Top 5 Live-WURD Thursday July 30
1. Police officer charged with murder for fatally shooting black man in the head
A University of Cincinnati officer was indicted for murder Wednesday for fatally shooting an unarmed black man in the head following a routine traffic stop earlier this month.
A Cincinnati grand jury has decided to indict University of Cincinnati police officer Ray Tensing in the July 19 death of 43-year-old Samuel DuBose, who was pulled over for not having a front license plate on his car, Hamilton County Prosecuting Attorney Joseph T. Deters said in a press conference Wednesday.
“This is without question a murder,” Deters said.
Authorities released the footage of the officer’s body camera depicting the stop and subsequent shooting.
The recording shows an initially calm exchange as the officer asks repeatedly if DuBose has his license on him and motions toward a bottle in the car. DuBose hands over a bottle of gin without protest and says he doesn’t have his license on him.
2. Sources: Phillies trade Cole Hamels to Texas Rangers
The Phillies agreed to a trade late Wednesday that would send Cole Hamels, the franchise’s best homegrown pitcher since Robin Roberts, to the Texas Rangers, baseball sources confirmed.
Five prospects, including three of the Rangers’ most touted, and 29-year-old lefthander Matt Harrison are coming to the Phillies in the deal, according to multiple reports. The Phillies are also reportedly sending lefthanded reliever Jake Diekman and cash to Texas.
Neither club announced the deal Wednesday night.
Righthander Jake Thompson, outfielder Nick Williams, and catcher Jorge Alfaro make up the centerpiece of the Phillies’ reported return. Baseball America recently ranked them the Rangers’ third-, fourth-, and fifth-best prospects.
Righthanders Jerad Eickhoff and Alec Asher are also reportedly coming to the Phillies’ farm system. In addition to taking on Harrison’s contract – the pitcher is owed $26 million over the following two seasons – the Phillies will send $9.5 million to the Rangers, according to FOX Sports
3. Source: Boeing officials think debris looks like part from 777
Debris found in the western Indian Ocean on Wednesday appears to be part of a Boeing 777, the same model as Malaysia Airlines Flight 370 that disappeared in 2014.
Sources said there is a unique element to the Boeing 777’s flaperon, a wing component, that Boeing observers believe they are seeing in photos.
The debris was found Wednesday off the coast of Reunion Island, a French department in the western Indian Ocean. It is being examined to see if it is connected to flight MH370, a member of the French air force in Reunion said Wednesday.
The debris was found off the coast of St. Andre, a community on the island, according to officials who conducted an initial assessment of the debris using photographs.
The source stressed the observations are preliminary.
4. Former Philly narcotics cop Jeffrey Walker sentenced to 3 1/2 years in prison
Before disgraced ex-narcotics officer – and star government witness – Jeffrey Walker was sentencedWednesday to 3 1/2 years in prison, U.S. District Judge Eduardo C. Robreno needed to revisit testimony that resulted in the acquittal of six of Walker’s fellow officers.
Walker, Robreno said, was consistent in describing rampant corruption in the Philadelphia narcotics squad. His demeanor was steady, his recollection complete.
Others corroborated it.
His supervisors, Sgt. Joe McCloskey and Lt. Robert Otto, were less reliable in questioning Walker’s credibility, said the judge. Discrepancies emerged during cross-examination. Walker, it appeared, was punished.
“Once he started cooperating, their view of Walker’s performance largely changed,” Robreno said in a stunning declaration from the bench. “The court will discount the testimony of his supervisors.”
5. U.S. Rep. Fattah indicted, allegedly took illegal $1 million loan
U.S. Rep. Chaka Fattah and four associates were indicted Wednesday on racketeering conspiracy charges stemming from several alleged schemes to misuse campaign funds and hundreds of thousands of dollars in federal grant money to further their political and financial interests.
The five schemes include accepting a $1 million illegal loan for
Fattah’s failed 2007 mayoral campaign from a “wealthy supporter” and then repaying some of it using “charitable and federal grant funds” that passed through a nonprofit founded and controlled by Fattah, U.S. Attorney Zane David Memeger said at a news conference.
The indictment also accuses Fattah, a Democrat who represents parts of
Philadelphia and Montgomery County, of seeking a $15 million federal grant for a political consultant in order to help “extinguish” a $150,000 debt owed to the consultant.
Click here to read these stories on 900amWURD.
Solomon Jones is an Essence bestselling author and award-winning columnist. He is the creator and editor of Solomonjones.com and morning host on 900 am WURD radio. Click here to learn more about Solomon
