(WEST BLOOMFIELD, Mich.) -- A suspect is dead after a shooting and vehicle ramming incident at a synagogue in West Bloomfield, Michigan, law enforcement sources told ABC News.

No injuries have been confirmed, Oakland County Sheriff Michael Bouchard said.

Preliminary information is that this was an intentional vehicle ramming, sources briefed on the investigation told ABC News.

According to the sources, the driver was seen steering around security bollards, and caused a fire when colliding the car into the building's front doors.

The suspect was then engaged by synagogue security, the sheriff said.

The Michigan State Police said it's urging residents to stay away from the area and said police are increasing patrols at other places of worship in the area.

The Jewish Federation of Detroit said in a statement, "We are aware of an active security incident at Temple Israel. Law enforcement are responding. Our Jewish agencies are currently in precautionary lockdown."

Michigan Gov. Gretchen Whitmer said in a statement, “This is heartbreaking. Michigan’s Jewish community should be able to live and practice their faith in peace.”

“I am hoping for everyone’s safety,” she added.

In New York City, the NYPD said it's continuing to deploy officers to synagogues and other Jewish institutions "out of an abundance of caution."

This is a developing story. Please check back for updates.

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Editor's note: The FBI has posted a fuller version of its alert to California authorities, which includes that the information was unverified. The latest version of this story has been updated with the full statement.

(WASHINGTON) -- The FBI warned police departments in California in recent days that Iran could retaliate for American attacks by launching drones at the West Coast, according to an alert reviewed by ABC News.

"We recently acquired unverified information that as of early February 2026, Iran allegedly aspired to conduct a surprise attack using Unmanned Aerial Vehicles (UAVs) from an unidentified vessel off the coast of the United States homeland, specifically against unspecified targets in California, in the event the U.S. conducted strikes against Iran," according to the alert distributed at the end of February. "We have no additional information on the timing, method, target, or perpetrators of this alleged attack."

The warning came just as the Trump administration launched its ongoing assault against the Islamic Republic. Iran has been retaliating with drone strikes against targets throughout the Mideast.

The information about Iran’s aspirations for a surprise drone attack on the West Coast came before the U.S. and Israel launched strikes against Iran, and a senior law enforcement official said it's believed the 12-day bombardment has severely degraded Iran's capabilities to carry out such an attack.

A spokeswoman for the FBI office in LA declined to comment.

Asked about the alert sent to California police, President Donald Trump said Wednesday: "It's being investigated. But you have a lot of things happening, and all we can do is take them as they come, and the war itself is being prosecuted as well as anybody has ever seen."

U.S. intelligence officials have also grown concerned in recent months about the expanding use of drones by Mexican drug cartels and the chance the technology could be used to attack American forces and personnel near the Mexican border.

"An uncorroborated report suggested that unidentified Mexican cartel leaders had authorized attacks using UAS (drones) carrying explosives against US law enforcement and US military personnel along the US-Mexico border," according to a September 2025 bulletin reviewed by ABC News. "This type of attack against US personnel or interests inside the United States would be unprecedented but exemplifies a plausible scenario, although (cartels) typically avoid actions that would result in unwanted attention or responses from US authorities."

California Gov. Gavin Newsom's office told ABC News: "The Governor's Office of Emergency Services is actively working with state, local and federal security officials to protect our communities."

And the LA Sheriff's Department said that "in light of current global events" it is maintaining an "elevated level of readiness."

"Out of an abundance of caution, and in recognition of current religious observances, the Department has continued increased patrols around places of worship, cultural institutions, and other prominent locations throughout the County," the department said in a statement.

"We have proactively reviewed our deployment plans, enhanced coordination with our patrol stations, and ensured that additional resources are available should they be needed."

ABC News contributor John Cohen, the former head of intelligence for the Department of Homeland Security, said he is concerned about the possibility of drone warfare coming from both the Pacific and Mexico. 

"We know Iran has an extensive presence in Mexico and South America, they have relationships, they have the drones and now they have the incentive to conduct attacks," Cohen said. "The FBI is smart for putting this warning out so that state and locals can be better able to prepare and respond to these types of threats. Information like this is critically important for law enforcement."

While the FBI's warning did not specify how or when vessels carrying attack drones could get close enough to the U.S. mainland, intelligence officials have long been concerned about equipment being pre-positioned -- either on land or on ships at sea -- in the event Israel or the U.S. struck Iran.

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(NORFOLK, Va.) -- Two people are injured and a gunman is dead following a shooting at Old Dominion University in Norfolk, Virginia, on Thursday, according to an alert from the university.

The gunman opened fire in Constant Hall, an academic building, around 10:49 a.m., the university alert said.

The injured victims have been taken to a local hospital, the school said.

A sophomore named Jennifer told ABC Hampton, Virginia, affiliate WVEC that she was waiting for a midterm exam when she heard a group of people saying, "get out, get out, get out."

"All of a sudden we heard a commotion. A lot of people rumbling, starting to get up," she said. "The guy next to me, we looked at each other, we started running, and that's when we heard, you know, gunshots." 

She commended the university’s quick communication through alerts, saying, "I'm very, very proud of how quick the situation was handled."

The school did not say how the gunman died.

There’s no longer a threat, the university said, adding that classes are canceled for the rest of the day.

This is a developing story. Please check back for updates.

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(ALBUQUERQUE, N.M.) -- The FBI is assisting a local sheriff's office in the search for a missing retired Air Force general who disappeared from his home in late February.  

Retired Maj. Gen. William N. "Neil" McCasland held a number of "space research, acquisition and operations roles within the Air Force and the National Reconnaissance Office" while enlisted, according to the Air Force. The roles included director-level positions at the Pentagon, as well as commanding the Phillips Research Site of Air Force Research Laboratory at Kirtland Air Force Base in New Mexico, and the Air Force Research Laboratory at Wright-Patterson Air Force Base in Ohio, according to the Air Force.

McCasland, 68, left his Albuquerque, New Mexico, home on February 27 and hasn't been seen since, according to the Bernalillo County Sheriff's Office.

"Due to his background and established partnerships, BCSO is coordinating closely with multiple agencies, including the FBI Albuquerque Field Office," the sheriff's office said, adding in a subsequent update that they "have so far uncovered no evidence of foul play."

McCasland is described as 5 feet, 11 inches tall and 160 pounds, with white hair and blue eyes. He's believed to have left his home on foot, the BCSO said.

"[D]espite the collective efforts of law enforcement and the community, we still do not know what happened to Neil after he left home on February 27," the BCSO added.

“Our priority is finding Mr. McCasland safely,” Sheriff John Allen said. "We’re asking the public to help by checking and preserving any security camera footage from the area and reporting any information immediately."

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(FLORIDA) -- Another giant reptile is clawing its way toward disrupting the South Florida ecosystem as an invasive species.

The Nile monitor -- a semi-aquatic lizard equipped with razor claws that can grow up to 6 feet -- has been establishing populations in the area since the 1980s, according to ecology experts.

Endemic to the Nile river delta in Sub-Saharan Africa, the continent's largest lizards arrived in Florida via the pet trade, through both intentional and unintentional release, Frank Mazzotti, a professor of wildlife ecology at the University of Florida, told ABC News.

"They're very wild, they're very active," Mazzotti said. "They don't make good pets at all. They don't calm down."

The temperament of the giant lizards also makes them difficult to catch. Mazzotti described Nile monitors as "very strong" and "very aggressive."

The reptiles will put up a fight and even bite humans who attempt to make contact with them, Mazzotti said.

"They're crazy," he said. "They're very hard to handle, and you have to take great care that they don't escape and that you don't get bit."

Monitor lizards are one of the high priority nonnative species for removal due to their potential impacts on native wildlife, Lisa Thompson, a communications specialist for the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission (FWC) Division of Habitat and Species Conservation, told ABC News via email.

Current management approaches focus on containing established populations and preventing the establishment of new populations, as well as recurring surveys and removals, Thompson noted.

Nile monitors are now established in Lee and Palm Beach Counties, with multiple sightings in Broward County as well. The FWC is also monitoring observations of the species in Miami-Dade County, according to Thompson.

The state's humidity allows the Nile monitors to thrive, Mazzotti said.

"Their habitat requirements are met," he said. "The climate's a match."

In addition, their diverse diet and ability to travel over land and in fresh and saltwater allows for potential establishment throughout Florida, especially in coastal areas with mangroves and salt marshes.

South Florida's extensive canal system can provide ample corridor, and they have a high reproduction rate, according to the FWC.

The giant lizards are "generalist" feeders, meaning they aren't picky about what they eat, Mazzotti said.

They have been observed to eat crabs, crayfish, mussels, snails, slugs, termites, caterpillars, beetles, spiders, grasshoppers and crickets, fish, frogs, toads, lizards, turtles, snakes, young crocodiles and other reptiles, birds and their eggs and small mammals, according to the FWC. They can hunt for prey on the surface, below ground and in trees.

Some researchers have even observed them eating iguana eggs, Mazzotti noted.

"They don't care what they eat," he said.

Due to their generalist diet, the invasive reptile could impact state and federally listed threatened species, including sea turtles, wading birds, gopher tortoises and the American crocodile, according to the FWC.

Biologists and ecologists are also concerned about burrowing owls, as their largest population also occurs where the largest known Nile monitor population also occurs.

Nile monitors are not protected in Florida, except by anti-cruelty laws, and can be humanely killed on private property with the landowner's permission, according to the FWC.

It was added to Florida's Prohibited Nonnative Species List in April 2021, which limits possession of Nile monitors for the purposes of research, educational exhibition, control or eradication.

Nile monitors are often olive green to black in color and have stripes on their jaw and head. They also have yellow-ish V-shaped stripes that begin at the base of its skull and neck and transform into "bands" along their back, according to the FWC.

They are often seen in or close to water and basking on rocks and branches, wildlife experts say.

The reptiles are usually active during the day and sleep on branches or submerged in water at night.

When temperatures drop, Nile monitors will retreat to burrows to keep warm, the FWC noted.

While they have not yet had demonstrated impacts on the ecosystem, it's important to keep populations of Nile monitors under control before they disrupt an already delicate environment, Mazzotti said.

"You cannot wait until an invasive species has demonstrated its impact upon the ecosystem," he said. "Because if you do, then it's too late."

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(PALM BEACH COUNTY, Fla.) -- Christy Luna disappeared without a trace over 40 years ago at the age of 8. Now, authorities in Florida say they have identified a new person of interest in the cold case.

Christy went missing on May 27, 1984, while going to a general store less than two blocks from her home in Greenacres to buy cat food, according to the Palm Beach County Sheriff's Office. No one knows what happened to her after she bought the food for her two cats, and a massive search at the time didn't turn up anything. 

The sheriff's office has followed multiple leads over the decades since and has named several persons of interest in the case, but no one has been charged in connection with her disappearance.

On Wednesday, authorities announced they are looking for information on a new person of interest -- Warren Gilbert Williams Jr., a convicted child sex offender who died in 2016.

Sgt. Chris Karpinski, with the Palm Beach County Sheriff's Office's cold case unit, said they received an anonymous tip last year that Williams was remodeling a home near the general store the day Christy went missing.

"He left that home and his remodeling efforts to go buy cigarettes at Belks General Store and he never returned," Karpinski said during a press briefing on Wednesday.

"That alone, interesting information, but we have a lot of that information through the years where somebody was seen in the area, and this and that," he continued. 

But Williams, he said, has a "peculiar past of sexual activity with children." He was convicted of sexual battery on a child under 12 and lewd and lascivious molestation and was imprisoned in Florida from 2007 to 2013, according to Karpinski. After finishing that sentence, he went to prison in Alabama, where he was wanted for sexual abuse of a child, Karpinski said.

"The suspicion existed through this circle of people that Mr. Williams knew through the years, and they had discussed the possibility of him being involved with Christy's disappearance," Karpinski said.

Detectives also learned through the anonymous tip that Williams, who lived in what is now known as Lake Worth Beach at the time, installed a concrete pad in his backyard a week after Christy went missing.

Authorities got permission from the current homeowners to search the property and last month excavated the yard, Karpinski said.

"Unfortunately, we found nothing," Karpinski said, saying there were "mixed emotions" on the development.

"We wanted to find something, but yet, finding something meant that, you know, we had bad news, at least it was for me," he said. "So there is still hope that Christy either is out there or somebody is out there that knows where she is, whether she is still with us on Earth or has passed."

Karpinski said there currently is no physical or testimonial evidence that links Williams to Christy's disappearance.

"We want to learn more about him," Karpinski said. "I know it's a long time ago. People, friends, neighbors, witnesses that day who think maybe they saw him, please come forward."

Williams, who was 46 years old at the time Christy disappeared, died in prison in 2016, according to Karpinski.

Authorities haven't ruled out any other persons of interest named in the case, according to investigator Bill Springer, who has been investigating Christy's disappearance since the sheriff's office assumed the case in 1984.

Springer also urged anyone with information to come forward, even after all this time.

"I want people to come forward. I'm not going to question why you didn't come forward, because I don't care," he said. "My job is to find Christy, not to judge people because they didn't come forward."

"So if you've got information and you've been sitting on it for 30 years, 40 years, I don't care," he said. "Bring it out and we'll look at it, see what we can do with it."

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(WASHINGTON) -- Authorities on Monday began searching a sprawling ranch in New Mexico formerly owned by the late convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein, renewing questions about the steps taken by the U.S. Department of Justice nearly a decade ago.

While the New Mexico Department of Justice has released few details about the new investigation, here is what we know about the ranch and what prompted the renewed scrutiny:

Did the Department of Justice ever search the ranch?

When Epstein was arrested in July 2019 on federal sex trafficking charges, the investigation into his alleged illicit activity swept across many of his opulent properties. However, investigators apparently never searched his New Mexico ranch, formerly known as "Zorro Ranch," according to emails released by the U.S. DOJ earlier this year.

When Epstein was found dead by suicide in a Manhattan jail cell in August 2019, investigators' scope broadened, but authorities appear to have never returned to raid the property for potential evidence.

While New Mexico initiated its own investigation into the property, the probe was paused in 2019 at the request of the U.S. DOJ, according to New Mexico Attorney General Raúl Torrez.

What prompted state authorities to re-open their investigation?

In a statement issued last month, the New Mexico DOJ said the investigation was re-opened because "revelations outlined in the previously sealed FBI files warrant further examination."

The statement did not provide further details about the "revelations," and state Attorney General Torrez has not publicly commented on which files prompted the investigation. The New Mexico DOJ has not responded to inquiries from ABC News about the scope of the investigation.

However, approximately a week before the New Mexico DOJ opened their investigation, the office received a request from the New Mexico Commissioner of Public Lands to investigate an unsubstantiated allegation included in files released by the U.S. DOJ that two bodies were buried in the hills around the ranch.

"On behalf of the New Mexico State Land Office, I am requesting that both the U.S. Department of Justice and the New Mexico Department of Justice thoroughly investigate this disturbing allegation," New Mexico Commissioner of Public Lands Stephanie Garcia Richard said on Feb. 10 in a letter obtained by ABC News.

According to documents released by the U.S. DOJ, a local radio host received an email in November 2019 from an anonymous individual who claimed to have worked at the ranch and alleged that two "foreign girls" were buried on the grounds of the ranch after being strangulated.

The radio host told the FBI that he originally received a demand for one bitcoin in exchange for the location of the bodies and seven videos of sexual abuse.

According to an FBI report memorializing the tip, the host promptly shared the information with the FBI. The report suggested that the tip was received by the FBI and that the radio host spoke with investigators, though it does not appear the claim was investigated further, in part because the email account that sent the tip was deactivated. 

The report and materials released by the U.S. DOJ did not include any evidence to corroborate the claims beyond the initial email. The documents and concern from the New Mexico Commissioner of Public Lands appear to be part of the reason investigators have re-opened the investigation.

Who owns the ranch now?

Zorro Ranch was sold in 2023 to Texas businessman and politician Don Huffines, who is currently the Republican nominee for Texas's state comptroller. He was endorsed by President Donald Trump in an upset victory against the incumbent.

In a post on social media, Huffines explained that he was aware of the history of the property when he purchased it in 2023 and that "at the time of the sale, it was marketed that the proceeds would go to the victims."

He said in the post that he has renamed the ranch "San Rafael" and intends to "to remake it as a Christian retreat, reclaiming it for Jesus."

The New Mexico DOJ this week said it "appreciates the cooperation of the current property owners in granting access for the search and extends its thanks to the ranch staff for their professionalism."

It is unclear if the New Mexico DOJ obtained a search warrant for the property or is just operating with the consent of the property owner.

What is the goal of the investigation?

The investigation comes as New Mexico lawmakers are seeking to better understand how Epstein was able to avoid legal scrutiny for years. Last month, the New Mexico House voted unanimously to create an Epstein "Truth Commission" to better understand Epstein's activities in the state. The commission has subpoena power and a budget of $2 million to carry out its investigation.

In a column last week, Attorney General Torres acknowledged that the state’s investigation faces obstacles but vowed to issue a public report about his findings.

"Epstein has been dead for years. Zorro Ranch has changed ownership. Physical evidence may no longer exist, and the statute of limitations has likely run on many potential offenses. These are real obstacles, and survivors deserve to hear them stated plainly. But we will follow the evidence wherever it leads and leave no credible question unexplored," Torres said.

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(NEW YORK) -- The International Energy Agency on Wednesday said it would release 400 million barrels of oil from its strategic reserve, marking the largest oil release in the group's history as the global economy grapples with fallout from the U.S.-Israeli war with Iran.

Oil prices soared after the outbreak of war as traders feared a prolonged blockade of the Strait of Hormuz, a trading route that facilitates the transport of about one-fifth of the global oil supply.

Before the war, roughly 20 million barrels of oil passed through the strait each day, but tanker traffic has now "all but stopped," Faithe Birol, executive director of the IEA, said at a press conference on Wednesday.

"The conflict in the Middle East is having significant impacts on global oil and gas markets with major implications for energy security, energy affordability and the global economy," added Birol, whose organization counts 32 member nations, including the U.S.
The release from the IEA's oil reserve on Wednesday would make up for the lost oil flow for roughly 20 days. Taken together, IEA member countries retained about 1.2 billion barrels of reserve oil prior to the latest release, the group previously said.

This is a developing story. Please check back for updates.

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(NEW YORK) -- At least two people are dead and multiple others suffered injuries in Indiana due to severe weather overnight that is expected to continue into Wednesday, according to the Lake Township Fire Department.

More than 65 million people are in the path of more severe weather sweeping across parts of the U.S. Wednesday, from Houston to Philadelphia.

The system was forecast to spawn strong tornadoes, destructive winds and hail the size of baseballs.

At least 10 tornadoes were reported from Texas to Indiana. The National Weather Service issued at least 45 tornado warnings across seven states.

The most damage was potentially in Kankakee County, Illinois, and Starke County, Indiana. Hail larger than grapefruit in size fell in Illinois -- up to 5.2 inches in diameter.

There were reports of houses that collapsed in Indiana and people stuck in homes but as of Wednesday morning there are no reports of missing people, according to the fire department.

Thunderstorm winds of 60 to 80 mph were recorded from Texas to Indiana.

Wednesday morning, thunderstorms continued to surge east, now forming a line more than 1,600 miles long across America from Canada to Mexico and from New York to Texas.

A level 2 out of 5 slight risk threat is in place Wednesday for more than 65 million Americans from Houston to Philadelphia and includes other cities such as Pittsburgh; Washington, D.C.; Baltimore; Louisville, Kentucky; Nashville and Memphis, Tennessee; Birmingham, Alabama; Shreveport, Louisiana; and New Orleans.

The main risks are for tornadoes, damaging wind and large hail.

Flash flooding is possible especially from East Texas through Louisiana, Mississippi, and southern Arkansas, where training, or consecutive, thunderstorms could dump multiple inches of rain over localized areas within hours.

Storms will reach Cleveland around 9 am and Pittsburgh around 11 am. Memphis will see storms in the morning and Nashville in the afternoon.

There were numerous reports of damage in Kankakee County, Illinois, where a large and extremely dangerous tornado was on the ground earlier Tuesday evening.

The Kankakee County Sheriff's Office said "extensive damage" was reported in Aroma Park. There were no immediate reports of injuries, the sheriff's office said in a news release.

A tornado watch was issued for North Central Illinois, along with small portions of Missouri, Iowa and Indiana until 11 p.m. local time.

The severe weather is expected to move offshore on Thursday morning, followed by a cold front that is expected to cause temperatures to quickly drop.

There's a chance that lingering moisture behind the severe weather system may turn to snow for some areas, including Washington, D.C., and Richmond, Virginia, on Thursday.

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(BALTIMORE) -- An officer responding to a report of a burglary at a residence in Baltimore was injured when a suspect opened fire on authorities from inside the home, according to police.

The shooting suspect is dead, according to the Baltimore Police Department.

The incident occurred shortly before noon Tuesday at a residence on the 6200 block of Park Heights Avenue, according to police.

"When officers arrived, they were immediately met with gunfire from the suspect firing from inside of a house," Baltimore Police Commissioner Richard Worley said during a press briefing.

A 36-year-old officer was shot in the leg and transported to an area hospital, where he is in stable condition, officials said.

Responding SWAT officers "neutralized" the shooting suspect, who was pronounced dead at the scene, Worley said.

A firearm was recovered from the home, he said.

During the incident, a woman jumped out of the window of the residence, Worley said. The suspect also held a gun to the head of a second woman at the window before he was shot, Worley said, referring to it as a "hostage" situation that was quickly resolved.

"He was firing on our officers. As soon as our SWAT team got there, was able to take cover and our SWAT sniper was able to take the shot, he took the shot," Worley said.

The suspect was related to the people in the house, Worley said. Both women have been transported to a hospital, he said.

The police department's special investigations response team is investigating, the commissioner said.

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(WASHINGTON) -- The Washington, D.C., Bar initiated disciplinary proceedings against Justice Department pardon attorney Ed Martin over allegations he improperly threatened to withhold federal funding from Georgetown University's law school and then attempted to sideline an investigation into his conduct while serving as D.C.'s top federal prosecutor last year, according to a disciplinary petition.

In a two-count petition filed last week with the D.C. Court of Appeals Board of Professional Responsibility, attorneys with the D.C. Bar's Office of Disciplinary Counsel alleged that Martin engaged in "conduct that seriously interferes with the administration of justice," including by allegedly demanding that a judge suspend the attorney investigating his actions.

"Mr. Martin knew or should have known that, as a government official, his conduct violated the First and Fifth Amendments to the Constitution of the United States," the disciplinary petition said.

According to the complaint, Martin – while serving as the interim U.S. Attorney for the District of Columbia last year – threatened to withhold federal funding and freeze hirings from Georgetown University Law Center over allegations that the school was promoting diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) measures.

After sending letters to the dean of Georgetown's law school about DEI programming last year, Martin allegedly told the school's interim president that their answers about DEI would "bear directly on Georgetown University's status as a 501(c) nonprofit and its receipt of nearly $1 billion of federal tax money."

"He demanded that Georgetown Law relinquish its free speech and religious rights in order to continue to obtain a benefit, employment opportunities for its students," the petition said. "His demand did not provide Georgetown Law fair notice of what is allegedly prohibited because he did not define 'DEI,' cited no authority for his demand, and did not describe what actions, and what timetable, might satisfy his demand."

After a retired judge reported Martin’s conduct to the Office of Disciplinary Counsel, Martin allegedly attempted to sideline the investigation by sending a letter directly to the chief judge and senior judges on the D.C. Court of Appeals, according to the complaint.

"In that letter, he stated that he would not be responding to Disciplinary Counsel's inquiry, complained about Disciplinary Counsel's 'uneven behavior,' and requested a 'face-to-face meeting with all of you to discuss this matter and find a way forward.' He copied the White House Counsel 'for informational purposes because of the importance of getting this issue addressed,'" the complaint said.

The complaint alleges that Martin – after being told to not directly communicate with judges – sent another letter to the chief judge demanding that the court suspend the investigator probing his conduct and dismiss the case against him.

With the charges filed, D.C.'s Board on Professional Responsibility is expected to refer the petition to a hearing committee.

Martin’s interactions are just one among a series of controversies from his brief tenure as Washington’s top federal prosecutor from January to May 2025 before his temporary appointment to the position lapsed and he failed to gain enough support from Republican senators for his confirmation to the post.

He was then appointed to four separate senior positions in the Justice Department before sources said he was effectively demoted earlier this year after multiple other incidents where he faced admonishment from leadership for his conduct.

Martin remains in his role as pardon attorney, according to the DOJ, and has used the post to float controversial clemency recommendations to the White House while frequently citing the phrase, "No MAGA left behind."

The ethics complaint was filed the same week that the DOJ proposed new regulations that would seek to give Attorney General Pam Bondi the authority to suspend state bar investigations, arguing the policy is necessary to combat the "weaponization" of the complaint process. It's not immediately clear what legal basis the department would have to intervene in state-level proceedings, however.

Martin and a DOJ spokesperson did not immediately respond to a request for comment on the complaint.

Georgetown Law's then-Dean William Treanor previously responded to Martin's letter, affirming the school's speech protections under the First Amendment. He accused Martin of mounting "an attack on the University's mission as a Jesuit and Catholic institution."

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(WASHINGTON) -- The FBI is now offering $1 million for information leading to the arrest of one of its "Top Ten Most Wanted Fugitives."

Omar Alexander Cardenas is wanted by local and federal authorities for a 2019 murder in Los Angeles.

Cardenas is accused of firing several rounds at the victim, Jabali Dumas, at a barber shop on Aug. 15, 2019, according to the FBI. Dumas was struck in the head and died, authorities said.

Cardenas has "known gang affiliations," and the shooting is believed to have been gang-related, according to Los Angeles Police Chief Jim McDonnell. 

A local arrest warrant was issued for Cardenas in April 2020 after he was charged with murder, the FBI said. He is believed to have possibly fled to Mexico and has also been federally charged with unlawful flight to avoid prosecution, according to the FBI.

The FBI initially offered a $100,000 reward for information on Cardenas' whereabouts when he was added to its "Top Ten Most Wanted Fugitives" list in 2022. The reward, which subsequently increased to $250,000, has now surged to $1 million, the FBI announced on Tuesday.

McDonnell called the new reward a "critical step forward" in the case.

"We believe that someone knows Omar Cardenas' whereabouts, and we're urging anyone with information to please come forward," the chief said during a press briefing on Tuesday. "Our mission is clear -- to locate and apprehend Cardenas and bring justice for the Dumas family."

Akil Davis, the assistant director in charge of the FBI Los Angeles field office, said the U.S.' relationship with the government of Mexico "has never been stronger," pointing to the recent apprehension in Mexico of another "Most Wanted" fugitive -- former Olympic snowboarder turned alleged drug kingpin Ryan Wedding.

Davis shared a message directed at Cardenas.

"Mexico is not safe for you. Mr. Cardenas, if that's where you're hiding," Davis said during the briefing. "I have full faith in this task force that they will bring you to justice."

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(NEW YORK) -- Cold and snowy conditions dominated the winter season in the Northeast with much of the region experiencing its coldest winter in a decade or more, and several cities seeing their biggest snowfall in years. However, if you live in other parts of the country, this winter was very different.

Meteorological winter -- December to February -- was unseasonably warm across much of the contiguous U.S., ranking as the second-warmest winter on record since 1895, behind the 2023-24 season, according to a new report from the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA).

While the Northeast faced persistent blasts of bitter cold and snow, exceptional winter warmth in the West nearly pushed the nation to a new all-time high for the season.

Nine states finished off with their warmest winter on record: Arizona, Colorado, New Mexico, Nevada, Texas, Oklahoma, Oregon, Utah and Wyoming. Dozens of cities in the West and Plains saw a top 5 warmest winter with cities such as Albuquerque, Phoenix, Las Vegas, and Salt Lake City seeing their all-time warmest.

Dallas, Texas, recorded 16 days with high temperatures of at least 80°F, the highest seasonal total on record.

For much of the country, winter was not only exceptionally warm, but exceptionally dry, ranking as the driest winter in 45 years across the Lower 48. Much of the western United States entered the season already grappling with drought, and persistent warmth fueled the worst snow drought in decades across parts of the Rockies as more precipitation fell as rain instead of snow.

Drought on its own already stresses water supplies, agriculture, and ecosystems. But when winter fails to deliver significant mountain snow, those impacts can intensify, according to NOAA.

A persistent snow drought can trigger a cascade of hydrologic changes. Low snowpack and early snowmelt can affect vegetation, reduce surface and subsurface water storage and alter streamflow, all of which directly impact water management and planning across the West.

Snowmelt supplies a large share of the region's water used by communities, agriculture, and ecosystems. In some states, up to about 75 percent of water supplies can come from melting snow, according to the USGS.

The Colorado River provides water for more than 40 million people and fuels hydropower resources in seven states: California, Arizona, Nevada, Colorado, New Mexico, Utah and Wyoming, according to the Bureau of Reclamation.

Widespread, persistent drier-than-average conditions also impacted parts of the Heartland and Southeast, bringing drought expansion and intensification during the winter months. Multiple states, including Arkansas, Missouri, Illinois and Nebraska, experienced one of their driest winters on record.

According to the latest U.S. Drought Monitor report released on March 5, more than half of the contiguous U.S. is experiencing drought conditions, an increase of about 10% from the beginning of February.

Florida is enduring its worst drought in 25 years, according to the National Integrated Drought Information System, with a heightened risk of wildfires this spring as conditions worsen across the state.

All of Florida is currently experiencing some level of drought, with more than 70% of the state facing an extreme drought level 3 of 4, U.S. Drought Monitor data shows.

"We expect the drought to continue or even worsen in the next couple of months, as we are in the heart of peninsular Florida's dry season that usually lasts until mid-May," Florida State Climatologist David Zierden told ABC News. "Then the summer convective rains kick in and provide some relief."

The National Interagency Fire Center says Florida faces an above-average risk of significant wildland fires throughout meteorological spring, which began on March 1. Dozens of counties across the state have issued burn bans due to the ongoing drought and elevated wildfire risk.

The worsening conditions are raising concerns beyond wildfires, including impacts to water supplies and agriculture.

"Four of the five Water Management districts have either voluntary or mandatory water restrictions limiting outdoor irrigation," Zierden added. "Range and pasture for cattle is the agricultural commodity that is hit hardest right now."

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(NEW YORK) -- A 2.3 magnitude earthquake struck about half a mile west of Sleepy Hollow, New York, on Tuesday morning, the U.S. Geological Survey confirmed.

The earthquake struck at 10:18 a.m. ET.

This is a developing story. Please check back for updates.

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(NEW YORK) -- A jury has found the Alexander brothers guilty on all counts in their federal sex trafficking trial in New York City.

Jury deliberations began Thursday for the former real estate titans, Oren and Alon Alexander, 38-year-old twins, along with their brother, Tal Alexander, 39, who have denied sexually assaulting anyone or running a sex trafficking conspiracy, as prosecutors have charged. They pleaded not guilty.

Throughout the five-week trial, 11 women testified that they were sexually assaulted by one or more of the brothers. At least eight of the women claimed they were drugged by one of the Alexanders. 

"These are chilling, reprehensible, and unacceptable acts," U.S. Attorney Jay Clayton, whose office prosecuted the case, said in a statement following the verdict. "We commend the victims for their courage in coming forward and testifying at the trial. They bravely overcame the pain of reliving the abuses inflicted upon them and, as a result, prevented others from becoming victims."  

A spokesperson for the Alexander family called the verdict "deeply disappointing."

"We believe there are substantial problems with the evidence and the way this case was presented," the spokesperson, Juda S. Engelmayer, said in a statement. "The legal process does not end here. We will continue fighting every day until justice is done and the three brothers regain their freedom."

An attorney for one of the brothers also vowed to keep fighting.

"There are a lot of avenues open to us. We're not gonna stop," Marc Agnifilo, who represented Oren Alexander, said outside court on Monday. "We believe in our client's innocence and we're not gonna stop fighting until we prevail. And we believe that we will one day prevail."

The brothers' federal sentencing has been set for Aug. 6.

Oren and Tal Alexander gained notoriety in New York's luxury real estate market through their company, Alexander Group, and have been under federal investigation alongside Alon since late 2024.

They have been accused of luring women to nightclubs and parties, then drugging and sexually assaulting them.

In his closing statement, federal prosecutor Andrew Jones said there is "crushing evidence" that the brothers "masqueraded as party boys when really they were predators" who committed an "array of federal sex offenses."

Jones recounted the graphic accounts of the alleged victims and said the wealthy brothers had a "playbook" luring women with exclusive parties, yachts and luxury travel so they could assault them.

"Once they had their victims where they wanted them, the defendants assaulted them using force, using drugs, or using both," Jones said.

Then, the brothers allegedly bragged about their exploits in blog posts with titles like "It's not rape if... you use her tears as lube” and "It's not rape if... she secretly wants it.”

Jones told the jury the allegations are corroborated "by the sheer number of other victims who testified here — women who never met each other, who have each led different lives, in different professions, sometimes in different cities. But they had one horrific thing in common — they were each raped by these men. And they described near identical experiences of their assaults."

During closing arguments, defense attorney Howard Srebnick conceded the brothers could be "obnoxious" and their conduct "inappropriate," but he told the jury, "Nobody was being assaulted, nobody had been trafficked."

Srebnick urged jurors to reject the government's case against his client, Alon Alexander, insisting prosecutors failed to meet their burden of proof.

In her closing argument, Deanna Paul said the brothers "are not mobsters," though sometimes they acted like "entitled a-------."

A defense attorney for Tal Alexander, Paul argued that prosecutors have asked the jury to "connect dots that really aren't there."

In his summations, Agnifilo suggested to the jury that the victims in this case were dissatisfied with their encounters with the Alexanders, which motivated them to testify in this trial. 

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(NEW YORK) -- Two improvised explosive devices brought to a counterprotest outside Gracie Mansion in New York City Saturday are being investigated as "an act of ISIS-inspired terrorism," and the two suspects arrested in connection with the incident are facing federal terrorism charges, New York Police Commissioner Jessica Tisch said Monday.

According to a federal criminal complaint released Monday, both suspects openly pledged allegiance to ISIS while in the presence of police, and one suspect allegedly told officers they "wanted to carry out an attack bigger than the Boston Marathon bombing," which the suspect noted "caused only 'three deaths.'”

The explosive devices contained the volatile substance triacetone triperoxide, known as TATP, and were made to "injure, maim or worse," Tisch said of Saturday's incident.

"These were not hoax devices or smoke bombs. They were improvised explosive devices,” Tisch said during a news conference outside the Gracie Mansion mayor's residence with New York City Mayor Zohran Mandami, the city's first Muslim mayor.

One of the devices was ignited and deployed at protesters in a crosswalk on East End Avenue and East 87 Street, and the other device was detonated close by, Tisch said.

Tisch said a third suspected IED was found in the car of the two suspects, a black 2010 Honda with New Jersey license plates, parked on the Upper East Side of Manhattan near Gracie Mansion, prompting an immediate evacuation of homes in the area. She said the device did not test positive for explosives.

All of the devices are being sent to the FBI lab in Quantico, Virginia, for additional testing, Tisch said.

Two Pennsylvania men who are in custody are charged in a five-count federal complaint with attempting to provide material support and resources to ISIS, use of a weapon of mass destruction, transportation of explosive materials, interstate transportation and receipt of explosives, and unlawful possession of destructive devices.

The suspects were identified as Emir Balat of Langhorne, Pennsylvania, and Ibrahim Kayumi of Newton, Pennsylvania, according to Tisch and the federal complaint.

The suspects were ordered to be held without bail after they made their initial appearances, both in shackles, in Manhattan federal court on Monday afternoon. They did not enter a plea to the charges.

"They’re suspected of coming here to commit an act of terrorism,” Mamdani said Monday. “Let me say this plainly: Anyone who comes to New York City to bring violence to our streets will be held accountable in accordance with the law.”

The explosives were deployed at an anti-Muslim protest outside Gracie Mansion that was organized by far-right, anti-immigrant provocateur Jack Lang, officials said. The event was called "Stop the Islamic Takeover of New York City."

The anti-Muslim protest drew counterprotesters who called their response "Run Nazis Out of New York City," according to the criminal complaint.

"FBI’s Joint Terrorism Task Force is investigating the matter with our partners at NYPD as well as the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Southern District of New York," the FBI said in a statement Sunday.

Balat and Kayumi are suspected of attending the event as part of the counterprotest to the anti-Muslim demonstration, authorities said Monday.

Neither Mamdani nor his wife, Rama Duwaji, were in Gracie Mansion when the incident occurred, the mayor said Monday.

Immediately following his arrest, Kayumi was asked by someone in the surrounding crowd why he allegedly attempted to bomb the protest, according to the complaint.

"Kayumi responded in part and as captured on NYPD body-worn camera footage, 'ISIS,'" the complaint states.

Balat waived his Miranda rights to remain silent following his arrest, according to the complaint, and allegedly provided a written statement in which he “pledge[d] [] allegience [sic] to the Islamic State,” the complaint states.

Balat also allegedly told police that "they wanted to carry out an attack bigger than the Boston Marathon bombing, which Balat noted caused only 'three deaths,'" according to the complaint.

The April 15, 2013, Boston Marathon bombing also left more than 500 people injured.

Kayumi, whom the complaint said also waived his Miranda rights, allegedly "stated, in substance and in part, that he was affiliated with ISIS; watched ISIS propaganda on his phone; and was partly inspired to carry out his actions that day by ISIS," according to the complaint.

“Anti-Muslim bigotry is nothing new to me, nor is it anything new for the one million or so Muslim New Yorkers who know this city as our home,” Mamdani said at Monday’s news conference.

“While I found this protest appalling. I will not waver in my belief that it should be allowed to happen. Ours is a free society, where the right to peaceful protest is sacred. It does not only belong to those we agree with. It belongs to everyone,” Mandani added.

Many of the counterprotesters on Saturday confronted the “display of bigotry," the mayor said. He also praised NYPD officers who swiftly responded to the incident and arrested the suspects, saying they were "faced with a chaotic situation that quickly could have become far more dangerous."

The mayor specifically cited the "courageous and selfless" acts of two NYPD officers, Assistant Chief Aaron Edwards and Sgt. Luis Navarro, who attended Monday's news conference. Mamdani said the officers "ran towards the danger so that others could run safely."

Tisch said the last incident in New York City in which an IED was deployed occurred in December 2017, when Akayed Ullah detonated a homemade bomb he had strapped to his torso in a pedestrian underpass connecting the Port Authority Bus Terminal to the Time Square subway station.

Ullah, a permanent resident of Bangladesh who was living in Brooklyn at the time, was the only person injured in the act, which federal prosecutors said was committed on behalf of ISIS of Iraq. Ullah was convicted in April 2021 by a federal jury on all six counts of the indictment and was sentenced to life in prison.

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(NEW YORK) -- The U.S. has intercepted encrypted communications believed to have originated in Iran that may serve as "an operational trigger" for "sleeper assets" outside the country, according to a federal government alert sent to law enforcement agencies.

The alert, reviewed by ABC News, cites "preliminary signals analysis" of a transmission "likely of Iranian origin" that was relayed across multiple countries shortly after the death of Ayatollah Ali Khamenei. Khamenei, the supreme leader of Iran, was killed in a U.S.-Israeli attack on Feb. 28.

The intercepted transmission was encoded and appeared to be destined for "clandestine recipients" who possess the encryption key, the kind of message intended to impart instructions to "covert operatives or sleeper assets" without the use of the internet or cellular networks.

It's possible the transmissions could "be intended to activate or provide instructions to prepositioned sleeper assets operating outside the originating country," the alert said.

"While the exact contents of these transmissions cannot currently be determined, the sudden appearance of a new station with international rebroadcast characteristics warrants heightened situational awareness," the alert said.

While the alert is careful to say there is "no operational threat tied to a specific location," it does instruct law enforcement agencies to increase their monitoring of suspicious radio-frequency activity.

If the contents of the alert prove true, it would confirm the fears expressed by law enforcement officials after the U.S. and Israel struck Iran that sleeper cells deployed around the West could be used for retaliation.

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(NEW YORK) -- A newly surfaced video appears to show a U.S.-made missile hitting a building in Iran adjacent to a girls’ school where local officials say 168 people were killed, experts told ABC News.

The eyewitness video was first posted Sunday morning by the Iranian outlet Mehr News, and then shared online by Trevor Ball, a former U.S. Army Explosive Ordnance Disposal technician, who now works as a researcher with the investigative group Bellingcat.

Ball said in a post on X that the video showed a U.S.-made Tomahawk missile.

ABC News geolocated the video adjacent to the site of the deadly Feb. 28 strike, in which several buildings connected to Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps were destroyed along with a nearby building housing a school for girls.

The missile seen impacting in the video is not hitting the girls’ school but another building in the IRGC complex.
Experts told ABC News the missile has the characteristics of a Tomahawk, which is used by the United States and is not known to be fielded by Iran or Israel.

Sam Lair, a research associate at the James Martin Center for Nonproliferation Studies, told ABC News that the size and shape of the missile resemble the Tomahawk.

“I do believe this points towards U.S. responsibility for the strike in the area,” he said.

N.R. Jenzen-Jones, director of Armament Research Services, also said the munition seen in the video appeared to be a Tomahawk.

“That indicates it is a U.S. strike,” he said.

Jenzen-Jones earlier cautioned that attributing responsibility for the strike on the nearby school would be difficult without access to munition fragments. He said the new video was still not proof as to who was responsible for striking the school.

“We can only be definitive about the one in the video. Of course, it makes it more likely the surrounding targets were hit by the U.S., but it doesn't give certainty,” he said.

ABC News has reached out to the Pentagon for a comment.

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(NEW YORK) -- Videos released by the Texas Department of Public Safety appear to cast doubt on the Department of Homeland Security's account of a fatal agent-involved shooting of U.S. citizen that occurred in South Padre Island, Texas, in March 2025.

Ruben Ray Martinez, 23, was fatally shot by a Homeland Security Investigations agent on March 15, 2025. The incident was initially reported by local news outlets as an officer-involved shooting. DHS did not reveal the involvement of its agent until February when media outlets reported that the agents were involved.

In a statement given to San Antonio ABC affiliate, DHS said HSI agents were helping South Padre Island Police officers control traffic after an unrelated accident at the popular spring break destination when a driver "intentionally ran over" an agent "resulting in him being on the hood of the vehicle."

The statement went on to say: "Upon witnessing this, another agent fired defensive shots to protect himself, his fellow agents, and the general public."

DHS said an agent was taken to the hospital with a knee injury after the incident.

In a statement provided to ABC News, attorneys for Martinez's mother said the video footage calls the DHS account of the shooting into question.

"These new videos confirm that Ruben's car was barely moving when he was shot," the statement from attorneys Charles M. Stam and Alex Stamm said. "That he was braking, not accelerating. That nobody was on the hood of his car. That nobody was in front of his car when he was shot. That he was shot at point-blank range through his side window by an ICE agent who was in no danger."

The statement went on to say: "This batch of evidence shows no justification for Ruben's killing.

In a statement, Todd Lyons, acting director of Immigration and Customs Enforcement, said: "We stand by the grand jury's unanimous decision that found no criminality. This incident was investigated from every possible angle by an independent body, and it cleared our officer."

Body camera video
Footage from the body-worn camera of a South Padre police officer appears to show Martinez's blue Ford slowly approaching the intersection and moving forward when someone is heard saying, "Keep going."

Martinez's vehicle slows to a crawl or a possible stop as a group of pedestrians are seen crossing the street. Martinez moves forward after the pedestrians pass and officers appear to become concerned and yell, "Stop him" and "Get him out." Three shots can be heard as the officer with the camera runs toward the vehicle.

Martinez's brake lights appeared to be on when he is shot. Since the DPS footage does not include the perspective of the agent who shot Martinez, it does not show any possible impact between agents and the vehicle.

"Stop the f------ vehicle someone," can be heard saying as the vehicle comes to a complete stop.

Agents are then seen pulling Martinez and his passenger, Joshua Orta, out of the car. Paramedics on scene begin to render aid roughly over a minute after he was pulled from the vehicle.

A toxicology report released shows Martinez has a blood alcohol level of 0.12% above the legal limit of 0.08%.

In his statement to ABC News, Lyons, the acting head of ICE, pointed to an investigative report done by the Texas Rangers which included analysis of multiple body cameras, and which showed Martinez holding a bottle of Crown Royal Whiskey and "rolling toward an officers location," Lyons said in the statement.

Lyons' statement continued: "Officers yell 'where are you going' and 'stop him.' At this point, an officer directing traffic 'was directly in front of the Fusion' and 'only one-half a car length away.'"

Lyons said, "Martinez 'rolled forward and made an immediate left turn.' The agent then 'appears to move as if he were on the vehicles hood.'"

The agent's perspective
The agent who shot Martinez, identified in documents as Jack Stevens, said he approached the vehicle after an officer yelled to "get him out." Stevens said that when he approached, he noticed the smell of marijuana coming from the driver's side window, according to the documents.

"The driver's eyes were open widely, fist clenched to the steering wheel, and he was looking past the officers on scene as he failed to comply with the loud and repeated verbal commands of multiple law enforcement officers. This is a behavior I have observed in my training and experience as a pre attack indicator and sign of noncompliance as the suspect is looking in the path of their intended movement and is not indicative of compliance," he said.

"This path of movement, if left unmitigated, would, using the vehicle as a weapon, have resulted in numerous casualties," he wrote.

Stevens said he was struck and knocked backwards by the driver's-side front pillar and side mirror, according to the documents. He said he attempted to backpedal to avoid being run over and was "still in contact with the vehicle as the vehicle struck" another agent.

Stevens said recent incidents where vehicles had been used as a weapon, like the New Year's Day attack in New Orleans earlier in the year were "fresh on my mind," according to the documents.

"Upon observing the vehicle strike SA [Hector] Sosa causing him to fall onto the hood of the vehicle and driving through the scene, with SA Sosa clinging to the vehicle's hood, I discharged my service issued handgun firing through the open driver's side window striking the driver multiple times. This action stopped the threat and gained compliance from the driver who stopped the vehicle and placed it into park," he wrote.

A grand jury decided not to issue an indictment in the case, south Texas ABC affiliate KRGV reported.

Passenger speaks with investigators
In a recording of an interview that was also released, the passenger, Joshua Orta, told investigators that when they approached the scene of the accident, an officer spotted a container of alcohol in the vehicle but told him to keep going forward and turn to the left, but Martinez continued straight toward the other officers, Orta said.

"That's when he, you know, panicked and turned the wheel, and he didn't floor the gas but he kind of went a little bit and I guess they thought he was like trying to run the cop over or something," Orta said in the interview.

"I saw the officer, kind of get on the hood. Like he didn't hit him, but like he ... caught his feet," he said.

Orta said Martinez did not intend to run over the agents.

"He didn't know what to do ... he definitely didn't want to go to jail. But as far as, like, running over an officer ... he wouldn't do that," he said.

Orta died in a car crash in February, KRGV reported.

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(NEW YORK) -- Police arrested four people after a smoke-generating "suspicious device" was thrown during a protest at the New York City mayor's residence Saturday.

It was not immediately known if Mayor Zohran Mamdani or his wife, Rama Duwaji, were inside Gracie Mansion at the time. Mamdani had no public events announced but was in the city, according to his public schedule released Friday night.

Police sources told ABC News that the anti-Muslim protest was organized by a "known agitator."

The NYPD bomb squad was investigating if the device was a smoke bomb, after some smoke started coming out of the device before the crowd was moved back, sources said.

No injuries were reported during the incident.

The mayor's office did not immediately return messages to ABC News for comment.

Two unidentified people arrested were accused of throwing a suspicious device, police sources said.

One person was arrested for disorderly conduct and another person was arrested for deploying pepper spray, according to sources.

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