Follow us on social media:
Northeast
NY prosecutors scour social media accounts of man arrested near airport with massive cache of weapons
New York authorities are looking at social media accounts to ascertain the motivation of a Queens man pulled over with an arsenal of weapons and NYPD uniform items just blocks from LaGuardia International Airport.
Judd Sanson, 27, was arrested Wednesday on multiple illegal weapons charges after police say they recovered a 9 mm Glock handgun, nine loaded magazines, 179 rounds of ammunition, heavy body armor, handcuffs, a stun gun, multiple knives, a makeshift sword, a weighted whip, an expandable baton and two axes.
Police also recovered a Guy Fawkes mask, which is sometimes used as an anti-government symbol, an orange MTA vest and an NYPD bulletproof vest.
Thomas Montella of Queens Defenders, Sanson’s lawyer, said at Sanson’s arraignment Thursday this was, “at the end of the day, a gun case,” the New York Post reported. But his client was sent to Rikers Island without bail.
NYPD ARRESTS MAN ARMED WITH HANDGUN, BODY ARMOR, AXES AND KNIVES AT TRAFFIC STOP IN QUEENS
Judd Sanson is pictured at his arraignment in Queens Criminal Court Thursday. He was in custody without bail at Rikers Island. (Shawn Inglima/Pool)
District Attorney Dylan Nesturrick said police “averted what could have been a disaster for the citizens of Queens, New York City and potentially even the country” when they pulled Sanson over for an illegally blacked-out license plate.
Investigators found a “disturbing photo” on the man’s Facebook page, Nestrurrick said without elaboration.
“We are asking for social media,” Queens District Attorney Melinda Katz told reporters Thursday. “We’re going to look at what he said on social media. We’re going to look at the computers. We’re going to actually find out what his intent is.
“When someone is driving around with 11 different weapons, all of this ammunition, language on the baton that sounds threatening … transit uniforms that can be used almost anywhere in our subway system or in our transit system, we have reason to be concerned.
ELDERLY WOMAN STRUCK BY STRAY BULLET OUTSIDE HER BROOKLYN APARTMENT
Officers conducted a vehicle stop in Queens and recovered a 9 mm Glock handgun along with nine loaded magazines, heavy body armor, handcuffs, NYPD uniform items, two axes, multiple knives, a weighted whip and an expandable baton. (NYPD NEWS)
“A lot of [the weapons were] makeshift, so that he was making them. So, there is thought that goes into that. … It’s not just that you throw a weapon in a car,” Katz added.
Katz also mentioned troubling words inscribed on Sanson’s recovered baton:.”You left me no choice, I am sorry, You gon [sic] learn today,” it allegedly says with the Arabic word for “God forgive me.”
“At the moment, we don’t have terrorism charges, but we are still continuing the investigation, especially considering the language that was used,” Katz said. “We’re prosecuting right now for gun possession and for the intent to use that gun. And we are going to continue this investigation to make sure that we are safe. About his mental state.”
FEDERAL INMATE CAUGHT RUNNING BLACK MARKET MACHINE GUN TRADE BEHIND BARS, AUTHORITIES SAY
Suspect Judd Sanson, 27, was arrested on charges of criminal possession of a loaded firearm, nine additional charges of criminal possession of a weapon, four charges of unlawful possession of an ammo-feeding device and one charge of having an obscured license plate. (Fox News)
Katz declined to comment on Sanson’s social media posts but said a search warrant had been executed at the man’s father’s home and that there was a lockbox for a weapon with a serial number that didn’t match any of the guns found by police in the vehicle.
“As a result of that search, (there is) a weapon that we have not found yet,” she said.
Katz also said she and her office were unaware of Sanson having a gun license.
Former New York Homeland Security adviser Michael Balboni walked Fox News Digital through the process of investigating a potential terrorist on social media.
“They’re going to go to his social media accounts and see who he’s in contact with,” Balboni said. “There are all sorts of groups that have already been identified that have targeted transportation networks. They’re going to see if he was in touch with any of those individuals.
“They’re also going to see if there are any plans — verbal, sketched out, schematics — like how you would reach a secure terminal of [the airport].
“[They] want to know not only who he is in contact with. Has he received any training? Has he visited any gun ranges? Has he had any prior arrests involving incendiary devices, explosives, firearms? Those are the things [they] want to know so [they] can develop a profile to see if this individual has a violent history or violent motivations.
“This obviously has an indication that he’s not going to the mall to go shopping, that he is, in fact, trying to do something nefarious. That’s a reasonable perception,” Balboni added. “But you let the facts lead you. You don’t get any preconceived notions. Everyone has a right to be judged by a jury of their peers. … You can’t jump and say this guy is a terrorist.”
The FBI declined to comment on whether it was involved in the investigation. Fox New Digital could not reach the Department of Homeland Security for comment before press time.
Fox News Digital’s Chris Pandolfo contributed to this report.
Read the full article from Here
Continue Reading
Boston, MA
Boston’s Joe Mazzulla wins NBA’s Coach of the Year, repeats claim that it should be a staff award
Joe Mazzulla of the Boston Celtics was asked a couple months ago about the possibility of winning the Coach of the Year award this season, and his answer was succinct.
“I don’t need it,” he said back in March. “I think it’s a stupid award.”
On Tuesday, Mazzulla won a stupid award.
Mazzulla was announced as the NBA’s top coach for 2025-26, after the Celtics earned the No. 2 seed in the Eastern Conference — despite playing most of the year without Jayson Tatum while he recovered from Achilles surgery and amid rebuilding expectations from many following the departures of players like Al Horford, Kristaps Porzingis and Jrue Holiday.
To be very clear, Mazzulla’s dismissal of the award in March was for one reason — he thinks it should be more of a “coaching staff of the year” than a “coach of the year” award, and that is a noble approach. He repeated that during Tuesday night’s announcement of his win, beginning his remarks on NBC by thanking those who made it possible.
“The long nights, the trips, game plans, the video guys that are clipping up the film and coding it, the assistants who are putting in the game plan, I think there’s so much that goes into winning one game,” Mazzulla said. “It starts with the players, but it goes to our staff. I feel bad that they’re not here — but forever indebted to the guys that we have that give up time with their families and their time to give us a chance to win every day.”
The 37-year-old Mazzulla is the youngest winner of the award since Phil Johnson in 1975, the NBA said.
Fittingly, the Celtics coach will get the Red Auerbach Trophy — which is named for the legendary Celtics coach. Mazzulla becomes the fourth Boston coach to win the award, following Auerbach in 1965, Tom Heisohn in 1973 and Bill Fitch in 1980. Auerbach, a Hall of Famer, guided the Celtics to nine NBA championships, including eight in a row from 1959 through 1966.
“This is well deserved recognition and a testament to both Joe and his staff,” Celtics President of Basketball Operations Brad Stevens said. “With all of our unknowns entering the season, Joe did a fantastic job building and growing a team. He pours everything he has into competing at a high level, while helping players find the best versions of themselves within the framework of a team.”
Detroit’s J.B. Bickerstaff — for the second consecutive year — finished second, and San Antonio’s Mitch Johnson placed third.
The award is based on regular-season results only. Votes from the panel of 100 reporters and broadcasters who cover the NBA were turned in during the play-in tournament, which was more than a month ago.
The Coach of the Year award — the one handed out Tuesday is separate from the one presented earlier this spring by the National Basketball Coaches Association, which Bickerstaff won — is the last of the major awards given out by the NBA to commemorate the best of the 2025-26 season.
The rundown of awards:
- Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, Oklahoma City: Most Valuable Player and Clutch Player of the Year.
- Victor Wembanyama, San Antonio: Defensive Player of the Year.
- Cooper Flagg, Dallas: Rookie of the Year.
- Keldon Johnson, San Antonio: Sixth Man of the Year.
- Nickeil Alexander-Walker, Atlanta: Most Improved Player.
- Bam Adebayo, Miami: Social Justice Champion.
- Derrick White, Boston: Sportsmanship Award.
- DeAndre Jordan, New Orleans: Twyman-Stokes Teammate of the Year.
- Brad Stevens, Boston: Executive of the Year.
- Moussa Diabaté, Charlotte: Hustle Award.
- The All-NBA, All-Defensive and All-Rookie teams.
Download the WPRI 12 and Pinpoint Weather 12 apps to get breaking news and weather alerts.
Watch 12 News Now on WPRI.com or with the free WPRI 12+ TV app.
A state champion coach in Connecticut is heading to the place where he starred in high school basketball.
Heading back to his alma mater
Lyman Hall High School Athletics recently announced on social media that ex-Trojans standout Jim Economopoulos is returning to his alma mater to take over the boys basketball program.
Economopoulos replaces Rob Ruys, who coached the Trojans to an 8-13 record in the 2025-26 season.
“The Lyman Hall Athletic Department is proud to announce the hiring of Jimmy Economopoulos as our new head boys basketball coach,” Lyman Hall Athletics posted via X. “He’s a (Lyman Hall) graduate and current educator in the Wallingford Public Schools who brings over 10 years of successful coaching in the (Southern Connecticut Conference). Welcome home coach.”
Economopoulos told CT Insider that he is looking forward to returning home and “do something great at the school” he graduated from in 2009.
Economopoulos’ time at Daniel Hand High School
The decision comes after Economopoulos resigned as head coach of the Daniel Hand High School boys basketball program in April.
Economopoulos guided Hand to the program’s first CIAC championship title in 2022, a Division III crown, after the team won 56-39 over Kolbe-Cathedral. Economopoulos finished with a 112-105 mark in 10 seasons with the Tigers, including 80-42 in the previous five seasons.
The Tigers went 9-14 in Economopoulos’ final season at the helm.
“(Leaving) was very much on the table heading into the year (2025-26 season). And the chaos of my life this winter confirmed it for me,” Economopoulos said via CT Insider last month.
Playing days for the Trojans
Economopoulos led the Trojans to the 2008 CIAC Class L title game and the state semifinals in 2009, but Lyman Hall went on to lose both games.
“That game hurt 1,000 times worse than the state final loss,” Economopoulos told CT Insider. “In the state final loss, we weren’t expected to be there. We had almost everybody back from our junior year and we thought for sure we were winning a state championship that senior year. We thought we had won that game. It was devastating when the shot went in.”
Family connection at Lyman Hall
Economopoulos’ late father, Nick, coached girls basketball for 35 seasons between Lyman Hall, East Catholic and Coginchaug. In that span, he compiled 619 career coaching victories.
At Lyman Hall, Nick Economopoulos guided the Trojans to Class L state titles in 1985 and 1986, including three state final appearances in 1979, 1982 and 1991.
Jim’s sister, Christie Madancy, is currently Lyman Hall’s girls basketball coach.
“It definitely makes it easier. I’ll be working with a girls coach I know very well,” Jim Economopoulos said via CT Insider. “My nephew will be a freshman (on the basketball team) next year, so we will have family in the gym pretty consistently.”
Sign Up for High School On SI’s Free Daily Newsletters
Download the SBLive App
To get live updates on your phone — as well as follow your favorite teams and top games — you can download the SBLive Sports app: Download iPhone App | Download Android App
Add us as a preferred source on Google
Follow
-
World4 minutes agoMother, boyfriend allegedly abandoned blindfolded young sons in remote forest as part of ‘game’: reports
-
Politics10 minutes agoTexas MAGA battle ends with Middleton victory as Chip Roy falls short in AG Race
-
Health16 minutes agoOzempic-style drugs linked to major slowdown in cancer spread, new study finds
-
Sports22 minutes agoThunder push Spurs to brink with dominant Game 5 win as Wembanyama posts series-low 20 points
-
Technology28 minutes agoFTC reveals where spam calls hit hardest
-
Business34 minutes agoDonald E. Newhouse, newspaper publisher and heir to media empire, dies at 96
-
Entertainment40 minutes agoKevin Hart addresses Tony Hinchcliffe’s joke: ‘What do you want me to do? Drag him off?’
-
Lifestyle46 minutes agoHow Challenger Brands Are Seizing the Jewellery Opportunity
