CHARLOTTE, N.C. – The father of a North Carolina college student who was shot in a “random” burglary earlier this month while she was staying with University of South Carolina students for the weekend was “furious” when he learned of the suspect’s lengthy criminal history.

Logan Federico, a 22-year-old aspiring teacher from Waxhaw, was visiting friends at USC in Columbia, South Carolina, and staying at a house on Cypress Street on the evening of May 2 through May 3.

In the early morning hours of May 3, suspect Alexander Dickey, a 30-year-old “career criminal,” entered the home in the early morning, stole several credit and debit cards and fatally shot Logan in what Columbia Police Chief Skip Holbrook described as a “random” crime during a May 5 press conference.

“She was supposed to go down the night before, and plans got canceled … so she decided to do it on a Friday,” Logan’s father, Stephen Federico, told Fox News Digital. “That’s the thing that’s just gut-wrenching. She wasn’t even supposed to be there. She was supposed to be home Friday.”

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On Saturday afternoon, Logan’s mother, Melissa Federico, was at home cooking when two officers showed up at her door to tell her the news that Logan had been shot dead in Columbia. Stephen had been golfing with friends when his wife called.

“Then, I heard … the screams from my wife on the phone and … she didn’t want to tell me that, and I had to kind of pull it out of her,” Stephen recalled. “And she finally said Logan’s gone, and I said, ‘What do you mean gone?’ She said dead. And that moment, I had no reaction. I was in shock.”

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Stephen Federico looks at a photo of his daughter, Logan Federico, on his phone. (Adam Eugene Willis for Fox News Digital)

He described his feelings upon learning that Logan had been shot as “a kick in the stomach” and “a panic.”

When he learned through local news that Dickey was a career criminal with nearly 40 prior arrests across different North Carolina counties, he felt “furious.”

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Alexander Dickey, 30, has 40 criminal and traffic charges dating back to 2013. (Lexington SC Detention Center)

“That was shocking. Absolutely shocking,” he said. “I got a name, but obviously, I didn’t get a lot of information. They were still investigating the whole background. They told me he was a career criminal. We referred him to something else. It is what it is — that’s the way I feel. But yeah, it was a shock that he was actually out on the streets.”

Logan had been studying at Central Piedmont Community College and working two jobs at the time of her death. She had aspirations to attend a four-year college and become a teacher after she developed a love of kids while babysitting her neighbors over the summer.

Logan Federico had dreams of becoming a teacher. (handout)

Federico described her personality as “electric … outgoing, personable, infectious.”

“Huge heart,” he said. “Somebody that cared intensely about people that would go out of her way to make somebody feel included and find the people that felt excluded and make sure she pulled them in.”

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Federico described his daughter Logan’s personality as “electric … outgoing, personable, infectious.” (Adam Eugene Willis for Fox News Digital)

In the early morning hours of May 3, Dickey drove a stolen vehicle into the neighborhood and parked the car on Cypress Street, seemingly at random, according to Columbia police. He allegedly broke into one home and stole the keys to another vehicle and a firearm. He then broke into the home where Federico was staying, police said.

There, Dickey allegedly stole several credit cards, saw Federico sleeping in one of the rooms in the house and fatally shot her with the stolen firearm.

Columbia Police Chief Skip Holbrook described the crime as “random” and the suspect, 30-year-old Alexander Dickey, as a “career criminal” during a Monday press conference. (Columbia PD)

Authorities responded to the residence around 11 a.m., when Federico was pronounced dead from a gunshot wound. Columbia police described Logan as “a true victim and not an intended target.”

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The next day, Dickey went on a “shopping spree” using the stolen credit cards in West Columbia, and the stolen vehicle he was using broke down in Saluda County, police said. He allegedly called a tow truck to have the stolen vehicle transported to a residence in Gaston.

Logan Federico, a 22-year-old aspiring nurse, was fatally shot during a Columbia home break-in on the morning of May 3. (Columbia PD)

Authorities began tracking Dickey as a person of interest and responded to the residence in Gaston on May 3. He allegedly fled the home when they arrived, and officials spent the remainder of Saturday searching for him.

Around 4 p.m. on May 4, a Gaston resident reported seeing a man, later identified as Dickey, emerge from the woods and steal a car. He wrecked the stolen car and fled on foot to the initial Gaston residence law enforcement had responded to the day before and forced his way inside the home.

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Columbia police described Logan as “a true victim and not an intended target.” (handout)

Authorities surrounded the residence and ordered him to emerge, at which point Dickey allegedly tried to set fire to the home. Lexington County Sheriff’s Office deputies detained him at the residence.

“We’re gonna get this guy. I’ll see to it.”

— Stephen Federico

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Federico said his daughter’s murder robbed the world of a kind person who loved to help others — and robbed the children who would have been Logan’s future students of a great teacher.

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Last week, Dickey appeared in court for a bond hearing. Federico and other family members attended the hearing. He said it was important to him to show up for Logan, and he will continue to do so until his daughter gets justice.

Stephen Federico said he plans on attending all of Alexander Dickey’s court hearings. (Adam Eugene Willis for Fox News Digital)

The grieving father also thanked Columbia police for their quick work in tracking down and arresting Dickey, calling two officers in particular his “friends.”

“These officers down there, wow. Superheros.”

— Stephen Federico

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“They’re now my friends. All of them are,” he said. “Just special people. Really special people. They found their calling.”

Dickey is charged with murder, two counts of first-degree burglary, two counts of possession of a weapon during the commission of a violent crime, possession of a weapon by a convicted felon, two counts of grand larceny, grand larceny of a motor vehicle, three counts of financial transaction card theft.

He was given a probation sentence for a burglary charge in 2023, which was reduced for compliance. His next court appearance is scheduled for July 25. He faces life in prison for the charges filed against him in Lexington County.

Dickey’s attorney did not immediately respond to a request for comment.

Cracker Barrel Old Country Store restaurants have been around since 1969, nestled strategically off interstates to attract drivers with their convenience, southern hospitality, range of food options and affordable menu prices.

But Cracker Barrel may be losing its charm amid a physical makeover, according to some.

Rachel Love, a 38-year-old Tennessee resident and self-proclaimed Cracker Barrel fan, recently caught the restaurant chain’s attention with her social media video.

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“When Cracker Barrel took away the last piece of nostalgia you had left,” Love captioned in a TikTok video last month as she showed the inside of an updated location. (See the video at the top of this article.)

The post has amassed thousands of comments from other Cracker Barrel lovers, many of whom disapprove of the new look and prefer the original concept.

Love told Fox News Digital she was in “shock” when she first saw the white walls and giant mural on the side of the restaurant near her parents’ house.

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“I thought they were priming it to paint it brown again,” she said.

The interior décor had also been altered.

A Cracker Barrel location in Tennessee is painted white with murals on the side of the building. (Rachel Love)

“There’s no antiques on the wall,” Love said. “The only antiques they have were on the fireplace mantle.”

‘Very transparent’

Cracker Barrel chief marketing officer Sarah Moore said all the things that people love about the Tennessee restaurant chain aren’t going away.

“Over the past year, we have been very transparent about our transformation platform,” Moore told Fox News Digital. “One of our strategies is really centered on that physical guest experience.”

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Cracker Barrel has been testing “various levels of remodels,” Moore told Fox News Digital.

“It’s all about evolution with intentionality,” she said. “We’ve been very transparent about our goal of making our stores feel brighter and even more welcoming than they already are, while maintaining that country hospitality and charm that we’re known for.”

Cracker Barrel has been in business since 1969, but it is undergoing changes. (Tim Boyle/Getty Images)

That includes the brand’s signature rocking chairs and peg games.

“None of that is going away,” Moore said. “We’re just looking at ways to freshen up the experience so that we can open our door a bit wider for more guests.”

Love said she’s been contacted by Cracker Barrel employees wishing to remain anonymous who said the souvenir store – a popular way for customers to pass the time while waiting for a table – is part of the revamp.

Moore said there’s no reason to worry.

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“The retail store is such a differentiator for us. It is such an important part of our overall experience. Things of that nature, the things that make us truly who we are — that’s not changing.”

“Thank you for loving Cracker Barrel as much as we do!”

Still, Love’s video created such buzz that Cracker Barrel reached out with a peace offering that included a gift basket full of knickknacks. 

“Hi Rachel! Just a little something to say thank you for loving Cracker Barrel as much as we do! Your Friends, Cracker Barrel,” a note on the card read.

Rachel Love shows off the letter she received from Cracker Barrel in response to her viral TikTok video. (Fox News Digital)

Moore said Cracker Barrel listens to its customers.

“What the guests asked for are things like spaces that feel brighter, that feel less cluttered, more booth seating, more seating options, so our guests are more comfortable while they’re dining with us,” she said.

‘Menu evolution’

Love said she believes the quality of the food has declined in recent years. “I think they’re trying to save on the food costs,” she said.

Cracker Barrel added alcohol a few years ago – something Love said wasn’t necessary.

“If I’m out at a nice dinner, I’ll drink,” she said. “I’m not going to Cracker Barrel to drink.”

Guests can also expect more menu changes. “Similar to our remodel strategy, menu evolution has also been a clear pillar within our transformation framework,” Moore told Fox News Digital.

Cracker Barrel is “doubling down on our breakfast, which is a strength for us, but also expanding our dinner offerings.”

The “campfire” meals, absent since 2018, recently returned to the menu, along with the all-new Campfire Shrimp Skillet, “an incredible value,” Moore said.

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“I don’t think we get enough credit for the value that we offer,” Moore said. “We offer so many ways to find value in your own way when you come to Cracker Barrel. If you think about it, our average check is $14 compared to $27 for the casual dining industry. Delicious food in abundance has always been part of our value equation.”

Cracker Barrel’s Campfire Shrimp Skillet is new to the menu in 2025. (Cracker Barrel)

Love hopes the responses to her video will lead Cracker Barrel to tamp down on the cosmetic changes and focus more on the food.

“Prepare it with love like it used to be. That’s where it all starts,” she said. “The food has to get better. Just adding new options is not going to change how people feel about it.”

Cracker Barrel, however, suggested it has an eye on the future while recognizing its past. 

“Everything we’re doing is deeply rooted in who we are,” Moore said. “It’s just, how do we carry forward those things that have made us so beloved for the last 55 years? How do we set up for the next 55 years?”

Louisiana Attorney General Liz Murrill believes an investigation into how 10 inmates escaped a New Orleans jail will lead to arrests of more people on the inside, she told “Fox & Friends” on Wednesday morning.

Murrill said that authorities are continuing to investigate how exactly the 10 inmates were able to escape and added that she expects more arrests of those on the inside who might have assisted. 

“There certainly will be more consequences from this event. We just have to be methodical in the investigation,” she said. 

Authorities said Tuesday that one jail employee, Sterling Williams, was arrested and accused of helping the inmates escape.

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Murrill also said that despite the time that has passed since 10 inmates escaped from the Orleans County Correctional Facility on Friday morning, law enforcement continues to follow up on credible leads and believes the remaining five escapees are still in the area.

“I’ve notified neighboring state officials that they could have headed in that direction, but my gut says that they’re probably staying close to home unless they have significant resources somewhere else,” Murrill said. “You’re just unlikely to go somewhere where you have zero support and help, most of these, if not all of these individuals grew up in New Orleans.”

So far, all the recaptured inmates have been found in New Orleans. 

“They were young children, really, during the time of Hurricane Katrina,” said Murrill. “Their resources are here, so I really expect that they are staying around here and the longer this goes on, the more dependent they are on trying to find people to help them. There’s a pretty large reward out, and I’m confident that we’re going to collect them all.

“It’s a process, and there are a lot of people involved in the process, but they’ve been effective, and they are gathering people up.”

New Orleans jail escapee Gary Price is escorted to a helicopter by police who captured him. (Louisiana State Police)

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Louisiana State Police (LSP) announced 19-year-old Corey Boyd’s capture Tuesday night, saying that he was found in New Orleans. On Wednesday morning, an updated LSP Facebook post said Boyd was “transported to a secure state correctional facility outside of the area” and that he has been charged with simple escape. 

Boyd was one of two men captured on surveillance footage in the French Quarter of New Orleans on Friday morning, just hours after the brazen breakout.

He is accused of killing a man named Brandon Fees during a car burglary in 2024 and was in jail awaiting trial on charges of second-degree murder, attempted second-degree murder, aggravated battery and threatening a public official before the escape. 

Louisiana State Police arrested escaped inmate Corey Boyd. ( )

Boyd’s arrest was Tuesday’s second major development in the case that has captured nationwide attention. 

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Earlier in the day, police arrested 33-year-old Williams, an employee of the Orleans Parish Sheriff’s Office, and charged him with 10 counts of principal to simple escape and one count of malfeasance in office. 

He was assessed a $1.1 million bond, $100,000 for each charge, according to Murrill’s office. 

According to an arrest affidavit, Williams claims he was coerced into participating via violent threats. 

Photo of Sterling Williams, who is accused of helping 10 inmates escape from the Orleans Parish Jail. (Louisiana Department of Justice)

“LBI Agents were assigned to review information in attempt to determine if anyone, from the OPSO staff or outside personnel, assisted in the escape. During a mirandized interview with Williams, he explained to Agents that he turned the water off from the outside pipe walk area on the exterior of cell 6 under direction of a light skinned black male with tattoos on his face, whom he named as ‘Massey,’ formally known as Antoine Massey, who threatened to shank him if he did not turn the water off,” the affidavit said. 

According to Fox 8, Massey has a history of escaping from custody. 

“There isn’t an ounce of this man’s history that doesn’t say ‘escape,’” Matt Dennis of ASAP Electronic Monitors, which provides ankle monitoring services, told the outlet. “He had no intention of wearing an ankle monitor.”

The five men who remain on the run are:

• Lenton J. Vanburen Jr., 26, faces charges of illegal carrying of weapons, possession of a firearm or weapon by a felon, obstruction of justice and introducing contraband in prison.
• Jermaine Donald, 42, faces charges of second-degree murder, aggravated battery, possession of a firearm or weapon by a felon and obstruction of justice.
• Antoine Massey, 32, faces charges of domestic abuse involving strangulation, theft of a motor vehicle and a parole violation.
• Derrick Groves, 27, faces three counts of attempted second-degree murder, two counts of second-degree murder and battery of a correctional facility employee.
• Leo O. Tate Sr., 31, faces charges of simple burglary of an inhabited dwelling, possession of a firearm or weapon by a felon, illegal carrying of a weapon, motor vehicle theft and multiple drug counts.

Fox News Digital reached out to the Louisiana State Police, Orleans Parish Sheriff’s Office and FBI New Orleans for comment. 

Fox News’ Adam Sabes and Michael Dorgan contributed to this report.