NEWS OF THE DAY
Police shooting: A black man who Sacramento police say was seen breaking into at least three vehicles and later into a neighbor’s home was killed by officers who fired 20 shots, igniting questions by relatives, activists and others after it turned out he was holding only a cell phone. The shooting Sunday night happened in the backyard of the unidentified man’s grandparents’ home, where he was staying, after police said he refused orders to stop and show his hands. Sacramento police say he advanced toward the officers holding an object extended in front of him. The officers thought he was pointing a handgun and opened fire. No gun was found and only the cell phone was found near his body.
Murder charges dropped: Prosecutors dropped charges Wednesday against a New York man who spent 22 years in prison for a double killing before new witnesses came forward and his conviction was overturned. The decision came after a judge had already overturned Calvin Buari’s conviction and freed him in May. Newfound witnesses said Buari wasn’t the man who shot two men in a parked car on a Bronx corner in 1992. The Bronx district attorney’s office initially pledged to appeal and retry the case if necessary, so Buari had remained under indictment until prosecutors abandoned the case Wednesday, saying they couldn’t prove the former crack distributor killed the two brothers.
Senate appointee: Mississippi’s Republican agriculture commissioner, who served on a farm advisory committee for President Trump, was appointed Wednesday to succeed veteran U.S. Sen. Thad Cochran, who is resigning because of poor health. Cindy Hyde-Smith immediately pledged to support Trump’s agenda, saying she will push for border security, support gun rights and oppose abortion.
Lawmaker resigning: A former speaker of the Hawaii House of Representatives will resign by next week to resolve sexual harassment allegations. The state Ethics Commission on Wednesday announced the settlement in its investigation of Democratic state Rep. Joseph Souki. The probe included allegations Souki, 86, harassed multiple women by subjecting them to unwanted kissing, touching and sexual language.
Smoking baby: A video of an infant smoking a small cigar set off outrage on social media that helped North Carolina authorities identify and arrest the mother. A version of the video that’s received 1.5 million views was posted by a user who urged the mother’s arrest. The 10-second clip shows the hand of an adult off-screen holding what appears to be a cigarillo to the child’s lips. The child then makes a cooing sound and appears to inhale before letting out a puff of smoke. The Raleigh Police Department said Wednesday that the child was safe and the mother was in custody. Brianna Ashanti Lofton, 20, was charged with two counts of felony child abuse and marijuana possession. The baby was placed with the county’s child protective services department.
Chronicle News Services