Crime
Officials Confirm No Active Shooter or Shooting During Fireworks Event at Thomas Cloud Park in Huber Heights
A celebration at Thomas Cloud Park took a chaotic turn Saturday night when panic erupted among attendees following reports of an active shooter. However, Huber Heights Mayor Jeff Gore has confirmed that there was no active shooter and no shots were fired during the city’s Star-Spangled Celebration.
Mayor Gore stated he had been in direct communication with the Chief of Police throughout the evening and verified that the incident stemmed from a false alarm.
“Someone yelled ‘shooter,’ and that spread like wildfire, causing widespread panic as people rushed for the exits,” Gore said in a social media post. “But again, I want to emphasize: there was no active shooter and no gunfire.”
The fireworks show, a family-friendly annual event that attracts hundreds of residents, descended into chaos as crowds began to flee in what witnesses described as a stampede.
Law enforcement officers and emergency personnel quickly responded to the scene.
One attendee described the moment panic set in:
“We saw everyone running and screaming, so we ran too. It was total confusion. Cops were everywhere. I just hope nobody was seriously hurt.”
Another witness recounted that her nephew, his girlfriend, and their two young children were forced to flee as chaos unfolded near where they were sitting. “They had to snatch up the kids and run,” she said.
Reports have surfaced of minor injuries, including individuals who may have been trampled during the mass exit. Emergency crews were seen assisting people, though no serious injuries have been confirmed as of Sunday morning.
Huber Heights police are continuing to investigate the source of the false alarm and working to ensure public safety at future events.
Mayor Gore urged the community to remain calm and be cautious about spreading unverified information during emergencies.
“Misinformation can be just as dangerous in these situations,” he said. “Thankfully, there was no active threat. Our first responders acted quickly and professionally to protect everyone.”
City officials are reminding residents to rely on official sources for updates and information.
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.