Multiple acts of mass violence plagued the country this week. In Boulder, Colorado on Sunday, a man attacked a group of people demonstrating on behalf of Israeli hostages held by Hamas with a “makeshift flamethrower” and Molotov cocktails, resulting in injuries to fifteen people. The suspect has been charged with federal hate crimes, attempted murder, and more, along with state offenses, according to this report. In Minneapolis, Minnesota, a woman was killed and six people were injured following a shooting on Sunday evening in Boom Island Park. Officers described the scene there as “akin to a war zone.” At least two shooters are suspected of the attack and remain at large. Closer to home, a man was arrested and charged with attempted murder in connection with a Sunday mass shooting at a house party near Hickory, North Carolina. More suspects are being sought. The incident, which involved at least 80 shots being fired, led to the death of one man and injuries to eleven others. In downtown Asheville, NC, a gunfight between two men on Sunday resulted in the death of one of the shooters and several injured people, according to this Citizen Times report. Read on for more criminal law news.
Supreme Court Punts on Gun Cases. SCOTUSblog reports that the U.S. Supreme Court has denied review in two Second Amendment cases concerning the ability of states to regulate firearms. After a whopping 15 relists, a majority of justices refused to consider challenges to circuit court decisions upholding Maryland’s ban on assault rifles like the AR-15 and Rhode Island’s ban on high-capacity ammunition magazines (defined as capable of holding more than 10 rounds). Justices Alito and Gorsuch would have heard the cases; Justice Thomas would have overruled the lower court decisions; Justice Kavanaugh agreed with the denial of certiorari but penned a separate statement noting that the constitutionality of bans on AR-15 rifles was a question that the Court should consider in the next few terms and that the Court’s denial of review did not equate to approval of the lower court’s decision.
Trump Pardons. Clemency actions by President Trump are back in the news. Recent pardon recipients include Julie and Todd Chrisley, reality television stars convicted of tax evasion and defrauding banks of tens of millions of dollars; Jerry Hutchinson, a former state senator in Arkansas, convicted of tax fraud and bribery offenses; former Connecticut governor John Rowland, convicted of obstruction of justice and public corruption offenses; Alexander Sittenfeld, convicted of bribery and attempted extortion; and Earl Smith, a former Army reserve officer convicted of stealing government property and reselling it. The president also recently issued a number of notable commutations, including the gang leader Larry Hoover who was serving a life sentence for leading a violent criminal enterprise; Imaad Zuberi, who was serving 12 years for violations of tax, lobbying, and campaign finance laws and obstruction; and Marian Morgan, who was serving a 35-year sentence for wire fraud, money laundering, and other crimes. The New York Times has the complete list of the recent clemency actions here.
Scotland Neck Police Chief Out. Former Police Chief Tommy Parker has resigned from the Scotland Neck Police Department after the town council requested him to step down. The Halifax County District Attorney’s Office issued a Giglio letter regarding Parker and another officer with the department, former Captain Marvin Hilliard. It does not appear that details of the letter are available, but our own Jeff Welty is quoted in the report, noting that a Gigilo letter normally indicates that the subject of the letter has impaired credibility and is no longer a suitable witness for the State. The recent resignations shrank the police department to only three officers.
Increased TSA Firearm Seizures at RDU. The Transportation Safety Administration (TSA) released a statement regarding increased seizures of guns at the Raleigh-Durham International Airport (RDU), according to this story. While travel is down, with RDU screening 150,000 fewer people this year compared to this time last year, a comparable number of guns have been seized in both years. So far in 2025, TSA agents discovered 34 guns on passengers or in their luggage. The story notes that travelers may legally fly with their guns, but only with the weapons unloaded and secured in checked baggage and after giving the airline notice that firearms are being transported (among other requirements). In addition to potential criminal charges, the TSA can impose civil penalties up to $12,210.00 for possession of a loaded gun at an airport security checkpoint.
Menu Prank Lands Disney Worker in Prison. Following a dispute with his supervisor, Disney World employee Micheal Scheuer was suspended and later fired. In an apparent effort to get the attention of higher ups in the company, Scheuer repeatedly hacked into a software program used to manage the plethora of menus at the resort. Some of the menu revisions were fairly humorous, like changing “shellfish” to “hellfish” and a wine from New Zealand from “Infamous Goose” to “Infamous Moose.” Other menu changes were more serious, such as falsifying allergen information on menus and price and portion size alterations. When Disney officials noticed the unauthorized modifications, they contacted the F.B.I., leading to federal computer fraud and identity theft charges. Scheuer entered guilty pleas to those charges in April and was sentenced to three years in prison. Additionally, he was ordered to pay $690,000.00 in restitution to Disney and the company behind the menu software. That story is here.
Elephant Bandit. Elephants are a popular attraction in Thailand and the country is home to more than 4,000 wild mammoth mammals. It is apparently common for the animals to steal food from the kitchens of nearby residents. It was a first, though, when an elephant wandered out of a nearby national park and entered a local grocery store. The shoplifter consumed nine boxes of rice crackers, a sandwich, and bananas before calmly walking out of the store with some treats still clasped by his trunk. Other than the snack food losses and some muddy elephant prints, the store was remarkably intact following the incident, and no humans were injured during the encounter. The AP has the story and video of the incident here.
New Detention Center Recording Studio. According to this press release from the Mecklenburg County Sheriff’s Office, the local detention center opened Studio W5HY? this week. The facility is a “state-of-the-art soundproof music studio,” and is a part of a new program of the Sheriff called “Rhythm & Reflection: A Journey to Reformation.” The studio was funded by the Tim Bergling Foundation on behalf of the deceased Swedish artist Tim Bergling, also known as Avicii. According to the Sheriff, “Studio W5HY? will serve as a powerful outlet for musical creation, poetry, and the spoken word, giving voices to stories that often go unheard.” The press release has more detail about the innovative project.
Fleeing to Elude, Florida Style. According to Fox 35 Orlando, deputies in Highlands County, Florida were shocked when a fleeing suspect appeared to offer a pursuing officer a vodka spritz drink through his window while driving past the officer. The man was suspected of shoplifting at a local establishment and fled in his car when police arrived. Officer body cam captured the moment when the man leaned out of his window with the drink and told the officer, “I was just going to give you a drink, that’s it.” The miles-long chase ended when the man’s car encountered law enforcement spike strips. After his car finally came to a stop, the man apparently attempted to casually walk away from the officer while smoking a cigarette. As officers completed the arrest, the man remarked, “You guys had fun, though, right?” The man faces charges of resisting arrest, aggravated assault on law enforcement, driving while impaired, and more.
I hope everyone has a safe and relaxing weekend. I can be reached for questions or comments as usual at dixon@sog.unc.edu.