Crime
Sunday Okedeyi Joseph Crashes Vehicle into Children’s Birthday Party Tent in Bladensburg
BLADENSBURG, Md. — Authorities have identified 66-year-old Sunday Okedeyi Joseph, a Washington, D.C. resident, as the driver who crashed a vehicle in reverse into a children’s birthday party in Bladensburg on Saturday night, killing one person and injuring 14 others before fleeing the scene on foot.
According to the Bladensburg Police Department, the tragic incident occurred shortly before 10:15 p.m. when Joseph, while driving in reverse, veered off the roadway and into a tent set up in the front yard of a home where the celebration was taking place.
The collision left several victims trapped beneath the vehicle.
Police said 31-year-old Ashley Hernandez Gutierrez was pronounced dead following the crash.
Fourteen additional victims, including eight children ranging in age from 1 to 17, were injured.
Most of the injured have since been released from the hospital, though one child and two adults remain under medical care as of Monday.
Bladensburg Acting Police Chief Daniel Frishkorn stated that the crash appeared to be accidental and not intentional or targeted.
A police officer on patrol nearby was among the first to arrive on scene after being flagged down by witnesses, and he assisted in lifting the vehicle off trapped victims.
Joseph reportedly fled on foot, abandoning his car at the scene, but turned himself in to authorities at approximately 8 a.m. Sunday morning.
Police continue to investigate the circumstances surrounding the incident, including whether alcohol or excessive speed were contributing factors.
Chief Frishkorn described the situation as “highly unusual,” noting the rarity of a fatal crash involving a vehicle being driven in reverse.
Joseph now faces multiple charges, including:
- Criminally negligent manslaughter by vehicle
- Negligent manslaughter by automobile
- Failure to remain at the scene of an accident involving death
At a press conference Monday, Bladensburg Mayor Takisha James expressed the community’s collective grief and extended condolences to the victims and their families.
“Please know that the town of Bladensburg is fully committed to ensuring that the individual responsible is held accountable to the fullest extent of the law,” Mayor James said. “To the victims who are still recovering, our thoughts and prayers are with you. We wish you strength, comfort, and complete healing — not only from your physical injuries, but also from the emotional pain that accompanies such a traumatic experience.”
The investigation remains ongoing.
Crime
5 dead including 3 children in Silver Rail Elementary shooting in Bend, teenage shooter killed by a Good Samaritan
BEND, Ore. — Five people were reportedly killed in a shooting at Silver Rail Elementary School in southeast Bend, Oregon, on Thursday, October 15, 2026, including three children, one adult victim, and the teenage suspect, according to preliminary information attributed to federal law enforcement.
The reported shooting prompted a major emergency response involving police, fire crews, and emergency medical services.
Authorities issued an alert at approximately 1:17 p.m., warning of a large police presence at the elementary school and urging the public to avoid the area.
According to the information provided, four victims were killed at the school. Three of those victims were children, while the fourth was an adult. The suspected gunman, described in preliminary reports as a teenager, was also reported dead, bringing the reported total to five fatalities.
The circumstances surrounding the shooting, including the identities of the victims and the suspect, had not been fully established in the information available.
Preliminary reports indicated that the suspected gunman was a teenager and was killed after being confronted by a Good Samaritan.
Earlier scanner traffic reportedly indicated that the suspect had been neutralized. Unconfirmed reports suggested that the individual who intervened may have been a father of a student at the school.
However, authorities had not publicly confirmed all the circumstances surrounding the confrontation or independently verified the reported identity and role of the person who intervened.
Investigators are expected to examine the sequence of events leading up to the shooting, how the suspect was stopped, and whether the suspect acted alone.
The first police alert was issued at approximately 1:17 p.m. Thursday. It described a large police presence at Silver Rail Elementary School and instructed the public to stay away from the area.
Fire and emergency medical services personnel were seen responding near the school as authorities worked to address the reported threat and assist those affected.
The shooting prompted urgent concern among families and the surrounding community, particularly after reports indicated that children were among the victims.
Approximately 10 minutes after the initial alert, police announced a reunification site for students and their families at Journey Church, located at 61303 S. Highway 97 in Bend, near Goodwill and Dairy Queen.
Parents and guardians were instructed to go to the designated location to reunite with students and receive further information.
Authorities urged families to follow official instructions and avoid approaching the school while emergency operations continued.
The reported shooting also prompted precautionary security measures at nearby schools. Parents received alerts indicating that Caldera High School and Jewell Elementary School had been placed on lockdown Thursday afternoon.
The lockdowns were reported as law enforcement responded to Silver Rail Elementary and worked to secure the surrounding area.
Further information was needed to establish how long the lockdowns remained in effect and when normal school operations resumed.
Although preliminary information indicated five deaths, including three children, one adult victim, and the teenage suspect, additional official confirmation is needed regarding the victims’ identities, the suspect’s identity, and the circumstances of the shooting.
The reported involvement of a Good Samaritan also requires confirmation from investigators.
This remains a developing story. Further details should be added as law enforcement and school officials release verified information about the shooting and the investigation.