Southwest
Texas babysitter’s dogs attack toddler and teenager left alone in her care: Sheriff
A babysitter in Texas has been arrested and charged with felony injury to a child after she reportedly left a toddler and a teenager in her care alone, and then the children were attacked by the caregiver’s dogs.
Bexar County Sheriff Javier Salazar said a 1-year-old boy and 13-year-old girl were being cared for by Heather Rodriguez, 36, in the Central Texas town of Converse. Salazar said a preliminary investigation led them to believe Rodriguez left the children alone with her four XL American bullies.
Salazar said that Rodriguez left the home for unknown reasons and left the children in a bedroom, away from the dogs since they were “known to cause damage.”
TEXAS FAMILY SHOOTS PIT BULLS WHO ATTACKED, KILLED THEIR LIVESTOCK: ‘I LIVE IN FEAR FOR MY LIFE’
A babysitter’s XL American bullies allegedly attacked a toddler and teenager left in her care. (Brian Lawless/PA Images via Getty Images)
The dogs eventually broke into the bedroom by destroying a connecting bathroom door that they’d already previously damaged, Salazar said.
Salazar said the dogs began biting the toddler once they got into the room.
“The 13-year-old was able to maintain control of the baby, but at this point, and what’s being described to me, it was almost a tug of war for the baby between at least one of the dogs and the little girl,” the sheriff said.
The additional dogs joined the fray, and the teenage girl spent “several minutes trying to fight them off,” Salazar said.
“At a certain point, she had to break away and physically left the baby behind in the bathroom,” the sheriff said. (She was) being attacked while she went to go get her cell phone to call for help.”
MAN FACES CHARGES AFTER HE CALLED 911 ON SOMEONE WHO LIT A SCENTED CANDLE: POLICE
A toddler and teenager were allegedly left alone by their babysitter an attacked by her dogs. These are the stairs inside the home of babysitter Heather Rodriguez. (Bexar County Sheriff’s Office)
The girl called 911, safely got the toddler into another room and barricaded themselves in there. She had to push against the door to prevent the dogs from compromising that entrance.
Deputies arrived and took control of the scene, which included rendering first aid to the 1-year-old child before taking him to the hospital.
“From what we understand about the baby right now, he’s definitely in critical condition,” Salazar said Monday at a news conference, according to USA Today. “I’ve actually seen some pictures of the baby from our body camera video… it’s heartbreaking to see anybody in that condition.”
Salazar said the baby sustained “pretty severe head injuries” and that he couldn’t breathe normally after damage to his throat and airway.
The sheriff said the children’s parents were unaware that Rodriguez had “problematic” dogs and that he believed “they would not have let (Rodriguez) care for their baby the way that they did had they known that these dogs were unsafe.”
He added that the teenage girl’s quick actions likely prevented a situation that could have turned out much worse than it is.
YOUNG BOY KILLED AFTER BOUNCE HOUSE GOES AIRBORNE AT MARYLAND BASEBALL GAME
A toddler and teenager were allegedly left alone by their babysitter an attacked by her dogs. This is damage inside the home of babysitter Heather Rodriguez. (Bexar County Sheriff’s Office)
“I’ve got to be honest, the 13-year-old in this instance, I’m considering her a hero,” Salazar said. “I think her actions led to the baby not being mauled even more seriously, or even killed as a result of this savage dog attack.”
Child Protective Services has been called to monitor the welfare of both children, particularly for the physical well-being of the toddler and the mental well-being of the teenager.
Rodriguez, in addition to her felony injury to a child charge, has also been cited for letting her dogs run freely without a leash. The sheriff said it’s clear that two of the dogs participated in the attack, but perhaps all of them were involved.
“Obviously, for me, any dog that took part in it needs to be put down,” Salazar said. “As heartbreaking as that sounds, the life of a little baby is much more important.”
Salazar said Rodriguez was more concerned about her dogs being taken away than the fact two children in her care were attacked and injured by them. The dogs are now with Bexar County Animal Control, which will determine what happens to them.
“If we’re able to find out that one of the dogs, or several of the dogs were not responsible, then fine,” Salazar said. “Perhaps those can go back, but (Rodriguez) seemed to be more concerned with what was going on with those dogs than with the fact that her inaction (and) her omissions almost caused the death of a baby.”
Read the full article from Here
Long Beach will hold a pride festival this weekend after the one they originally had scheduled was canceled.
Long Beach city officials said the celebration was nixed after the nonprofit that organizes it, Long Beach Pride, failed to submit the required information for an event permit.
It was supposed to start on Friday and last through Sunday.
“Despite continued collaboration and multiple deadline notices, the City did not receive the required documentation needed to complete safety reviews, inspect critical event infrastructure, such as the stage, electrical systems and tent, and emergency exiting plans to ensure compliance with public safety standards,” the city of Long Beach said in a statement. “With event programming scheduled to begin on May 15 at 5 p.m. with Teen Pride and essential information still outstanding, there is no longer sufficient time to safely permit the festival this year.”
Officials noted that they were working to see if a “shortened event” could be held this weekend, and indeed, an agreement was reached to stage a one-day gathering on Sunday.
Billed as “Canceled? Never Heard of Her!” and emceed by comedian and drag queen Jewels, it will still bring the city’s LGBTQ community together after Sunday morning’s Long Beach Pride Parade, which was not canceled.
“Long Beach Pride weekend is a culmination of celebrations put on by our community, including our many vibrant restaurants, bars and businesses, and that will never change,” Long Beach Mayor Rex Richardson said in a press release issued late Saturday night. “Along with the Pride Parade, we are proud to join the party with this new event that reaffirms what this City has always stood for: that every person belongs here.”
“The festival may have been canceled, but Long Beach drag artists don’t cancel joy,” added Jewels Long Beach.
The one-day “Canceled? Never Heard of Her!” festival will take place at Bixby Park from noon to 7 p.m. Sunday. A free event, it will include music by several performers and a drag show.
More information can be found here.
Los Angeles, Ca
L.A. Jewish institution among targets of foiled terrorist attack, U.S. officials say
A Jewish institution in Los Angeles was among the locations targeted in a recently foiled terrorism plot, U.S. Attorney for the Southern District of New York Jay Clayton announced this week.
The thwarted terrorist attacks were the result of the recent arrest of Mohammad Baqer Saad Dawood Al-Saadi, an Iraqi national and senior member of Kata’ib Hizballah, U.S. officials said.
“Mohammad Baqer Saad Dawood Al-Saadi, a commander for the terrorist organization, Kata’ib Hizballah, faces serious charges for his role in numerous attacks against U.S. interests across the globe, including his efforts to kill on U.S. soil,” Clayton said. “As alleged, for years, Al-Saadi committed himself to furthering the terrorist goals of Kata’ib Hizballah and the IRGC, two terrorist organizations dedicated to harming the United States and its allies.”
Al-Saadi recently attempted to carry out attacks in the U.S., officials said, including attacks at Jewish cultural places of interest in New York, Los Angeles and Scottsdale, Ariz.
“Al-Saadi attempted to disrupt American society through intimidation and violence,” a press release from the U.S. Attorney’s Office reads. “… Those who engage in or support terrorism against Americans and on U.S. soil should take note: the whole of the federal government is committed to dismantling terrorist organizations and bringing their members to justice.”
In a three-month period, Al-Saadi allegedly directed 18 terrorist attacks throughout Europe, including bombings, arson, and assaults targeting American citizens and points of interest. Prior to his arrest, national security officials say he was planning similar attacks on U.S. soil. Assistant Attorney General for National Security John A. Eisenberg said that Al-Saadi “presented a serious threat to our national security.”
The European attacks included the bombing of the Bank of New York Mellon, an American bank, in Amsterdam on March 15. On April 29, two Jewish men, one of whom was a dual U.S.-British citizen, were stabbed and seriously injured in London.
In 2020, Al-Saadi took to social media, calling for others to attack and kill Americans in retribution for the deaths of Iranian military officer Qasem Soleimani and Iraqi military commander Abu Mahdi al-Muhandis, U.S. officials said. In more recent months, Al-Saadi allegedly used social media to encourage the killing of Americans and Jews to further the terrorist goals of Kata’ib Hizballah and the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps.
“In or about February 2026, for example, AL-SAADI posted on one of his social media accounts a message in Arabic, which read in part, ‘Do not abandon the blood of your Imam of the time, oh Shiites of Iraq. Kill everyone who supports America and Israel. Do not leave any of them remaining. Civil and military targets, as well as voices of discord, kill them everywhere.’” U.S. officials said.
NYPD Commissioner Jessica S. Tisch confirmed that one of the U.S. targets was a Manhattan synagogue. On April 3, Al-Saadi allegedly spoke to an undercover law enforcement officer whom Al-Saadi believed could carry out attacks in the U.S. That same day, Al-Saadi allegedly texted the undercover officers photographs and maps showing the exact location of a prominent Jewish synagogue in New York City.
Officials have not said what specific locations in L.A. and Arizona were targeted by the terrorist group.
Al-Saadi now faces numerous charges for these crimes in U.S. court. If convicted, he could be sentenced to life in prison.
The case is under investigation by the FBI’s New York Joint Terrorism Task Force, which is comprised of investigators and analysts from the FBI, the NYPD, the FBI Washington Field Office, Counterterrorism Division, and more than 50 other federal, state, and local agencies. Investigators also received help from the Department of Justice’s National Security Division, Counterterrorism Section, the Office of International Affairs of the Justice Department’s Criminal Division, and U.S. Customs and Border Protection.
A man armed with a knife was shot by L.A. police officers responding to an assault with a deadly weapon call overnight, authorities said.
According to the Los Angeles Police Department, officers with the Hollenbeck Division responded to an apartment complex in the 3000 block of Glenn Avenue in Boyle Heights at 1:45 a.m. Saturday after callers reported a male suspect was armed with a knife and had just assaulted someone in the complex.
Arriving officers found the suspect in front of the residence, but he did not comply with officers’ commands to drop the weapon. He then advanced toward the officers and an officer-involved shooting occurred, LAPD confirmed.
“The suspect was struck by gunfire and remained non-compliant,” the LAPD Public Information Officer said on X early Saturday morning. “Officers deployed a 40mm foam round and ultimately took the suspect into custody.”
Video obtained by KTLA shows the man being loaded into an ambulance and taken to a hospital; officials said he was transported in stable condition, adding that his knife was recovered at the scene and booked as evidence.
No officers or community members were injured during the incident. The man’s name was not released.
-
Austin, TX6 minutes ago2 arrested, 3rd suspect sought after series of shootings in Austin, Texas
-
Alabama12 minutes agoAvery Luedke Transferring To Alabama After One Season With Tennessee
-
Alaska18 minutes agoSouthwest Airlines Begins First-Ever Alaska Service at Anchorage
-
Arizona24 minutes agoRoad to the WCWS: Arizona can’t defend the long ball, Duke wins Durham Regional
-
Arkansas30 minutes agoFayetteville architect constructed cutting-edge Fine Arts Center at University of Arkansas, paved modernism’s path | Arkansas Democrat Gazette
-
California36 minutes agoDuck Hunting in an Unlikely Destination: California Sea Ducks – Gun Dog
-
Colorado42 minutes agoColorado wildfires: Evacuations ordered for 13,000-acre wildfire burning on Colorado-Oklahoma border
-
Connecticut48 minutes ago22-year-old man dies after crash on I-84 in Middlebury
