Southwest
Arizona bodycam heroes save wounded baby being held hostage inside house
In a tense hostage situation, a team of Surprise, Arizona, police officers entered a barricaded home to the cries of a 7-month-old who had allegedly been shot by his father. And the officers recently recounted their heroic efforts on Fox News.
“I thought that one of us or multiple of us would get hurt going inside the house,” Surprise Officer Carlton Williams told “FOX News @ Night.” “The fact that the gentleman had already shot at officers multiple times, there was no doubt in my mind that we had to make entry into the home.”
Officers assembled in a tight formation before entering the home. (Suprise Police Department)
In May, the Surprise Police Department reported it received a 911 call about a woman and her child who were being held hostage. While the mother escaped, the baby was still trapped inside with his father. Officers heard gunfire and forced their way into the house.
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Officers said they busted in knowing they could confront the baby’s father in any room. As they cleared each room, they heard the infant’s cries coming from a back room in the home.
Officers Karpuleon and Williams told Trace Gallagher on “FOX News @ Night” they figured at some point they would meet the baby’s father. Each bedroom was cleared before they found the baby in a back room. (Surprise Police Department)
“Get the baby! Get the baby!” Williams yelled before Officer Travis Karpuleon secured the infant, carrying him to safety while the team provided cover. Officers made it out of the home without firing shots.
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“This is as close as it gets to a perfect operation,” said law enforcement expert Aaron Cohen. “They’ve got to get to the end of that structure and get to that kid, and they have no idea what’s laying behind that door.”
Officers said they believed the baby was shot multiple times before they entered the home. (Surprise Police Department)
The child was transported by helicopter to Phoenix Children’s Hospital, where he was reunited with his mother. The child’s mom made it out of the home before the child and called 911. The father, 51-year-old Todd Christopher Marchetti, later died after barricading himself in the home and lighting it on fire.
Karpuleon visited the family in the hospital as the 7-month-old recovered. During the visit, the family expressed gratitude for the officers’ bravery and the collaborative effort of multiple units.
“It was obviously a very traumatic day, so I think they were just happy to have had the outcome that was able to be achieved by the team,” said Karpuleon.
“These guys brought it. They’re lucky to come out, but you can tell how well trained these guys are,” Cohen added.
“FOX News @ Night” with Trace Gallagher showcases amazing police officers across the country in “Bodycam Heroes” at 11 p.m. ET.
Fox News’ Grant Johnson contributed to this report.
Read the full article from Here
A former Riverside County man was found guilty of sex trafficking a female victim and forcing her to engage in commercial sex acts along L.A.’s notorious Figueroa Corridor.
Elias Abdul Shabazz, 34, formerly of Perris, was found guilty by a jury following a five-day trial, the U.S. Attorney’s Office said.
Prosecutors said Shabazz had led the victim to believe they were in a romantic relationship before he turned physically and sexually violent. He began demanding that the victim engage in commercial sex acts from May to October of 2021, court documents said.
He carried a handgun with him and, on occasion, was accused of using it to pistol-whip the victim. He also fired the gun at her feet while threatening to kill her, prosecutors said.
At trial, the victim said Shabazz demanded that she meet a daily quota of commercial sex proceeds and that she was terrified of the consequences of not meeting that quota.
She testified that Shabazz compelled her to work in the notorious Figueroa Corridor in South L.A., a dangerous area known for human trafficking and prostitution.
Shabazz had confiscated her identification card, Social Security card and birth certificate. He constantly monitored her cell phone to stop her from communicating with any friends or family.
“He also introduced her to addictive narcotics and controlled every aspect of her life, including when she ate, slept and showered,” prosecutors said.
In May 2025, Shabazz was arrested and has remained in federal custody. His last known address at the time was in Washington, D.C.
On June 26, 2026, Shabazz was found guilty of one count of coercing or enticing interstate transportation for purposes of prostitution.
A sentencing hearing is scheduled for Oct. 6, where he faces 15 years to life in prison.
“Sex trafficking matters rank among the most tragic cases our office prosecutes,” said First Assistant U.S. Attorney Bill Essayli. “This defendant will now face many years in a federal prison cell for his sick, disgusting, and disturbing behavior.”
“Elias Shabazz preyed on a vulnerable victim using physical and sexual violence and cruel psychological coercion to compel commercial sex acts for his own profit,” said Assistant Attorney General A. Tysen Duva of the Justice Department’s Criminal Division. “There is no place for this type of conduct in civilized society. We deeply respect the victim’s courage to face her trafficker in court. The Criminal Division will continue to bring these cases and try them.”
Anyone with information about human trafficking can report tips to the National Human Trafficking Hotline at 888-373-7888
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