South
Woman kicks Southwest employee, punches computer monitors in violent airport meltdown
Woman’s wild airport tirade caught on camera
A woman was captured on video attacking Southwest Airlines staff at Orlando International Airport during an apparent standby outburst. (Credit: Peyton Turbeville via Storyful)
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Video shows the moment a woman appeared to have a violent meltdown in the Southwest Airlines concourse at Orlando International Airport last week.
The woman—later identified as 45-year-old Selomit Velez-Rodriguez—is seen in passenger Peyton Turbeville’s video yelling at Southwest employees.
“Motherf—–, are you kidding me?” Velez-Rodriguez is heard saying on the video. “Are you kidding me? Are you kidding me?”
Wearing a large backpack, shorts, a red long-sleeved shirt and a ballcap, she yells at an employee, saying she’s trying to get to her destination to bury her brother.
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A woman had a meltdown at Orlando International Airport on Aug. 14, 2025. (Peyton Turbeville via Storyful)
She appears to kick the employee, drawing gasps from bystanders.
One person can be heard saying, “Oh, that’s assault.”
Velez-Rodriguez launches into a profanity-laced tirade, then hits a Southwest desk monitor three times, saying, “two flights wasted… two flights, three planes, after 45 minutes.”
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A woman had a meltdown at Orlando International Airport on Aug. 14, 2025. (Peyton Turbeville via Storyful)
Moments later, she tells nearby travelers to call the police as she follows an employee through the concourse.
After going off on another bystander in the concourse, Velez-Rodriguez is seen punching another computer monitor with her phone before following the same Southwest employee through the concourse.
Turbeville told Storyful that the woman was upset because she did not make the standby list for three flights, though the claim has not yet been verified.
MASSACHUSETTS MAN SENTENCED FOLLOWING VIOLENT IN-FLIGHT RAMPAGE ON BOARD UNITED AIRLINES FLIGHT
A woman had a meltdown at Orlando International Airport on Aug. 14, 2025. (Peyton Turbeville via Storyful)
Turbeville also said the woman tried to get in through the gate after it closed and staffers asked her to stop.
FOX 35 learned from Orlando Police that officers responded to the airport at about 9:30 p.m.
Witnesses told police Velez-Rodriguez tried to disrupt boarding, struck an employee and damaged more than $1,000 in computer equipment.
She was ultimately arrested and booked on charges of battery, criminal mischief and resisting an officer without violence.
Police told the station she tried to pull away from officers while being taken into custody.
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Court records show Velez-Rodriguez posted $5,000 bond and was allowed to return home to Illinois.
Atlanta, GA
Charlotte hosts Atlanta following overtime win against Cleveland
Atlanta Hawks (15-12, eighth in the Eastern Conference) vs. Charlotte Hornets (8-18, 12th in the Eastern Conference)
Charlotte, North Carolina; Thursday, 7 p.m. EST
BOTTOM LINE: Charlotte hosts the Atlanta Hawks after the Hornets took down the Cleveland Cavaliers 119-111 in overtime.
The Hornets have gone 7-12 against Eastern Conference teams. Charlotte is 7-11 against opponents over .500.
The Hawks have gone 9-8 against Eastern Conference opponents. Atlanta ranks ninth in the league averaging 14.0 made 3-pointers per game while shooting 37.2% from deep. Nickeil Alexander-Walker leads the team averaging 2.9 makes while shooting 39.1% from 3-point range.
The Hornets average 114.8 points per game, 2.6 fewer points than the 117.4 the Hawks allow. The Hawks average 14.0 made 3-pointers per game this season, 0.7 more makes per game than the Hornets give up.
The teams play for the second time this season. The Hawks won the last meeting 113-110 on Nov. 23. Jalen Johnson scored 28 points to help lead the Hawks to the victory.
TOP PERFORMERS: LaMelo Ball is scoring 19.4 points per game and averaging 6.0 rebounds for the Hornets. Kon Knueppel is averaging 29.0 points and 4.0 rebounds over the last 10 games.
Onyeka Okongwu is averaging 16.1 points, 7.5 rebounds and 3.1 assists for the Hawks. Dyson Daniels is averaging 27.0 points and 10.0 rebounds while shooting 68.4% over the last 10 games.
LAST 10 GAMES: Hornets: 4-6, averaging 112.1 points, 42.8 rebounds, 24.6 assists, 6.9 steals and 5.3 blocks per game while shooting 45.2% from the field. Their opponents have averaged 114.5 points per game.
Hawks: 5-5, averaging 118.7 points, 43.3 rebounds, 31.6 assists, 9.3 steals and 4.7 blocks per game while shooting 47.1% from the field. Their opponents have averaged 122.2 points.
INJURIES: Hornets: Grant Williams: day to day (acl), Pat Connaughton: day to day (calf), Josh Green: out (shoulder), LaMelo Ball: day to day (ankle), Collin Sexton: day to day (thigh), Tre Mann: day to day (ankle).
Hawks: Kristaps Porzingis: out (reconditioning), N’Faly Dante: day to day (concussion), Jacob Toppin: day to day (shoulder), Trae Young: out (knee).
___
The Associated Press created this story using technology provided by Data Skrive and data from Sportradar.
Augusta, GA
Coroner confirms Augusta moped driver has died after police pursuit
AUGUSTA, Ga. (WJBF) – The Richmond County Coroner’s Office confirmed Tuesday it responded to the hospital in reference to a death as a result of a crash.
According to officials, 53-year-old Johnny Brown of Augusta was pronounced dead at 4:28 p.m. on Dec. 16.
Coroner Mark Bowen said Brown was the driving a moped while being pursued by the Richmond County Sheriff’s Office when he crashed into a vacant building on Gordon Highway at approximately 12:16 a.m. on Tuesday.
Brown and a passenger on the moped was transported to Wellstar by EMS.
The coroner’s office said an autopsy will be scheduled.
This is a developing story.
Washington, D.C
DC leaders considering transit options for new RFK Stadium
The Commanders are set to build a new stadium in D.C., and the debate over how fans will get to and from games is happening right now. On Wednesday, city leaders will join Metro and the Washington Commanders to talk stadium transit.
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