Police say gunman killed 4 kids

Orlando authorities saythe man who shot a police officer has killed four children he was holding hostage Monday. The children were believed to be ages 1, 6, 10 and 11.

The Orlando Sentinel reports that the gunman also killed himself.

Orlando police Chief John Mina said at a press conference just before midnight that the suspect has been identified as 35year-old Gary Wayne Lindsey Jr.

Authorities say the convicted felon was out on probation when he shot and wounded Officer Kevin Valencia on Sunday. Officer Valencia was responding to a domestic violence call when he was shot. He is recovering after surgery and is expected to live.

Authorities say two of the children are believed to be Lindsey’s while the others are believed to belong to the woman who called police.

“We have no idea when those children lost their lives,” Chief Mina said. “Our hearts go out to the families involved.”

Russians, NRA met

WASHINGTON— Several prominent Russians, some in President Vladimir Putin’s inner circle or high in the Russian Orthodox Church, nowhave been identified as having contact with National Rifle Association officials during the 2016 U.S. election campaign, accordingto photographs andan NRA source.

The contacts have emerged amid a deepening Justice Department investigation into whether Russian banker and lifetime NRA member Alexander Torshin illegally channeled money through the gun rights group to add financial firepower to Donald Trump’s 2016 presidential bid.

Now U.S. investigators want to know if relationships between the Russian leaders and the nation’s largest gun rights group went beyond vodka toasts and gun factory tours.

Anti-diversity nominee

WASHINGTON— Seth Grossman’s surprise victoryin the Republican primary in New Jersey’s Second Congressional District has brought immediate national scrutiny ofthe Trump purist from Democrats.

Mr. Grossman, an Atlantic County lawyer, said that “the whole idea of diversity is a bunch of crap and un-American” at a GOP campaign forum. These comments were mostly overlooked at the time.