2 workers killed, 1 injured in ‘incident’ at Delta Air Lines’ Atlanta maintenance facility
(ATLANTA) — Two workers were killed and one was injured in an “incident” at Delta Air Lines’ Atlanta Technical Operations Maintenance facility at Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport, the airline said.
Delta did not elaborate on Tuesday morning’s incident, but the airline said it’s “working with local authorities and conducting a full investigation to determine what happened.”
The incident had no impact on airport operations, according to airport officials.
Delta added it’s “heartbroken” and “grateful for the quick action of first responders and medical teams on site.”
Atlanta Mayor Andre Dickens said, “I offer my deepest condolences to the family and loved ones of the deceased Delta employees. My thoughts are also with those who were injured, and I hope for their swift and full recovery.”
Police, fire and airport teams are at the scene, the mayor said.
This is a developing story. Please check back for updates.
(NEW YORK) — A rideshare driver has been arrested for allegedly murdering his female passenger, who was found shot to death near a wooded area after she was reported missing, police announced Tuesday.
The victim, 30-year-old Chanti Dixon, was reported missing on Monday, according to Indianapolis Metropolitan Police Chief Chris Bailey. She had ordered an Uber around 3:30 a.m. Sunday to take her home from work, but she had not been heard from since then, according to the probable cause affidavit.
On Monday, police received a report of a dead person found near woods in a residential area of Indianapolis who was ultimately identified as Dixon, police said. She had an injury consistent with a gunshot wound, Bailey said.
The investigation led detectives to 29-year-old Francisco Valadez, who has been arrested on a murder charge, police said.
Police believe that Valadez, a rideshare driver, had picked Dixon up “just prior to her murder,” Bailey said during a press briefing on Tuesday.
“This is disgusting, it’s disturbing,” Bailey said. “No one deserves to be treated this way in our community.”
Valadez is in custody and is scheduled to appear in court on Thursday, according to online jail records. It is unclear if he has an attorney at this time.
The Marion County Prosecutor’s Office will make final charging decisions. Bailey said he anticipates there will be additional charges in the case.
Dixon was found at a dead end with a possible gunshot wound to the left side of her head, according to the probable cause affidavit. Two cell phones belonging to her were also found nearby, according to the affidavit.
Detectives traced the Uber information to Valadez, according to the affidavit. Valadez allegedly told police that after he dropped her off a man attempted to rob her and shot her in the leg, according to the affidavit. After being brought to the homicide office for an interview, Valadez told two different stories before allegedly admitting to shooting Dixon in his car while trying to have sex with her, according to the affidavit.
Valadez has been banned from Uber, the company said.
“Our hearts break for Ms. Dixon’s family and loved ones,” an Uber spokesperson said in a statement. “The details of this act of violence are atrocious and we will assist Indianapolis police however we can as they continue to investigate.”
Assistant Chief of Police Catherine Cummings said this is believed to be an isolated incident.
“As a woman, this hits differently for me,” she said during Tuesday’s press briefing. “Women, girls, mothers have a right to exist freely in our community without fear of something heinous happening to them. They have a right to walk, bike, order, rideshare without fearing something bad will happen to them. This is a family’s worst nightmare, and we extend our heartfelt condolences to her family during this trying time.”
Cummings and Bailey stressed to the community that rideshares continue to be a safe option.
“This woman is gone from the world unnecessarily by an evil act,” Bailey said. “I’m glad that we were able to find this individual as quickly as we did, so that he didn’t have an opportunity to perpetuate violence further in our community.”
(NEW YORK) — Tropical Storm Francine is forecast to strengthen into a hurricane on Tuesday as it takes aim at the Gulf Coast.
By Tuesday night, Francine is expected to become a Category 2 hurricane with winds of 100 mph.
Landfall is expected on Wednesday in Louisiana, between Cameron and Morgan City, as a Category 2 hurricane.
Heavy rain and strong winds are already lashing South Padre Island, Texas, on Tuesday morning.
Up to 1 foot of rain is forecast for parts of Louisiana from Tuesday night into Wednesday.
Flash flooding will be a significant threat on Wednesday for New Orleans, Lake Charles and Alexandria, Louisiana as well as Jackson, Mississippi.
Storm surge could reach 10 feet along the Louisiana coast.
By Thursday, flooding rain will spread into the Mississippi River Valley, bringing up to 6 inches of rain to Memphis, Tennessee; Little Rock, Arkansas; and Paducah, Kentucky.
(BRIDGETON, N.J.) — A 24-year-old woman has been charged for allegedly hopping a fence at a New Jersey zoo and “enticing” a tiger, according to police.
Zyair Dennis was charged with one count of defiant trespassing and was issued two city ordinances related to climbing fences in the zoo, Bridgeton police said in a statement Monday.
Dennis allegedly entered a restricted area at the Cohanzick Zoo on Aug. 18, according to police.
Witnesses gave authorities video and photos that showed a woman jumping over the fence, approaching the caged tiger enclosure and “reaching into the cage before quickly pulling her hand out when the animal reacted aggressively,” police said.
Police said she was almost injured when she “enticed” the tiger.
The woman was allegedly also seen on video “depicting the same scenario at the bear enclosure,” police said.
Last week, Bridgeton police released information and images from the incident in an effort to identify the suspect. Police said Monday that the footage helped them identify Dennis.
Dennis’ appearance in Bridgeton Municipal Court has not been scheduled, police said.
ABC News’ Julia Reinstein contributed to this report.