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It started out as a simple Thursday afternoon on the water. Leopoldo Pantoja, 57, and his wife headed out near Twin Dikes on Lake Sam Rayburn to enjoy the day. They swam into the lake a few hundred yards off a nearby island to cool off. Things took a sudden turn when their boat started drifting away from them in the open water.

Watching the boat pull further out of reach, Pantoja made a quick decision to swim after it. Open water can quickly fool even experienced swimmers, and the boat moved faster than he could kick. As Pantoja tried to close the gap, he slipped underwater and did not resurface. His wife was left in the lake alone, unable to reach him.

A civilian riding a jet ski noticed the woman stranded in the water and rode over to help. The rider pulled her out safely and brought her back to shore. While she was unharmed physically, her husband was still missing in the deep water, triggering an immediate call for emergency search teams.

First responders moved fast across Jasper County, focusing their efforts around the Twin Dikes area. Local fire departments, Texas Game Wardens, the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, and Texas Department of Public Safety air crews joined the response. Volunteers and searchers from Texas EquuSearch came in to help cover more ground on the water.

For three days, rescue crews searched the wide stretches of Lake Sam Rayburn. Boats with sonar scanned below the surface while helicopters searched from above. Pantoja’s family and friends waited through three long days of searching, hoping for answers as teams worked through changing water conditions.

The search ended Sunday morning, August 16. At about 7:30 a.m., a member of the Lake Rayburn Volunteer Fire Department spotted Pantoja’s body in the water and recovered him. The recovery brought a solemn end to a multi-agency operation that had been running since Thursday.

The discovery brought closure to the three-day search, though his family now faces the hard reality of his loss. Relatives and friends are gathering to support one another and remember Pantoja. Neighbors and local residents across Jasper County continue to offer their support to his wife and family.

Selma police detectives are running a homicide investigation after Mercedes Saldana was fatally shot early Saturday morning, August 15, 2026.

The incident started around 4:38 a.m. when dispatchers received a report of a shooting near Logan Street and Cypress Street. Patrol officers responded to the area within minutes.

Officers found Mercedes suffering from a gunshot wound when they arrived on scene. They immediately tried saving her life on the sidewalk while waiting for paramedics to pull up.

Emergency crews took Mercedes directly to Adventist Health Selma for treatment. Despite the best efforts of the hospital medical staff, she died from her injuries.

Police officers locked down the scene at Logan and Cypress streets to search for evidence and talk with local residents. Investigators believe a disturbance at a nearby house happened right before the shooting took place.

Detectives are currently reviewing what went down during that disturbance to figure out how it led to shots being fired. They are working to build a timeline of events and find whoever was involved.

While the police department works to solve the homicide, Mercedes’ family and friends are left trying to make sense of her sudden loss on a violent Saturday morning.

A Saturday morning in Selma turned tragic for the family and friends of Mercedes Saldana. She was shot and killed early on August 15, 2026, leaving everyone who knew her in deep shock and grief.

The shooting happened near the intersection of Logan Street and Cypress Street. Selma police officers received a call about a gunshot victim right around 4:38 a.m. and rushed to the scene.

When officers got there, they found Mercedes on the ground with a gunshot wound. They immediately started CPR and first aid, working hard to keep her breathing until medical help arrived.

An ambulance rushed Mercedes to Adventist Health Selma. Emergency room doctors worked quickly to treat her injuries, but she passed away shortly after getting to the hospital.

For her loved ones, the news was devastating. Mercedes was a big part of their daily lives, and her sudden death left an overwhelming silence in her home.

Friends remember Mercedes as someone who made people feel comfortable right away. Her natural kindness, easy laughter, and casual talks were things her family cherished every day.

While investigators look for answers, those who loved Mercedes are holding onto the good times they shared. Her memory will stay alive through the stories and love she left behind in Selma.

A reported domestic argument ended in gunfire Saturday morning at a busy gas station off Interstate 95. Officers pulled up to the Shell station on Raleigh Road Parkway to find Khisa Hhalille Williams wounded in the parking lot. The 54-year-old victim later died on her way to the hospital.

The emergency dispatch came in at 8:52 a.m. across the Wilson Police Department radios. Callers reported a shooting right outside the Quality Inn and Suites near the fuel pumps. Patrol cars quickly sped toward 4945 Raleigh Road Parkway with sirens blaring.

When officers got to the scene, they found Williams down near the gas pumps suffering from a single gunshot wound. The area, usually packed with highway travelers and local drivers, was immediately turned into a crime scene. Officers called in EMS and secured the perimeter.

Crews from Wilson Fire/Rescue Services and Wilson County Emergency Medical Services stepped in right away. They provided emergency care on the spot before moving Williams into the back of an ambulance. Medical staff fought to keep her alive during the transport, but her injuries were too severe.

Investigators quickly determined that a domestic dispute came before the gunshots. Detectives spent the morning interviewing potential witnesses and gathering physical evidence around the property. They are treating the case as an active homicide investigation.

The Shell station remained blocked off with yellow crime tape well into the afternoon. Investigators searched the ground around the pumps and requested surveillance footage from neighboring businesses. Traffic along Raleigh Road Parkway slowed as police worked behind the barricades.

Detectives are working to piece together the exact timeline of events that led to the shooting. Meanwhile, family members and local residents are left grieving the loss of Williams as the investigation continues. Authorities urge anyone with information about the incident to contact the police department.

A routine Saturday morning run for coffee or gas turned into a tragedy right off Interstate 95. Khisa Hhalille Williams was at the Shell station on Raleigh Road Parkway when gunfire shattered the quiet morning. She was 54 years old and well known around town. By the time help arrived, her life was hanging by a thread.

People in Wilson knew Khisa as a steady presence. She was a mother, a friend, and someone who always had a kind word for her neighbors. To her family, she was the anchor who held everyone together during tough times. Seeing her name in police reports has left the local community completely shaken.

The trouble started shortly before 9:00 a.m. near the Quality Inn and Suites. Officers got the call at 8:52 a.m. reporting that a woman had been shot in the parking lot. What should have been a normal weekend morning quickly turned into a chaotic emergency scene.

First responders rushed to 4945 Raleigh Road Parkway within minutes. Wilson Police officers, along with local fire and rescue crews, worked fast to give Williams emergency medical care right by the gas pumps. Paramedics loaded her into an ambulance, doing everything they could to save her.

Despite their best efforts on the way to the hospital, Williams died from her gunshot wound before making it to the emergency room. Her death turned an early morning call into a full homicide investigation. News of her passing spread fast through town, leaving loved ones in shock.

Police taped off the Shell station and closed down the parking lot for hours. Detectives walked the concrete, looking for shell casings and checking security cameras near the pumps. Drivers pulling off the interstate were turned away as officers secured the area.

Friends and family are now trying to make sense of a weekend that changed their lives forever. They remember Khisa for her laughter, her warm conversations, and the quiet kindness she showed every day. As police continue their work, those who loved her are leaning on each other to get through the days ahead.

Police in Columbus are piecing together a fatal single-car accident that took the life of a local driver early Saturday. Maxine Ohakim, 36, died after her SUV crashed into a light pole along Interstate 270 on the city’s east side.

The crash happened around 3:03 a.m. on the northbound entrance ramp coming from East Main Street. Ohakim was driving a white Honda CR-V and was alone in the vehicle. Investigators say the SUV ran off the road right as it entered the ramp.

When officers and emergency crews arrived, they found the Honda crushed against a light pole. No other cars were involved, and no other people were injured during the incident.
Paramedics transported Ohakim to nearby Mount Carmel East in critical condition. Despite emergency care at the hospital, she passed away from her injuries a short time later.

The ramp where the wreck happened is a common connector that thousands of drivers use every day. Because the crash took place in the middle of the night, traffic was quiet, leaving officers with very few eyewitnesses.

Detectives from the Columbus Police Department’s Accident Investigation Unit spent hours at the crash site collecting evidence. They are reviewing the events leading up to the impact, including the vehicle’s speed and condition.

Investigators are asking the public for help to build a clearer timeline of what happened before 3:03 a.m. Anyone who saw the white Honda CR-V can contact the Accident Investigation Unit at 614-645-4767. Anonymous calls can be made to Central Ohio Crime Stoppers at 614-461-8477.

A quiet Saturday morning in east Columbus turned tragic when a 36-year-old woman lost her life in a single-car crash. Maxine Ohakim was driving her white Honda CR-V around 3:03 a.m. near East Main Street. She was getting onto the northbound ramp for Interstate 270 when things went wrong.

For reasons police still cannot explain, Ohakim’s vehicle left the roadway. The Honda struck a metal light pole standing along the edge of the ramp. The collision damaged the vehicle heavily and left Ohakim trapped inside.

Emergency responders rushed to the scene off East Main Street within minutes of receiving the call. Paramedics worked quickly to free Ohakim from the wrecked SUV. She was the only person inside the vehicle at the time.

First responders rushed Ohakim to Mount Carmel East in critical condition. Medical staff tried to save her life, but her injuries were too severe. She died shortly after arriving at the hospital.

Columbus police officers closed off the entrance ramp for hours to gather evidence. They measured tire marks, checked the damaged Honda, and examined the impacted light pole. No other vehicles were involved, and no one else was hurt.

Investigators with the Columbus Police Department’s Accident Investigation Unit are trying to figure out what happened right before the vehicle hit the pole. Traffic was light at that hour, and roads were clear. Officers have not said if mechanical trouble, speed, or other factors caused the crash.

Police want to talk with anyone who was driving near East Main Street and I-270 around 3:00 a.m. Witnesses or anyone with information can reach the Accident Investigation Unit at 614-645-4767. Anonymous tips can go to Central Ohio Crime Stoppers at 614-461-8477.

Barbara Lavandeira knew something was wrong the moment her brother went silent. She was visiting from California and staying at his house when she realized he was not answering her messages. Hilton was usually active around the house, but on August 4, he had locked himself inside his room. Sensing an emergency, Barbara unlocked the bathroom door and found him standing there naked, covered in blood, and having a severe mental health crisis.

Barbara acted instantly to shield her brother’s three young kids from the dangerous scene. Without hesitating, she gathered all three children from inside the home and walked them out to her vehicle. Her main goal was to put distance between the kids and their father while he was in such a distressed state.

The danger followed her right into the driveway as she tried to get away. Hilton walked out the front door without any clothes on, his body covered in blood. He walked directly over to her car and began banging loudly on the driver-side window while Barbara sat inside with the kids.

The terrifying standoff ended when Miami-Dade Sheriff’s deputies arrived at the residence. Seeing the patrol cars arrive, Barbara put the car in drive and sped off to get the children to a safe location. Hilton walked back into the residence and locked the door behind him, leaving officers to surround the building and look through the windows to verify no one else was inside.

Emergency crews moved in shortly after and treated Hilton for multiple cuts and an overdose. He was rushed to HCA Kendall Hospital and placed under Florida’s Baker Act for an involuntary mental health evaluation. The emergency was the result of months of declining health that began earlier in the year when Hilton survived a perforated ulcer and severe sepsis.

The traumatic medical ordeal left Hilton dealing with severe anxiety and depression. His sister explained to deputies that he had been hospitalized just seven days earlier after expressing suicidal thoughts. The situation reached a breaking point during a TikTok livestream where he engaged in self-harm, prompting the social media site to take down his account.

While Hilton continues his recovery in the hospital following surgery for his injuries, his sister’s quick actions saved the day. Barbara later described August 4 as one of the darkest moments her family had ever lived through. Her quick thinking under extreme pressure ensured that three young children were brought to safety before anyone else got hurt.

When Barbara Lavandeira unlocked the bathroom door inside her brother’s home, she was met with a terrifying sight. Celebrity gossip blogger Perez Hilton was standing there completely unclothed and covered in blood. He was in the middle of a massive mental health breakdown. Barbara did not wait around to ask questions. Her main priority was getting his three young kids out of the house before things turned worse.

She quickly collected the children and got them buckled into her car in the driveway. But the situation got even scarier fast. Before Barbara could put the car in drive, Hilton walked outside in broad daylight, still naked and bleeding. He walked right up to the driver side of the vehicle and started pounding on the window while the kids sat inside.

Deputies from the Miami-Dade Sheriff’s Office arrived on the block right as the scene unfolded. Seeing the police cars pull up, Barbara stepped on the gas and drove away to keep the children safe. Hilton turned around, went back inside the house, and locked the front door behind him. Officers immediately set up a perimeter around the home and looked through the windows to confirm he was alone inside.

First responders eventually made their way into the house to help him. Miami-Dade Fire Rescue treated Hilton on the spot for multiple cuts and an overdose. Paramedics loaded him into an ambulance and rushed him to HCA Kendall Hospital. Authorities then placed him under Florida’s Baker Act, which allows doctors to hold someone involuntarily for emergency mental health care when they are a danger to themselves.

The disturbing incident on August 4 followed months of serious physical health struggles for the famous blogger. Back in March, Hilton spent three full weeks in the hospital dealing with severe complications. What started as a simple ulcer quickly turned into an intestinal perforation and dangerous sepsis. He ended up needing emergency surgery after doctors discovered a major blood clot.

The physical strain took a heavy toll on his mental health over the following months. His sister told officers that Hilton suffered from bad depression, anxiety, and dark thoughts after his hospital stay. He had even been hospitalized the week before this incident after feeling suicidal. Things finally boiled over on August 4 during a live video stream on TikTok where he harmed himself, leading the platform to ban his account permanently.

For a man who spent twenty years reporting on the personal lives of celebrities, this public breakdown marks a painful chapter in his own life. Hilton remains under medical care while recovering from surgery for his injuries, and he has not spoken publicly about the police report. His sister described August 4 as one of the darkest days their family has ever experienced, but her fast actions ensured the kids remained safe.

A routine traffic stop on a Tennessee highway turned a standard patrol into an interstate murder bust. Memphis police officers thought they were pulling over a driver for a basic traffic ticket on Thursday. Instead, they stumbled onto a homicide case from another state.

The driver was fifty-year-old Tyronne Brazille, a Baton Rouge man who had fled Louisiana. When officers walked up to his car, they spotted fifty-year-old Lanessa Bradford sitting motionless in the passenger seat. She had suffered a fatal gunshot wound.

Investigators back in Louisiana soon figured out that the shooting did not happen in Tennessee. Detectives traced Brazille and Bradford back to Independence Community Park on Independence Boulevard in Baton Rouge, where the two had been together earlier.

According to Baton Rouge police, an argument started while Brazille and Bradford were at the park. The verbal dispute escalated quickly until Brazille allegedly drew a weapon and fired a shot, hitting Bradford in the process.

Rather than surrender or call for help, Brazille fled the park immediately. He drove out of Louisiana and kept moving, crossing multiple state borders with the victim sitting right next to him in the passenger seat.

He managed to cover hundreds of miles before his getaway collapsed in Memphis. A basic driving mistake caught the eye of local police, bringing his cross-country trip to a sudden end.

Memphis officers booked Brazille as a fugitive on the spot. He remains in a Tennessee jail while local authorities arrange his extradition back to Louisiana.

Once he returns to Baton Rouge, Brazille will face a murder charge for Bradford’s death. Detectives are finishing up their case as the legal process gets moving.