Issue 51, January 16, 2024

Fatal Shooting at Florida Mall Prompts Evacuation, Inmate Fatally Attacked by Fellow Inmates

🕵️^{Trivia Question}

What is the most unique shiv made by a prisoner?
^{Answer at the bottom of the newsletter}

What’s Happening Now

Fatal Shooting at Florida Mall Prompts Evacuation as Investigation Commences

Law enforcement responded to a shooting at the Paddock Mall in Ocala.

This is the first incident of its kind at the mall in over two years.

One man was killed in the shooting and a woman was shot in the leg.

The deceased victim was identified as David Nathaniel Barron, 40.

The shooter fled the scene, but the weapon was recovered.

Several other people sustained injuries, including one with a broken arm and another with chest pain.

The mall was evacuated, and law enforcement conducted a thorough search.

The investigation is ongoing, and anyone with information is encouraged to contact the Ocala police.

Watch Now / Read More

Inmate Fatally Attacked by Fellow Inmates at Centinela State Prison, Investigation Underway

An inmate at Centinela State Prison in Imperial County, California, died after being attacked by two fellow inmates in the recreational yard.

The death is being investigated as a homicide by state corrections officials.

The attack was reportedly quelled by officers using pepper spray, and the victim, Enrique Saucedo, was taken to a medical center where he later died.

Two inmate-made weapons were found at the scene.

The alleged attackers, who are both serving sentences for murder, have been placed in restricted housing.

The incident took place at a facility that holds around 2,300 men, located near the Mexico border.

🔫 Safety Tip of the Day: In the unfortunate event of a shooting spree, remember the "Run, Hide, Fight" strategy.

Run - If it's safe to do so, evacuate the area immediately. Leave belongings behind and guide others to safety.
Hide - If escaping isn't an option, find a secure place to hide. Lock doors, turn off lights, and remain quiet.
Fight - If confronted and unable to run or hide, be prepared to fight using any available objects.

Stay informed about your surroundings, call emergency services promptly, and cooperate with law enforcement when they arrive. Prioritize your safety and the safety of others while remaining calm and alert.

Cold Case Highlights

UPDATE: Brian Gregory Quinn pleads guilty to involuntary manslaughter in 2001 murder case, faces less than two years in prison.

Brian Gregory Quinn, 46, of New Jersey, has pleaded guilty to involuntary manslaughter in the death of Shamar Washington in 2001.

Washington's body was found without identification in a rural part of Hemlock Township outside Bloomsburg.

An autopsy revealed that Washington had been beaten, stabbed, and shot, and he had been reported missing from Williamsport six days prior.

Quinn entered the guilty plea in Columbia County Court and is scheduled for sentencing this week.

The plea agreement calls for a maximum term of just under two years.

Witnesses tied another person to the crime, but there was not enough evidence to charge them.

LOOKING BACK: Inmate accused of murdering Williamsport teenager found with shank in prison search.

An inmate awaiting trial for the murder of a Williamsport teenager in 2001 was found with a shank during a prison search, according to officials.

Brian Gregory Quinn, 45, had a plastic toothbrush with a sharpened point hidden in his shorts when officers conducted the search at Columbia County Prison on March 2.

Quinn is accused of killing 17-year-old Shamar Washington, whose body was discovered near Buckhorn in 2001.

Washington had been stabbed, had his throat slashed, and was shot in the back of the head.

Quinn allegedly admitted responsibility for the murder to several people over the years.

He was arrested last year in New Jersey and extradited to Pennsylvania.

Quinn is now facing charges for possessing a weapon while incarcerated.

His preliminary hearing is scheduled for May 31.

🔍^{Trivia Answer}
_{Magazine Pages}

_{Constructed from 25 pages of tightly rolled National Geographic, treated with soap and salt, it transforms into a makeshift weapon. Its unique feature allows for disposal by simply unrolling it and flushing it down the toilet.}

The Mysterious Tale of Bennett’s Bronze Bustle: A Cryptic Message Unraveled (okay, it's not a true crime case, but a fascinating internet sleuth investigation)

A vintage dress from the 1880s has revealed a mysterious secret almost a decade after it was purchased.

Sara Rivers Cofield, an archaeologist and vintage costume collector, bought the dress in 2013.

Inside a secret pocket, she discovered two crumpled sheets of paper with lists of seemingly random words and places.

The words were cryptic and appeared to be encoded. “Bismark, omit, leafage, buck, bank”

Over the years, amateur codebreakers speculated on the meaning of the words, suggesting conspiracy theories and even love notes.

However, in 2018, researcher Wayne Chan discovered that the coded messages were actually weather reports from the telegraph era.

The code allowed forecasters to shorten detailed weather reports into a few words.

The discovery unraveled the biggest piece of the dress's mystery, but the identity of Bennett, the person who stashed the weather codes, remains unknown.