffered today is heartbreaking for our racing community,” Sam Gerrity, CEO of Saratoga Casino Hotel, said in a statement. "Our thoughts remain with Robyn, Tim, their teams, the horse owners, and everyone affected by this tragedy."

Sarah Burger, counsel for Saratoga Harness Horseperson's Association, described the horses' deaths as a "tragic loss" and thanked first responders for jumping into action so quickly.

"This is a sobering day in our industry, a horseperson's worst nightmare," Henry Westbrook, Jr, president of the Saratoga Harness Horseperson's Association, said in a statement. "We express our deep condolences to all impacted and thank all emergency responders and track workers for their quick response."

No civilians or firefighters were injured as a result of the fire, the department said. The area near the fire remains closed as officials investigate.

Grief counseling services are being made available to trainers, caretakers, owners and other members of the backstretch community affected by incident, according to the association.

The association declined to provide further comment to ABC News.

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(NEW YORK) -- Nearly 12,000 residents and over 2,000 structures have been evacuated after a wildfire broke out Tuesday in Washington state, spreading to 250 acres. No injuries have been reported. 

The fire was 0% contained as of Tuesday night.  

Officials said there "was an urgent need for evacuations," in a press conference on Tuesday. 

"Our teams are working hard to protect your homes. Stay out of the area. Please don't come back, that makes it very challenging for our crews," Spokane Fire District 9 Fire Chief Brian Mather said. 

The active fire is expected to last a couple of days, according to Mather. 

"Wind-driven fires are very, very dangerous. They're dangerous to work in. They move very rapidly," Mather said. 

"We have a lot of fuel in that area, it's a very densely populated area, and it's tough conditions," Mather said. 

There are 10 to 15 aircraft assigned to the fire with more expected, officials said. 

Washington Gov. Bob Ferguson said he has been briefed on the fire and is monitoring the situation closely. 

"I just requested a fire management assistance declaration from FEMA, which I expect to be approved this evening. This gives our state access to federal funding for extraordinary costs in fighting this fire," he wrote in a post on X.

The fire started on Tuesday at around 12:30 p.m., according to Spokane County officials. A red flag warning was issued around 10:30 p.m. local time on Tuesday. 

The cause of the fire is under investigation, the Spokane Fire District said.

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(NEW YORK) -- Anguished relatives of the Gilgo Beach, New York, serial killing victims aimed decades of anger at their loved ones' killer, Rex Heuermann, as they gave victim impact statements at his sentencing on Wednesday.

"I can't even put into words the eviscerating hatred I have for you," said Jasmine Robinson, cousin of victim Jessica Taylor, who would have turned 43 on Wednesday. "You fill me with so much repugnance."

Another cousin, Violet Swager, remembered Taylor as "fierce, kind, compassionate, beautiful and intelligent."

She said to Heuermann, "You chose small women because you’re nothing more than a weak, disgusting coward."

Heuermann, 62, who gave his own brief statement in court, was sentenced to consecutive life sentences in prison.

In April, he pleaded guilty to killing seven women: Taylor, Melissa Barthelemy, Megan Waterman, Maureen Brainard-Barnes, Amber Lynn Costello, Valerie Mack and Sandra Costilla. He also admitted to killing an eighth woman, Karen Vergata, though he was not formally charged in her death.

Brainard-Barnes' sister Missy Cann broke down in tears as she read a statement prior to the imposition of the sentence.

"You are a coward who preyed on vulnerable, innocent women," Cann said.

Mack's parents, Ed and JoAnn Mack, said Heuermann robbed their daughter of the chance to achieve her dreams.

"I would like to say to Mr. Heuermann, what you have done to our family is beyond what words can express," JoAnn Mack said. "Even though justice is done, it cannot replace what you have taken from us."

Barthelemy's sister, Amanda Funderberg, recalled how Heuermann tormented her after the murder by calling her and saying he was letting Barthelemy's body rot.

Funderberg turned to stare down Heuermann in the courtroom, telling him, "You can look at me while I'm talking -- it has been about 17 years since we've spoken."

She called him an "ogre" and a "repulsive monster."

Waterman's daughter, Liliana Waterman, who was 9 when her mother was killed, recalled finding out about how her mother died while scrolling on her phone.

"In an instant my world shattered,” Liliana Waterman said. "I have spent 16 Mother's Days without her."

Heuermann gave his own brief statement in court, saying, "There are no words I can say."

"The words I would say have no meaning and I’m going to leave it there," he said softly.

Someone in the gallery shouted, "Speak up!"

When Heuermann said nothing more, an incredulous Judge Timothy Mazzei asked, "Are you a little bit sorry for what you did [to] these poor, innocent women? Are you at least a little bit sorry for that?"

Heuermann responded quietly, "Yes I am."

After Mazzei pronounced the consecutive life sentences, the judge told the court officers to "get him outta here!"

The victims' families broke out into applause, shouting "ogre, ogre," before Heuermann was cuffed and led out of the courtroom.

In April, Heuermann agreed to serve three consecutive life sentences followed by four consecutive sentences of 25 years-to-life, according to prosecutors. Part of Heuermann's plea agreement also requires him to be interviewed by the FBI's behavioral analysis unit.

Prosecutors said the New York City architect targeted sex workers, strangled them and dumped their bodies near Long Island's Gilgo Beach over the course of 17 years. The Gilgo Beach cases went unsolved for years, until Heuermann's arrest in 2023.

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(WILMINGTON, Del.) -- A 19-year-old man died and another was critically injured in a targeted shooting at a Delaware hospital, police said.

The shooting occurred Tuesday afternoon at a hospital in Wilmington, prompting a lockdown.

The suspect in the shooting -- 23-year-old John Wallace-Bey -- was taken into custody Tuesday night in Philadelphia, about 40 miles northeast of Wilmington, and is awaiting extradition to Delaware, police said.

Law enforcement officials earlier told ABC News a hospital employee was suspected of shooting two co-workers.

"Our preliminary investigation has determined that this was a targeted, isolated incident," police said in an update.

The shooting occurred at Wilmington Hospital around 3:30 p.m. Tuesday, police said.

Both shooting victims were 19-year-old men, police said. The wounded victim remains hospitalized in critical but stable condition, police said Wednesday.

The name of the victim who died will be released at a later time, police said.

Wallace-Bey faces charges including first-degree murder, first-degree attempted murder, possession of a firearm during the commission of a felony and carrying a concealed deadly weapon, police said.

Police believe the incident is strictly a workplace shooting, the law enforcement officials said.

"Regardless of what the motive is in this incident might have been, there is never an excuse for violence, and there is never an excuse for gun violence," Wilmington Police Chief Wilfredo Campos said during a press briefing Tuesday.

The hospital was on lockdown as officers searched the building, though the lockdown has since been lifted, police said Tuesday.

"I want to offer my thoughts and prayers for the employees at Wilmington High Hospital, who I know experienced a terrible day today," Wilmington Mayor John Carney said during Tuesday's press briefing. "It's hard to imagine what they were thinking as they were barricaded in rooms across the hospital as our law enforcement teams went through and cleared each of the floors."

Carney commended the law enforcement officers who responded for the "bravery that they showed in the face of this unthinkable threat."

Delaware Gov. Matt Meyer condemned the deadly violence.

"Every Delawarean deserves to feel safe, whether at home, at school, at work, or seeking care at a hospital," he said at the briefing. "Today is a sobering reminder that no one is immune from the devastation of gun violence."

Meyer said the incident hit close to home for his family, noting that just minutes earlier, he went with his wife, Dr. Lauren Meyer, an emergency room physician, as she reported to work at the hospital.

"What I saw were heroes going to work in that building, and heroes who were involved in life-saving efforts leaving at the end of their shift," he said.

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