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Former FBI Agent weighs in on Orlando suspect shooting

Thu, 23 May 2013 09:38:50 -0400

JACKSONVILLE, Fla. -- The investigation continues into the shooting death of a Chechen immigrant early Wednesday in central Florida.

Authorities say he turned violent while being questioned by an FBI agent and two Massachusetts state troopers about his ties to deceased Boston Marathon bombing suspect Tamerlan Tsarnaev.

Two officials briefed on the investigation say Ibragim Todashev implicated himself in a 2011 triple-slaying in a Boston suburb that may have been connected to Tsarnaev.

Attorney and Former FBI Agent Dale Carson joined us in the studio to discuss what goes into this type of investigation.

Watch the video for more.

Ship testing war-on-drugs technology is back in port

Thu, 23 May 2013 08:06:22 -0400

MAYPORT, Fla. -- The HSV-2 Swift pulled back in port at 7:30 a.m., and sailors say it was a successful trip.

The Swift used their new technology to assess ships in the fight against drug trafficking. During their deployment, sailors intercepted two boats that fit the criteria. Neither turned out to be a drug smuggling vessel.

One commander told Action News, it remains to be seen if this will save money, but he feels it would have to with all of the manpower it is saving.

NOAA to issue 2013 hurricane predictions

Thu, 23 May 2013 07:01:20 -0400

MAYPORT, Fla. -- The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration will hold a news conference today to give their 2013 Atlantic hurricane outlook.

FEMA will also be at the conference to discuss hurricane preparedness.

2012 was a particularly rough hurricane year, which included Super Super Storm Sandy and, locally, we were soaked by Tropical Storm Debby.

Man critical after gas station shooting on Northside

Thu, 23 May 2013 05:16:55 -0400

JACKSONVILLE, Fla. -- A man was treated for critical injuries at the hospital early Thursday morning after a shooting at a Northside gas station.

The Jacksonville Sheriff's Office responded to the scene at the Pipeline gas station on Moncrief Road near 33rd Street. Deputies said a man was shot once there inside a vehicle and then taken to UF & Shands. They said he was taken into surgery for his injuries.

A witness told police the shooting might have been the result of an attempted robbery.

Deputies scoured the scene for evidence, including shell casings, and the gunman. So far, no arrests have been made.

Anti-gambling laws make local arcades illegal

Wed, 22 May 2013 23:48:44 -0400

JACKSONVILLE, Fla. -- Local amusement centers with games where children can win coupons and exchange them for merchandise are technically now breaking the law.

Large arcades like Dave and Buster's are granted an exemption, but smaller businesses must operate at least 50 coin-operated machines to comply with the law.

One arcade owner who doesn't want to be identified because he believes he is breaking the law told Action News, "I don't think anybody realized that until the spotlight went on the law and how it was interpreted."

Lawmakers say amusement centers were not the target of the new legislation.

Without complaints from the public, law enforcement officials consider these businesses a low priority.

Report: Man admitted to committing triple murder with Boston bombing suspect

Wed, 22 May 2013 22:45:00 -0400

ORLANDO, Fla. -- FBI Investigators from Washington, D.C. have taken over the investigation into the shooting death of 27-year-old Ibragim Todashev.

Agents say the native Chechan became violent with them, when they questioned him about his relationship with accused Boston bomber Tamerlan Tsarnaev.

An FBI special agent and two investigators from the Massachusetts State Police came to Todashev's home early Wednesday morning. Police say he became violent and the agent was forced to shoot.

Todashev's wife tells Action News' sister station WFTV her estranged husband wasn't close to Tsarnaev. But new reports have surfaced from CBS and CNN citing two sources close to the investigation. The reports say Todashev was about to sign a confession to a gruesome role in a triple murder in the Boson area in 2011.

One of the victims, was Tsarnaev's roommate. The reports say Todashev implicated Tsarnaev in the killings.

Reniya Manukyan spoke over the phone with our sister station WFTV. She claims to be estranged from Todashev since November 2012, but spoke to him earlier in the week. She says he didn't seem concerned that police were continuing to question him, but he was anxious to return home to Chechnya. Police, she says, asked him to stay in the United States as they continued their investigation into the terror plot.

"He expected that they would come and question him since they're from the same place, from Chechnya, so he was not even nervous. He had nothing to be nervous about," Manukyan told our sister station WFTV by phone.

But Todashev's friend, Khusen Taramov tells WFTV police have been following Todashev for weeks.

"He only wanted to talk to them so they would leave him alone. Every time we go somewhere there's two or three cops undercover. We see them. They watch us all the time," said Taramov.

Todashev was a former Mixed Martial Arts fighter, much like Tsarnaev, but Taramov says that's the only way they knew each other. He says Todashev was shocked that Tsarnaev was involved in the Boston attack.

"They just knew each other. That's it."

Todashev's widow says Tsarnaev called him a few months ago to check on his recovery after knee surgery, but that the two men hadn't talked in years.

"They were not close to each other. They were not friends or anything."

She says police have also questioned her since the bombings.

The FBI agent who shot Todashev was treated for non-life threatening injuries.

Action News has learned this was not the first time Ibragim Todashev had a run-in with police. Earlier this month he was arrested after a fight with two men over a parking spot at an Orlando mall. He was charged with aggravated battery.

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Man charged with 2010 death of child whose skull was broken

Wed, 22 May 2013 16:19:22 -0400

JACKSONVILLE, Fla. -- The 2010 death of 2-year-old is now considered a homicide and has led to the arrest of a Jacksonville man.

Nicholas Rivet, 35, is accused of causing the death of the toddler. It happened at off-base housing for Naval Station Mayport. Doctors ruled Eddie Robb, 2, died from blunt force trauma. He suffered a blown pupil and skull fracture, according to the report.

Lt. Rob Schoonover with the Jacksonville Sheriff's Office says the lengthy investigation was due in part to the conflicting stories between Rivet and the boy's mother. Rivet is a member of the U.S. Navy, but investigators did not release his rank. They do say he is not the boy's father. Rivet had a 3-year-old child at the time of the incident.

Courthouse fire system fails another test

Wed, 22 May 2013 21:28:58 -0400

JACKSONVILLE, Fla.-- Action News has learned the courthouse fire system still has issues.

Director of Public Works Jim Robinson is defending the project. "Now we're down to just a few odds and ends," said Robinson. Action News uncovered new photos of the latest problems in the building, the fire doors that don't close.

The pictures were from the first annual fire test done earlier this month. Forty-five percent of the smoke systems failed. A second test was done Tuesday and there were more failures. "The few problems that remain have to do with the doors and pressure issues," said Robinson.

It means the courthouse is on a fire watch. Robinson says it's not uncommon. "All over town, public and private buildings, there are systems that just have challenges," said Robinson.

After barely a year, the systems are still failing. They're under warranty now, but a future failure will mean taxpayers foot the bill. We asked the director about whether he was worried about the future of the system. "We're getting what we paid for. It's ongoing maintenance. We'll have things come up," said Robinson.

Turner Construction sent us a statement that read in part, "The systems have been designed, installed and inspected in collaboration with the city and we are confident that with proper maintenance they will continue to perform as certified by testing prior to the courthouse opening last year."

We're told the problems are being fixed this week. The courthouse does not have to go through another test.

Two men sentenced in Clay County detective murder case

Wed, 22 May 2013 21:24:07 -0400

CLAY COUNTY, Fla. -- Two men have been sentenced in relation to the homicide of Clay County Sheriff's Office Detective David White in February 2012.

On Tuesday, Jack Lemond and Robert Apple II, two of the four suspects in the case involving the stolen gun used to kill White, were sentenced in Clay County court.

The firearm used in the homicide was stolen in Jacksonville in May 2011. The FDLE and ATF investigation found the weapon was stolen by Apple and then passed to Christopher Henderson, Curtis Dingler and Lemond. Investigators allege all of the suspects knew the weapon was stolen.

Lemond provided the weapon to Ted Tilley, a convicted felon, who used the weapon on White and Detective Matthew Hanlin last year.

Judge Lester sentenced both Lemond and Apple to seven years each in prison on the dealing in stolen property charges. This is the maximum proposed sentence for both men.

Henderson and Dingler have court appearances soon regarding similar, related charges.

St. Marys airport runway lights damaged

Wed, 22 May 2013 21:09:20 -0400

ST. MARYS, Ga -- Vandalism at the airport becomes an expensive fix.

The St. Marys Police Department is investigating after 21 runway lights were damaged at the St. Marys airport on May 7. According to police, the damage is significant and will be very costly for the city to repair.

The police department has no leads or witnesses. The city of St. Marys is offering a $500 reward for information leading to an arrest and conviction in this case.

If you have any information, call Lt. Johnny Guy at (912) 510-0436