Crime
13-year-old Aymira Thomas killed in Canton shooting
CANTON, Mich. — A 13-year-old girl, identified as Aymira Thomas, was fatally shot inside her family’s apartment Tuesday afternoon in a heartbreaking incident that has left the Canton community in shock.
The shooting occurred around 12:24 p.m. at the Ridgeline at Canton apartment complex, formerly known as the Crossings of Canton, located near Joy Road and Honeytree Boulevard.
Canton’s 911 call center received reports of a shooting, prompting an immediate response from police and emergency medical personnel.
First responders arrived within minutes and attempted life-saving measures, but the young victim was pronounced dead at the scene.
According to Canton police, Aymira’s 21-year-old brother was taken into custody at the scene and is considered a person of interest in the ongoing investigation.
Preliminary findings suggest that he may have been in possession of the firearm that discharged the fatal shot.
Authorities have not ruled out the possibility that the shooting was accidental.
Canton Township Deputy Chief Joseph Bialy expressed deep concern about the presence of an unsecured firearm in the home, calling it a tragic reminder of the importance of responsible gun storage, particularly in households with children.
“This is a devastating loss, regardless of the circumstances,” said Bialy. “Our hearts go out to the family as we work to determine exactly what happened.”
The scene outside the Ridgeline complex remained tense as dozens of family members gathered, watching as investigators processed the scene and collected evidence.
Additional officers remained on-site for several hours interviewing witnesses and securing the area. Authorities have confirmed that there is no ongoing threat to public safety.
In a related incident, a responding police vehicle was involved in a collision at Cherry Hill and Lilley Roads. Minor injuries were reported as a result of the crash.
Police have not released further details regarding the circumstances of the shooting but say the investigation remains active and fluid.
The public is urged to contact the Canton Police Department with any information that could assist in the case.
“As a community, we mourn the tragic loss of a young life,” police said in a statement. “We are committed to a thorough and transparent investigation and will continue to share updates as they become available.”
Crime
Mustapha Kharbouch Now-Deleted 2024 Manifesto Published in Institute for Palestine Studies Recovered
Brown University has removed multiple online references to student activist Mustapha Kharbouch in the days following a deadly campus shooting, a move that has drawn public attention amid heightened online speculation—despite law enforcement officials confirming that no suspects or persons of interest have been identified in the investigation.
Archived versions of Brown University webpages show that Kharbouch, a first-year student at the time, was previously listed in several university-affiliated roles, including as a student assistant and Cultural Programming Coordinator connected to the Global Brown Center.
His academic interests were described as focusing on International and Public Affairs and Anthropology, with involvement in Middle East–focused academic, cultural, and student programming.
Those pages are no longer accessible, and Kharbouch’s social media accounts have also been deactivated.
A verified buyer from the United States with the name “Mustapha K.” reviewed a 9MM muzzle brake through the Wing Tactical website on December 29th, 2024 — the same caliber used in the Brown shooting.
There are approximately a few hundred people in the entire United States with that first name + last initial combination.
University officials have not issued a public explanation for the removal of the online profiles.
The changes occurred as online speculation intensified in the immediate aftermath of the shooting, with social media users circulating screenshots of archived university pages and past writings associated with Kharbouch.
Among the materials resurfaced by online users was a 2024 essay authored by Kharbouch and published by the Institute for Palestine Studies as part of a special student essay series titled Genocide in Gaza: Student Essays — Brown University Encampment 2024.
The essay, titled “I Hear the Voice of My Ancestors Calling: From the Camps to the Campus,” was published on August 13, 2024, months before the shooting. The piece is a first-person reflective essay examining Palestinian identity, intergenerational memory, student activism, and questions of hope amid displacement, war, and protest.
The article includes poetic excerpts adapted from “Ancestors Song,” a chant popularized during student-led Palestine solidarity actions at Brown University, and documents Kharbouch’s participation in campus organizing efforts, including sit-ins, hunger strikes, rallies, and the Brown Gaza Solidarity Encampment.
The essay situates these experiences within a broader discussion of decolonial thought, feminist theory, and Palestinian history, including reflections on the 1948 Nakba and the author’s family history as a third-generation stateless Palestinian refugee raised in Lebanon.
The content of the essay is ideological, autobiographical, and academic in nature.
There is no reference to violence on campus, nor any indication of intent or planning related to criminal activity.
The Institute for Palestine Studies has not issued any statement suggesting the piece is under review or connected to the shooting.
Despite widespread online conjecture, law enforcement agencies, including the FBI and Providence Police, have not named Mustapha Kharbouch as a suspect or person of interest, and have publicly stated that there is no evidence linking him to the shooting.
Investigators have emphasized that the case remains active and that conclusions are being guided strictly by verified evidence.
Authorities have cautioned against drawing inferences from online speculation, warning that unsubstantiated claims can compromise investigations and cause undue harm to individuals not implicated by facts.
Media analysts and campus observers have suggested that Brown University’s decision to remove online references may have been taken as a protective or precautionary measure, particularly as misinformation and harassment proliferated across social media platforms following the attack.
Similar actions have been taken by institutions in other high-profile incidents to limit doxxing, targeted harassment, or the misinterpretation of publicly available biographical information during periods of heightened tension.
Brown University has not confirmed whether the removals were temporary, administrative, or safety-related in nature.
Authorities continue to urge the public to rely on confirmed information released by law enforcement and to avoid amplifying unverified narratives.
As of the most recent update, no arrests have been announced, no individuals have been publicly identified as suspects, and the investigation remains ongoing.
Anyone with credible information related to the shooting has been asked to contact investigators directly.