Crime
Seventh victim of New Orleans car-ramming attack identified as 18-year-old Kareem Badawi
The seventh victim is 18-year-old Kareem Badawi, a freshman at the University of Alabama.
Kareem had recently graduated from the Episcopal School of Baton Rouge, where he was described as a bright and promising young man with a future full of potential.
Officials from the Episcopal School expressed their condolences, calling Kareem’s death a tragic loss for their school community and the world at large.
The University of Alabama confirmed that one of its students, Kareem Badawi, was among the victims of the tragic terrorist attack that unfolded in New Orleans on New Year’s Day.
In a heartfelt statement shared on social media, University President Stuart R. Bell expressed his condolences:
“I learned today that Kareem Badawi, one of our students at The University of Alabama, was killed in the terrorist attack in New Orleans. I grieve alongside family and friends of Kareem in their heartbreaking loss.”
Badawi, a freshman at the university, was a promising young man with a bright future ahead of him. He graduated in 2024 from the Episcopal School of Baton Rouge, where he had been a valued member of the school community.
The Episcopal School of Baton Rouge also issued a statement, announcing plans to honor both Badawi and another graduate, Parker Vidrine, who was injured in the attack. The school will hold an evening prayer session on Thursday to remember Badawi and to support Vidrine’s recovery.
“This is a time for our community to come together to mourn the loss of Kareem and to pray for Parker’s healing,” said a school spokesperson.
Both Badawi and Vidrine were members of the school’s Class of 2024, and their teachers and classmates recall them as exceptional individuals who left a lasting impact on their community.
As more victims are identified, the New Orleans community continues to grapple with the aftermath of the devastating attack, which claimed the lives of 15 people and injured dozens more. Families, friends, and communities are mourning the loss of these individuals whose lives were cut short.
Authorities continue their investigation, working to piece together the events of the attack and to support the grieving families. Further details on the victims and their stories are expected to emerge in the coming days.
A University of Georgia student remains in critical condition, and two Israeli citizens were among the injured, according to statements from their respective institutions and governments.
Authorities continue to investigate the motive behind the attack and the suspect’s potential affiliations with terrorist organizations. This tragedy has cast a somber shadow over what should have been a joyous celebration, as families and communities come to terms with their loss.
Crime
Angela Johnson and Her Son DeAngelo Johnson Killed After Shooting Inside Home in Chicago, Mother’s Boyfriend in Custody
CHICAGO — A 47-year-old mother and her 27-year-old son were fatally shot inside a residence in Chicago’s Austin neighborhood on the West Side late Thursday night, September 24, 2026, according to Chicago police.
The victims were identified as Angela Johnson, 47, and DeAngelo Johnson, 27. Police said a suspect, identified as Angela Johnson’s boyfriend, was taken into custody following the shooting.
The deadly shooting happened in the 800 block of North Parkside Avenue at approximately 10:43 p.m. Witnesses reported hearing gunshots coming from the basement of the residence and called 911.
When Chicago police officers arrived, they found the two victims suffering from gunshot wounds.
Angela Johnson was found in the basement with a gunshot wound to her chest. Police-radio traffic indicated she had been shot on the right side of her chest.
DeAngelo Johnson was found on the first floor with multiple gunshot wounds. Radio traffic indicated that he had suffered two gunshot wounds to his back.
Both victims were initially unresponsive and in critical condition. Emergency personnel performed CPR on DeAngelo Johnson before both victims were transported to Mount Sinai Hospital, where they were pronounced dead.
According to police-radio traffic, one victim was pronounced dead at approximately 11:18 p.m., while the male victim was pronounced dead around 11:21 p.m.
Investigators found extensive evidence inside the residence, including approximately 23 shell casings in a basement bedroom. Additional shell casings were reportedly recovered in other areas of the basement, including the stairway, main room and bedroom.
Officers initially recovered a firearm and shell casings from the basement bedroom. Police later located a second firearm inside the home, bringing the total number of recovered firearms to two.
Authorities have not publicly stated who owned the firearms or confirmed which weapon, if either, was used in the fatal shooting.
Police also reported that DeAngelo Johnson was wearing an empty holster when officers found him on the first floor. That discovery prompted an officer-safety alert as officers searched the residence for the missing firearm.
Chicago police said the shooting appeared to be domestic-related and identified the alleged offender as the mother’s boyfriend.
Radio traffic indicated that a person had been detained by approximately 11:26 p.m. The official police report later confirmed that the known offender was taken into custody.
Two witnesses were reportedly available to identify the alleged offender, and officers conducted a show-up identification procedure near the scene.
Police have not released additional information about potential charges against the suspect.
The investigation into the Chicago Austin neighborhood double shooting remains ongoing. Detectives are continuing to examine the circumstances that led to the shooting, the relationship between the people involved and the role of the two recovered firearms.
The deaths of Angela Johnson and DeAngelo Johnson are being investigated as a double homicide.