Suspect arrested for link to Palm Springs fertility clinic explosion: Sources
(PALM SPRINGS, Calif) — Law enforcement officials are expected to announce the arrest of an individual allegedly linked to the primary suspect in the car bombing outside a fertility clinic in Palm Springs, California, last month, sources familiar with the matter told ABC News.
The suspect is expected to appear in a Brooklyn federal court Wednesday afternoon before he’s moved to California, according to sources familiar with the matter.
The primary suspect in the case, 25-year-old Guy Edward Bartkus, was found dead next to the detonated vehicle, the assistant director in charge of the FBI’s LA field office said last month.
This is a developing story. Please check back for updates.
(GRAPEVINE, Texas) — The alleged driver of a jet ski that fatally collided with a U.S. Air Force Academy cadet candidate while she was kayaking has been booked for manslaughter in the “tragic, unnecessary death,” authorities said Wednesday.
Ava Moore, 18, was killed in a jet ski hit-and-run while kayaking on Grapevine Lake in north Texas on Sunday evening, authorities said. The jet ski was traveling at a high rate of speed at the time, according to Texas Game Warden Capt. Joseph Quintero.
The suspected operator of the jet ski — 21-year-old Daikerlyn Alejandra Gonzalez Gonzalez — fled the scene in a vehicle with Maikel Coello Perozo, also 21, authorities said. As they left, the vehicle collided with two other vehicles, Quintero said.
Following a search for the suspects, both Gonzalez and Perozo were arrested on Tuesday, Quintero said, crediting “good hard detective work” and tips from the public with leading investigators to a home in Dallas where the two were located.
Gonzalez has been booked on felony manslaughter charges in Moore’s death, which is being investigated by the Texas Game Wardens, Quintero said. Perozo was charged with collision involving damage to a vehicle and hindering apprehension, both misdemeanors, Quintero said. The automotive hit-and-run is being investigated by the Grapevine Police Department.
More charges could be filed amid the ongoing investigation, Quintero said.
“The tragic, unnecessary death of anybody on the public waters of the state of Texas is something that we’re always fighting to try to deter and stop from happening, and this is a great example of that,” Quintero said during a press briefing on Wednesday.
“It is a tragic, tragic situation, and I hope that people will take this and use this opportunity to not only remember Miss Moore, but also to remember to be safe on the public waters,” he added.
Quintero said investigators are looking into whether there was proper permitting to operate the jet ski and if alcohol was a factor. They are also reviewing footage from the scene.
A female passenger on the jet ski who remained on shore after the collision has not been charged at this time, Quintero said.
The nature of the relationship between Gonzalez and Perozo is unclear at this time, Quintero said. Both are undocumented Venezuelan nationals, according to Joshua Johnson, the acting field office director for U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement in Dallas.
“It’s my understanding both individuals crossed the southern border in 2023 or 2024,” Johnson said at the press briefing. “They were arrested at the time of entry, processed for a notice to appear, and then released on their own recognizance.”
ICE has lodged immigration detainers for both and once the state case is complete, they will take custody of them and proceed with the immigration process, Johnson said.
Moore had just graduated from the U.S. Air Force Academy Preparatory School on May 19 and had accepted an appointment to join the academy as a member of the class of 2029, according to the school.
Academy Superintendent Lt. Gen. Tony Bauernfeind remembered her as an “exemplary teammate.”
“We lost an exemplary teammate this weekend — Cadet Candidate Ava Moore, whose passion for leadership and service left an impact on everyone she met,” Bauernfeind said in a statement. “Ava’s constant happiness and attitude helped her squadron get through the challenges of the Prep School, and her drive to excel was on display as she sought out leadership positions to improve herself and her team.”
Moore’s family expressed thanks for the messages of love, support and prayers they’ve received in a statement read on their behalf during Wednesday’s briefing.
“This is a difficult time for all involved, but also an opportunity for our beautiful girl to continue to impact our community,” her family said. “Out of this tragedy, God will make good, and that only can be accomplished through forgiveness.”
(HENRY’S LAKE, Idaho) –Seven people were killed in a fiery crash between a van and a pickup truck on an eastern Idaho highway near Yellowstone National Park, officials said.
The Mercedes passenger van — which was operating as a tour vehicle — collided with the Dodge Ram pickup around 7:15 p.m. Thursday on U.S. Highway 20 near Henry’s Lake, the Idaho State Police said. The van was traveling eastbound, toward Yellowstone National Park, while the truck was traveling westbound, police said.
Fourteen people were in the van and one was in the pickup. Six people in the van — all foreign nationals — and the truck driver died in the crash, police said.
The truck driver was identified by the Fremont County Coroner’s Office as 25-year-old Isaih Moreno of Humble, Texas, police said.
The names of the victims in the van will be released by the coroner once their families are notified, police said.
“Due to the complexity of the incident, the identification of all individuals involved and notification of their next of kin will take time,” Idaho State Police said in a statement Friday afternoon.
Local resident Roger Merrill said he was driving home when he came upon the crash site just a few minutes after the accident apparently occurred.
“It had appeared they had maybe hit head-on — catastrophic damage to both” vehicles, Merrill told ABC News.
“Good Samaritans had already come out to help. There were several other pickup trucks alongside the road that were assisting,” he said.
“The fire did not start immediately — there was no fire present for probably 10 to 15 minutes after I arrived. And I observed what appeared to be steam coming from the pickup,” he said. “About that time, the first responder showed up, a member of the sheriff’s department. I could see they were trying to put the fire out under the truck with a fire extinguisher, but the flames quickly spread and engulfed both vehicles within minutes.”
All occupants involved in the crash were transported to hospitals, including three flown by air ambulance. The others were transported by ground ambulance with likely non-life-threatening injuries, police said.
Two survivors have been hospitalized at Madison Memorial in stable condition; three others who suffered injuries were treated and released, according to a hospital official. Two patients were also taken to Eastern Idaho Regional Medical Center, the hospital said.
The cause remains under investigation, police said.
Henry’s Lake is about 17 miles from West Yellowstone, Montana, which is a gateway to Yellowstone National Park.
U.S. Highway 20 closed for nearly seven hours after the crash and has since reopened, police said.
ABC News’ Jeffrey Cook and Alyssa Pone contributed to this report.
(CHESTER COUNTY, S.C.) — A middle school student is dead after his school bus blew a tire and overturned on a South Carolina highway, officials said.
The collision happened Thursday afternoon on Interstate 77 in Chester County. The bus was carrying students from Pine Ridge Middle School back from a field trip outside Charlotte, North Carolina, school officials said.
The boy who died was an eighth grader at Pine Ridge and 13 years old, according to Chester County Coroner Terry Tinker.
There were two adults and approximately 35 students on the bus, the school district, Lexington School District Two, said in an updated statement Thursday night.
A spokesperson for the Chester County Sheriff’s Office said there were “multiple injuries” in the crash, but that there is no confirmed number or information on the nature of the injuries at this time. The victims were transported to multiple hospitals. The crash was reported around 1:47 p.m., the sheriff’s office said.
The bus was traveling southbound on I-77 when it “traveled off of the road to the right, struck a guard rail and overturned,” South Carolina Highway Patrol Sgt. Tyler Tidwell said. The bus was the only vehicle involved in the incident, he said.
Footage from the scene showed the school bus overturned, with part of the bus on top of a guardrail.
Two additional buses that were traveling back from the field trip maneuvered to avoid the accident, the school district said.
Multiple agencies, emergency responders and school personnel were on the scene, with EMS assessing all the occupants on the buses, school officials said.
“We are grateful for the support of our EMS, first responder, and law enforcement partners, both those based here locally and those up the road at the affected Interstate 77 sites,” the school district said in a statement. “They worked tirelessly today to assist our Lexington Two students, families and employees.”
The South Carolina Highway Patrol is investigating the collision.
“Today’s school bus accident in Chester County is a tragedy no family should ever have to endure,” South Carolina Gov. Henry McMaster said in a statement. “Please join us in praying for the victim, their family, a speedy recovery for those injured, and the entire Lexington Two community. All of South Carolina is with you.”
Between the three buses, an estimated 35 students and four adults were transported for further medical evaluation, the school district said.
“We are grateful for the support of our EMS, first responder, and law enforcement partners, both those based here locally and those up the road at the affected Interstate 77 sites,” the school district said in a statement. “They worked tirelessly today to assist our Lexington Two students, families and employees.”
The South Carolina Highway Patrol is investigating the collision.
“Today’s school bus accident in Chester County is a tragedy no family should ever have to endure,” South Carolina Gov. Henry McMaster said in a statement. “Please join us in praying for the victim, their family, a speedy recovery for those injured, and the entire Lexington Two community. All of South Carolina is with you.”
ABC News’ Victoria Arancio contributed to this report.
