Crime
Person drove vehicle into pedestrians at Kipona Festival in Harrisburg
HARRISBURG, Pa. — A chaotic scene unfolded in downtown Harrisburg on Monday evening after a vehicle plowed through a section of the Kipona Festival, injuring at least two people and forcing police to block off part of the city’s riverfront.
The incident happened shortly after 6:00 p.m., just as festivities for the three-day event had concluded.
Witnesses reported that a red van barreled down South Front Street, where vendors were set up, striking multiple people.
The vehicle sustained visible damage to its front bumper and hood.
Festivalgoers described the scene as “chaotic,” with people screaming and running for safety. Several witnesses reported that the driver repeatedly honked the horn while accelerating down the crowded street.
Dauphin County dispatchers confirmed that police and emergency crews responded to the scene at North Front Street and South Street.
Officers later confirmed that two people were injured in the incident.
A damaged red van was located near Cranberry and Front Streets, cordoned off by crime scene tape as officers examined it.
Harrisburg Police Commissioner Thomas Carter and Mayor Wanda Williams both responded to the scene as authorities secured the area.
Police shut down Front Street between the 100 block of State Street and the pedestrian bridge to City Island while investigators processed evidence.
At this time, the Harrisburg Police Department is serving as the primary investigating agency.
Details regarding the driver’s motive and whether any charges have been filed have not yet been released.
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.