Crime
Suspect in custody after shots Fired in barricade situation at Four Seasons Hotel in Atlanta
UPDATE: A 70-year-old man, identified as Jay Stevens Berger, was arrested following a standoff with police at the Four Seasons Hotel in Denver.
Police were initially called to the hotel in response to a mental health emergency. However, the situation escalated when Berger, armed with multiple weapons, refused to cooperate with officers. He fired shots from his hotel room, injuring a police officer.
A SWAT team was deployed to the scene and eventually breached the room, taking Berger into custody. The suspect and the injured officer were both hospitalized.
Berger is facing charges related to the shooting incident. The specific charges have not been disclosed at this time.
ORIGINAL REPORT:
Shots rang out near the bustling Four Seasons Hotel in Midtown Atlanta on Tuesday afternoon as police responded to reports of a barricaded gunman.
The initial call came in around 2 p.m., spurring a heavy police presence at the hotel on 14th Street, which is located near Piedmont Park and close to the Colony Square shopping mall.
Officers promptly set up a safety perimeter to manage the unfolding situation.
Suspect seen throwing several objects before firing shots on the balcony.
Video: Suspect seen throwing several objects before firing shots on the balcony of Four Seasons hotel in Midtown Atlanta, Georgia.https://t.co/qwYgJJnNu2 pic.twitter.com/QanWqUWjvi— News Channel3 Now (@newschannel3now) October 29, 2024
In response to the incident, the Atlanta Police Department closed multiple roads surrounding the area to facilitate the investigation.
The list of closures includes:
- 14th St NE at W Peachtree St NE and Crescent Ave NE
- 13th St NE at W Peachtree St NE and Crescent Ave NE
- The Peachtree Walk
Several patrol vehicles were stationed outside the hotel entrance, as authorities worked to ensure public safety while assessing the situation.
Further details have yet to be released, and police are continuing their investigation.
Crime
Former Texas Worship Minister and Christian Musician Jon Sheptock Arrested on Child Sexual Abuse Material Charges
MONTGOMERY COUNTY, Texas — A married Christian musician and former worship minister who once performed at a rally for former President Donald Trump has been arrested on multiple child sexual abuse material (CSAM) charges, authorities confirmed.
According to officials, Jon Sheptock, a former minister at First Montgomery Baptist Church, was taken into custody on September 26 by detectives from the Montgomery County Constable’s Human Trafficking and Child Exploitation Unit.
He faces charges of possession and production of child pornography following a detailed investigation into allegations of long-term misconduct.
The arrest was based on testimony from a woman who alleged that Sheptock stole a photograph of her approximately nine years ago, when she was 17 years old.
The victim told investigators that after sending her the image, Sheptock demanded explicit photographs and later sent her a video depicting a violent assault, warning that he “did not want that to happen to her.”
Court records further indicate that Sheptock showed the victim nude images of both adults and minors on his computer.
Investigators allege that the misconduct continued as recently as October 2023, when Sheptock reportedly sent a text message to the victim containing a nude image of young girls.
Before his arrest, Sheptock was widely known as a Christian recording artist and motivational speaker.
His now-deleted website biography stated that he was born without arms and with one leg shorter than the other, yet went on to describe himself as a “thriving Christian recording artist and speaker.” He has been married for 26 years and is the father of three daughters.
In a public statement, First Montgomery Baptist Church confirmed that Sheptock was immediately removed from all ministry responsibilities following his arrest.
The church emphasized that Sheptock did not hold any position involving direct contact with children, and there is no indication that minors associated with the church were involved or affected.
Sheptock gained wider public attention in January 2022, when he performed the national anthem at a rally for then-President Donald Trump, according to The Independent.
If convicted, Sheptock faces a potential prison sentence ranging from two to twenty years.
The investigation remains ongoing, and authorities are encouraging anyone with additional information to contact the Montgomery County Constable’s Office Human Traffic.