Country music star Trace Adkins will open the 2026 Kansas State Fair with a special Grandstand concert on Friday, Sept. 11, marking both the opening day of the fair and the 25th anniversary of the September 11 attacks.

Kansas State Fair Executive Director Bryan Schulz announced the concert on Monday morning, noting the significance of the date and Adkins’ long-standing support for veterans and first responders.

“Opening day of the Kansas State Fair is September 11, and with this being the 25th anniversary of 9/11, we wanted an artist who truly represents patriotism and respect for our military and first responders,” Schulz said. “Trace Adkins was the perfect fit.”

The concert is part of Adkins’ 30th Anniversary Tour, celebrating three decades since the release of his debut album Dreamin’ Out Loud. His career includes more than 40 charted singles, 14 studio albums, and multiple No. 1 hits, including “(This Ain’t) No Thinkin’ Thing” and “Every Light in the House.”

Adkins will take the stage at 7:30 p.m. at the Kansas Star Casino Grandstand, reflecting a new naming sponsorship for the Grandstand in 2026.

Ticket pricing ranges from reserved Grandstand seating at $45 to $55, Party Pit tickets at $85, VIP Deck standing tickets at $110—which include two drinks and appetizers—and reserved VIP tables priced at $835 for six people, which include food, drinks, and early Grandstand entry.

Schulz encouraged fans to purchase tickets directly through the official Kansas State Fair website to avoid third-party resale issues.

In addition to the Adkins concert, Schulz said 2026 will be a milestone year for the Kansas State Fair, coinciding with the 250th anniversary of the United States, the 35th anniversary of the Little Red Schoolhouse, and the 140th anniversary of 4-H. Fair officials are also hopeful that the Bison Arena will be available for part of the 2026 fair run.

More information and ticket details are available at kansasstatefair.org.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2024/9/1725972052496.jpeg" alt="Kansas State Fair Midway-Photo by Pat James" />
 <figcaption>Kansas State Fair Midway-Photo by Pat James</figcaption>
 </figure>Country music star Trace Adkins will open the 2026 Kansas State Fair with a special Grandstand concert on Friday, Sept. 11, marking both the opening day of the fair and the 25th anniversary of the September 11 attacks.<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2025/12/1765815199931.png" alt="Trace Adkins - Kansas State Fair" />
 <figcaption>Trace Adkins - Kansas State Fair</figcaption>
 </figure>Kansas State Fair Executive Director Bryan Schulz announced the concert on Monday morning, noting the significance of the date and Adkins’ long-standing support for veterans and first responders.“Opening day of the Kansas State Fair is September 11, and with this being the 25th anniversary of 9/11, we wanted an artist who truly represents patriotism and respect for our military and first responders,” Schulz said. “Trace Adkins was the perfect fit.”The concert is part of Adkins’ 30th Anniversary Tour, celebrating three decades since the release of his debut album Dreamin’ Out Loud. His career includes more than 40 charted singles, 14 studio albums, and multiple No. 1 hits, including “(This Ain’t) No Thinkin’ Thing” and “Every Light in the House.”Adkins will take the stage at 7:30 p.m. at the Kansas Star Casino Grandstand, reflecting a new naming sponsorship for the Grandstand in 2026.Ticket pricing ranges from reserved Grandstand seating at $45 to $55, Party Pit tickets at $85, VIP Deck standing tickets at $110—which include two drinks and appetizers—and reserved VIP tables priced at $835 for six people, which include food, drinks, and early Grandstand entry.Ticket sales will roll out in phases:<ol>
 <li>Kansas State Fair email subscribers receive presale access on Thursday</li><li>Tickets go on sale to the general public on Friday</li>
 </ol>Schulz encouraged fans to purchase tickets directly through the official Kansas State Fair website to avoid third-party resale issues.In addition to the Adkins concert, Schulz said 2026 will be a milestone year for the Kansas State Fair, coinciding with the 250th anniversary of the United States, the 35th anniversary of the Little Red Schoolhouse, and the 140th anniversary of 4-H. Fair officials are also hopeful that the Bison Arena will be available for part of the 2026 fair run.More information and ticket details are available at kansasstatefair.org.

Trace Adkins to open 2026 Kansas State Fair 

LOS ANGELES (AP) — Rob Reiner’s son, Nick Reiner, was in police custody Monday after deaths of the&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/hub/rob-reiner">director-actor</a>&nbsp;and his wife Michele, a law enforcement official told The Associated Press.

Online jail records show Nick Reiner, 32, was booked by Los Angeles police and remained in jail on Monday. It was not immediately clear what charges he would face. The online records showed a $4 million bail had been set.

The law enforcement official, who was briefed on the investigation, confirmed that he was being held, but could not publicly discuss the details and spoke to AP on condition of anonymity.

Representatives for Reiner’s family did not immediately respond to a request for comment and it wasn’t immediately clear if Nick Reiner had an attorney who could speak on his behalf.

Rob and Michele Weiner were found dead Sunday at their home in Los Angeles, and investigators believe they suffered stab wounds, the law enforcement official said.

The Los Angeles Fire Department said it responded to a medical aid request shortly after 3:30 p.m. and found a 78-year-old man and 68-year-old woman dead inside. Reiner turned 78 in March.

Detectives with the Robbery Homicide Division were investigating an “apparent homicide” at Reiner’s home, said Capt. Mike Bland with the Los Angeles Police Department.

Los Angeles authorities have not confirmed the identities of the people found dead at the residence in the upscale Brentwood neighborhood on the city’s west side that’s home to many celebrities.

Reiner was long one of the most prolific directors in Hollywood, and his work included some of the most memorable movies of the 1980s and ’90s, including “This is Spinal Tap,” “A Few Good Men,” “When Harry Met Sally” and “The Princess Bride.”

His role as Meathead in Norman Lear's 1970s TV classic “All in the Family,” alongside Carol O’Connor’s Archie Bunker, catapulted him to fame and won him two Emmy Awards.

The son of comedy legend Carl Reiner, Rob Reiner was married to photographer Michele Singer Reiner since 1989. The two met while he was directing “When Harry Met Sally” and had three children together: Nick, Jake and Romy.

Relatives of Lear, the&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/norman-lear-died-87300f0e49b54c05803ab315dfdf9933">legendary producer who died in 2023</a>, said they were bereft by the news.

“Norman often referred to Rob as a son, and their close relationship was extraordinary, to us and the world,” said a Lear family statement. “Norman would have wanted to remind us that Rob and Michele spent every breath trying to make this country a better place, and they pursued that through their art, their activism, their philanthropy, and their love for family and friends.”

Messages to Reiner's representatives were not immediately returned Sunday night.

Los Angeles Mayor Karen Bass called Reiner's death a devastating loss for the city.

“Rob Reiner’s contributions reverberate throughout American culture and society, and he has improved countless lives through his creative work and advocacy fighting for social and economic justice,” Bass said in a statement. “An acclaimed actor, director, producer, writer, and engaged political activist, he always used his gifts in service of others.”

Reiner was previously married to actor-director Penny Marshall from 1971 to 1981. He adopted her daughter, Tracy Reiner.&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/ab0308881d262c03587e24c656afc81e">Carl Reiner died in 2020</a>&nbsp;at age 98 and&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/arts-and-entertainment-general-news-television-programs-9b816e06aab5410ab0578ee33fc39dc8">Marshall died in 2018</a>.

Killings are rare in the Brentwood neighborhood. The scene is about a mile from the home where O.J. Simpson’s wife Nicole Brown Simpson and her friend Ron Goldman were killed in 1994.

LOS ANGELES (AP) —&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/hub/rob-reiner">Director-actor Rob Reiner</a>&nbsp;and his wife Michele were the two people found dead Sunday at a Los Angeles home owned by Reiner, according to a law enforcement official briefed on the investigation.

The official could not publicly discuss details of the investigation and spoke to The Associated Press on condition of anonymity.

Investigators believe they suffered stab wounds and a family member is being questioned by investigators, the official said.

The son of comedy legend Carl Reiner, Rob Reiner was married to photographer Michele Singer Reiner since 1989. The two met while he was directing “When Harry Met Sally” and have three children together.

Balsamo reported from Washington. Associated Press Entertainment Writer Andrew Dalton in Los Angeles contributed.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2025/12/1765796433118.png" alt="FILE - Rob Reiner and Michele Reiner arrive on the red carpet at the State Department for the Kennedy Center Honors gala dinner, Dec. 2, 2023, in Washington. (AP Photo/Kevin Wolf, File)" />
 <figcaption>FILE - Rob Reiner and Michele Reiner arrive on the red carpet at the State Department for the Kennedy Center Honors gala dinner, Dec. 2, 2023, in Washington. (AP Photo/Kevin Wolf, File)</figcaption>
 </figure>LOS ANGELES (AP) — Rob Reiner’s son, Nick Reiner, was in police custody Monday after deaths of the&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/hub/rob-reiner">director-actor</a>&nbsp;and his wife Michele, a law enforcement official told The Associated Press.<div><blockquote class="twitter-tweet">LAPD Chief Jim McDonnell on Rob &amp; Michele Reiner deaths: &quot;We have our Robbery Homicide Division handling the investigation...were able to take into custody Nick Reiner a suspect in this case. He was subsequently booked for murder and is being held on $4 million bail.&quot; <a href="https://t.co/XE2PJDwXCC">pic.twitter.com/XE2PJDwXCC</a>&mdash; CSPAN (@cspan) <a href="https://twitter.com/cspan/status/2000615042085998967?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">December 15, 2025</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></div>Online jail records show Nick Reiner, 32, was booked by Los Angeles police and remained in jail on Monday. It was not immediately clear what charges he would face. The online records showed a $4 million bail had been set.The law enforcement official, who was briefed on the investigation, confirmed that he was being held, but could not publicly discuss the details and spoke to AP on condition of anonymity.Representatives for Reiner’s family did not immediately respond to a request for comment and it wasn’t immediately clear if Nick Reiner had an attorney who could speak on his behalf.Rob and Michele Weiner were found dead Sunday at their home in Los Angeles, and investigators believe they suffered stab wounds, the law enforcement official said.The Los Angeles Fire Department said it responded to a medical aid request shortly after 3:30 p.m. and found a 78-year-old man and 68-year-old woman dead inside. Reiner turned 78 in March.Detectives with the Robbery Homicide Division were investigating an “apparent homicide” at Reiner’s home, said Capt. Mike Bland with the Los Angeles Police Department.Los Angeles authorities have not confirmed the identities of the people found dead at the residence in the upscale Brentwood neighborhood on the city’s west side that’s home to many celebrities.Reiner was long one of the most prolific directors in Hollywood, and his work included some of the most memorable movies of the 1980s and ’90s, including “This is Spinal Tap,” “A Few Good Men,” “When Harry Met Sally” and “The Princess Bride.”His role as Meathead in Norman Lear's 1970s TV classic “All in the Family,” alongside Carol O’Connor’s Archie Bunker, catapulted him to fame and won him two Emmy Awards.The son of comedy legend Carl Reiner, Rob Reiner was married to photographer Michele Singer Reiner since 1989. The two met while he was directing “When Harry Met Sally” and had three children together: Nick, Jake and Romy.Relatives of Lear, the&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/norman-lear-died-87300f0e49b54c05803ab315dfdf9933">legendary producer who died in 2023</a>, said they were bereft by the news.“Norman often referred to Rob as a son, and their close relationship was extraordinary, to us and the world,” said a Lear family statement. “Norman would have wanted to remind us that Rob and Michele spent every breath trying to make this country a better place, and they pursued that through their art, their activism, their philanthropy, and their love for family and friends.”Messages to Reiner's representatives were not immediately returned Sunday night.Los Angeles Mayor Karen Bass called Reiner's death a devastating loss for the city.“Rob Reiner’s contributions reverberate throughout American culture and society, and he has improved countless lives through his creative work and advocacy fighting for social and economic justice,” Bass said in a statement. “An acclaimed actor, director, producer, writer, and engaged political activist, he always used his gifts in service of others.”Reiner was previously married to actor-director Penny Marshall from 1971 to 1981. He adopted her daughter, Tracy Reiner.&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/ab0308881d262c03587e24c656afc81e">Carl Reiner died in 2020</a>&nbsp;at age 98 and&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/arts-and-entertainment-general-news-television-programs-9b816e06aab5410ab0578ee33fc39dc8">Marshall died in 2018</a>.Killings are rare in the Brentwood neighborhood. The scene is about a mile from the home where O.J. Simpson’s wife Nicole Brown Simpson and her friend Ron Goldman were killed in 1994.------------------LOS ANGELES (AP) —&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/hub/rob-reiner">Director-actor Rob Reiner</a>&nbsp;and his wife Michele were the two people found dead Sunday at a Los Angeles home owned by Reiner, according to a law enforcement official briefed on the investigation.The official could not publicly discuss details of the investigation and spoke to The Associated Press on condition of anonymity.Investigators believe they suffered stab wounds and a family member is being questioned by investigators, the official said.The Los Angeles Fire Department said it responded to a medical aid request shortly after 3:30 p.m. and found a 78-year-old man and 68-year-old woman dead inside. Reiner turned 78 in March.Detectives with the Robbery Homicide Division were investigating an “apparent homicide” at Reiner’s home, said Capt. Mike Bland with the Los Angeles Police Department.Los Angeles authorities have not confirmed the identities of the people found dead at the residence in the upscale Brentwood neighborhood on the city’s west side that’s home to many celebrities.Reiner was long one of the most prolific directors in Hollywood, and his work included some of the most memorable movies of the 1980s and ’90s, including “This is Spinal Tap,” “A Few Good Men,” “When Harry Met Sally” and “The Princess Bride.”His role as Meathead in Norman Lear's 1970s TV classic “All in the Family,” alongside Carol O’Connor’s Archie Bunker, catapulted him to fame and won him two Emmy Awards.Relatives of Lear, the&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/norman-lear-died-87300f0e49b54c05803ab315dfdf9933">legendary producer who died in 2023</a>, said they were bereft by the news.“Norman often referred to Rob as a son, and their close relationship was extraordinary, to us and the world,” said a Lear family statement. “Norman would have wanted to remind us that Rob and Michele spent every breath trying to make this country a better place, and they pursued that through their art, their activism, their philanthropy, and their love for family and friends.”Messages to Reiner's representatives were not immediately returned Sunday night.Los Angeles Mayor Karen Bass called Reiner's death a devastating loss for the city.“Rob Reiner’s contributions reverberate throughout American culture and society, and he has improved countless lives through his creative work and advocacy fighting for social and economic justice,” Bass said in a statement. “An acclaimed actor, director, producer, writer, and engaged political activist, he always used his gifts in service of others.”The son of comedy legend Carl Reiner, Rob Reiner was married to photographer Michele Singer Reiner since 1989. The two met while he was directing “When Harry Met Sally” and have three children together.Reiner was previously married to actor-director Penny Marshall from 1971 to 1981. He adopted her daughter, Tracy Reiner.&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/ab0308881d262c03587e24c656afc81e">Carl Reiner died in 2020</a>&nbsp;at age 98 and&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/arts-and-entertainment-general-news-television-programs-9b816e06aab5410ab0578ee33fc39dc8">Marshall died in 2018</a>.Killings are rare in the Brentwood neighborhood. The scene is about a mile from the home where O.J. Simpson’s wife Nicole Brown Simpson and her friend Ron Goldman were killed in 1994.__Balsamo reported from Washington. Associated Press Entertainment Writer Andrew Dalton in Los Angeles contributed.

🎥Police: New details in the murder of Rob Reiner and wife in LA

SEDGWICK COUNTY — A Kansas sheriff's deputy charged with battery for striking a handcuffed man at a Wichita hospital will be in court on Monday.&nbsp;&nbsp;

Sedgwick County Sheriff's Deputy Brett Anderson is scheduled to make a first appearance in the case in Judge Chrystal Krier's courtroom, according to the Sedgwick County District Attorney's office.

In November, police completed a criminal investigation into a use of force incident involving Deputy Anderson, according to a media release from Wichita Police.

At the request of Sheriff Jeff Easter, the WPD Alert Team conducted the investigation following a supervisory review of body-worn camera footage by the Sheriff’s Office. The incident occurred on September 11, at a local hospital, where a handcuffed man was struck several times by Deputy Anderson during an encounter.

WPD investigators presented the case to the Sedgwick County District Attorney’s Office, which has charged Deputy Anderson with one count of misdemeanor battery.

The Sedgwick County District Attorney’s Office formally filed one count of Misdemeanor Battery against Anderson in connection with the incident.

Deputy Anderson, a six-year veteran of the Sheriff’s Office, was placed on administrative leave pending the outcome of the criminal case.

SEDGWICK COUNTY — A Kansas sheriff's deputy charged with battery for striking a handcuffed man at a Wichita hospital will be in court on Monday.&nbsp;&nbsp;Sedgwick County Sheriff's Deputy Brett Anderson is scheduled to make a first appearance in the case in Judge Chrystal Krier's courtroom, according to the Sedgwick County District Attorney's office.In November, police completed a criminal investigation into a use of force incident involving Deputy Anderson, according to a media release from Wichita Police.At the request of Sheriff Jeff Easter, the WPD Alert Team conducted the investigation following a supervisory review of body-worn camera footage by the Sheriff’s Office. The incident occurred on September 11, at a local hospital, where a handcuffed man was struck several times by Deputy Anderson during an encounter.WPD investigators presented the case to the Sedgwick County District Attorney’s Office, which has charged Deputy Anderson with one count of misdemeanor battery.The Sedgwick County District Attorney’s Office formally filed one count of Misdemeanor Battery against Anderson in connection with the incident.Deputy Anderson, a six-year veteran of the Sheriff’s Office, was placed on administrative leave pending the outcome of the criminal case.

Kan. deputy charged with hitting handcuffed man goes to court

KANSAS CITY—Authorities are investigating the cause of an apartment fire in Kansas City.

Just after midnight early Monday, crews responded to a reported apartment fire in the 3300 block of East Linwood Boulevard in Kansas City, Missouri, according to Battalion Chief Riley Nolan.

 On arrival, crews reported smoke and fire showing from the 2nd floor of a 3-story story apartment building, appearing to be vacant. Interior operations were initiated on an offensive fire attack with multiple hose lines advanced inside.&nbsp;

Searches of the structure were conducted and came back all clear. The fire was brought under control at 12:44 a.m.

One firefighter did step through a hole in the floor but was able to get out and was uninjured. No injuries or patients were reported at this incident.&nbsp;&nbsp;Dangerous Buildings and City Planning were ordered.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2025/12/1765799405020.png" alt="Photo KC Fire Deptartment" />
 <figcaption>Photo KC Fire Deptartment</figcaption>
 </figure>KANSAS CITY—Authorities are investigating the cause of an apartment fire in Kansas City.Just after midnight early Monday, crews responded to a reported apartment fire in the 3300 block of East Linwood Boulevard in Kansas City, Missouri, according to Battalion Chief Riley Nolan. On arrival, crews reported smoke and fire showing from the 2nd floor of a 3-story story apartment building, appearing to be vacant. Interior operations were initiated on an offensive fire attack with multiple hose lines advanced inside.&nbsp;<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2025/12/1765799383254.png" alt="" />
 <figcaption></figcaption>
 </figure>Searches of the structure were conducted and came back all clear. The fire was brought under control at 12:44 a.m.One firefighter did step through a hole in the floor but was able to get out and was uninjured. No injuries or patients were reported at this incident.&nbsp;&nbsp;Dangerous Buildings and City Planning were ordered.

KC firefighter stepped though hole in floor at apartment building fire

PROVIDENCE, R.I. (AP) — A person of interest detained after a&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/brown-university-active-shooter-c7c9d1c7da19a76c2a27685c7e63d6da">Brown University shooting</a>&nbsp;that killed two students and injured nine will be released after law enforcement authorities determined there was no basis to keep the individual in custody, officials said Sunday night.

The disclosure, made at a hastily convened late night news conference, represents a dramatic setback in an investigation into killings that set off hours of chaos on the Ivy League campus and unravels progress that authorities thought they had made earlier in the day when they detained a man at a Rhode Island hotel in connection with the attack.

The release of the lone person of interest leaves law enforcement without any known suspect, with officials pledging to redouble efforts in the investigation by canvassing for video surveillance that could help pinpoint the killer's identity.

“We have a murderer out there,” said Attorney General Peter Neronha, while Providence Mayor Brett Smiley acknowledged that ”the news is likely to cause fresh anxiety for our community."

Despite an enhanced police presence at Brown, officials are not recommending another shelter-in-place order like the one that followed the Saturday afternoon shooting, when hundreds of officers searched for the shooter and urged students and staff to shelter in place. The lockdown, which stretched into the night, was lifted early Sunday, but authorities had not yet released information about a potential motive.

On Sunday morning, officials took into custody a person of interest at a Hampton Inn hotel in Coventry, Rhode Island, about 20 miles (32 kilometers) from Providence. Two people familiar with the matter identified that individual as a 24-year-old man from Wisconsin, though authorities never released the individual's name.

"I’ve been around long enough to know that sometimes you head in one direction and then you have to regroup and go in another and that’s exactly what has happened over the last 24 hours or so,” Neronha said.

He said that “certainly there was some degree of evidence that pointed to the individual” who'd been taken into custody but “that evidence needed to be corroborated and confirmed. And over the last 24 hours leading into just very, very recently, that evidence now points in a different direction.”

Shooting occurred during busy period on campus

The shooting occurred during one of the busiest moments of&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/deadly-campus-shootings-aea218f6d4d2b1fea4a0fc38160b1c17">the academic calendar</a>, as final exams were underway. Brown canceled all remaining classes, exams, papers and projects for the semester and told students they could leave campus, underscoring the scale of the disruption and the gravity of the attack.

As police scoured the area for the shooter, many students remained barricaded in rooms while others hid behind furniture and bookshelves. One video showed students in a library shaking and wincing as they heard loud bangs just before police entered the room to clear the building.

University President Christina Paxson teared up while describing her conversations with students both on campus and in the hospital.

“They are amazing and they’re supporting each other,” she said at a news conference. “There’s just a lot of gratitude.”

The gunman opened fire inside a classroom in the engineering building, firing more than 40 rounds from a 9 mm handgun, a law enforcement official told AP. Two handguns were recovered when the person of interest was taken into custody and authorities also found two loaded 30-round magazines, the official said. One of the firearms was equipped with a laser sight that projects a dot to aid in targeting, said the official, who was not authorized to discuss the investigation publicly and spoke to AP on the condition of anonymity.

One student of the nine wounded students had been released from the hospital, said Paxson. Seven others were in critical but stable condition, and one was in critical condition.

Durham Academy, a private K-12 school in Durham, North Carolina, confirmed that a recent graduate, Kendall Turner, was critically wounded. The school said her parents were with her.

“Our school community is rallying around Kendall, her classmates, and her loved ones, and we will continue to offer our full support in the days ahead,” the school said.

Community comes together to remember victims

On Sunday evening, city leaders, residents and others gathered at a park to honor the victims. The event originally was scheduled as a Christmas tree and Hanukkah menorah lighting.

“For those who know at least bit of the Hanukkah story, it is quite clear that if we can come together as a community to shine a little bit of light tonight, there’s nothing better that we can be doing,” Mayor Brett Smiley said at a news conference earlier in the day.

Smiley said he visited some wounded students and was inspired by their courage, hope and gratitude. One told him that active shooting drills done in high school proved helpful.

“The resilience that these survivors showed and shared with me, is frankly pretty overwhelming,” he said.

Exams were underway when the shooting began

Investigators were not immediately sure how the shooter got inside the first-floor classroom at the Barus &amp; Holley building, a seven-story complex that houses the School of Engineering and physics department. The building includes more than 100 laboratories, dozens of classrooms and offices, according to the university’s website.

Engineering design exams were underway. Outer doors of the building were unlocked but rooms being used for final exams required badge access, Smiley said.

Emma Ferraro, a chemical engineering student, was in the lobby working on a final project when she heard loud pops. Once she realized they were gunshots, she darted for the door and into a nearby building where she waited for hours.

Surveillance video released by police showed a suspect, dressed in black, walking from the scene.

Former ‘Survivor’ contestant left the building just before shooting

<a href="https://apnews.com/article/neurodiversity-alliance-x-games-alex-hackel-survivor-eva-erickson-c86492878ab0a3c774808ce98ec9d290">Eva Erickson</a>, a doctoral candidate who was the runner-up earlier this year on the CBS reality competition show “Survivor,” said she left her lab in the engineering building 15 minutes before shots rang out.

The engineering and thermal science student shared candid moments on “Survivor” as the show’s first openly autistic contestant. She was locked down in the campus gym following the shooting and shared on social media that the only other member of her lab who was present was safely evacuated.

Brown senior biochemistry student Alex Bruce was working on a final research project in his dorm across the street from the building when he heard sirens outside.

“I’m just in here shaking,” he said, watching through the window as officers surrounded his dorm.

Brown, the seventh-oldest higher education institution in the U.S., is one of the nation’s most prestigious colleges, with roughly 7,300 undergraduates and more than 3,000 graduate students.

Ramer reported from Concord, New Hampshire. Contributing were Associated Press journalists Jennifer McDermott in Providence; Christopher Weber in Los Angeles; and Alanna Durkin Richer, Mike Balsamo and Eric Tucker in Washington, D.C.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2025/12/1765805502141.png" alt="Photo courtesy WJAR TV" />
 <figcaption>Photo courtesy WJAR TV</figcaption>
 </figure>PROVIDENCE, R.I. (AP) — A person of interest detained after a&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/brown-university-active-shooter-c7c9d1c7da19a76c2a27685c7e63d6da">Brown University shooting</a>&nbsp;that killed two students and injured nine will be released after law enforcement authorities determined there was no basis to keep the individual in custody, officials said Sunday night.<div><iframe src="https://www.facebook.com/plugins/video.php?height=314&href=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.facebook.com%2Freel%2F841246018776308%2F&show_text=false&width=560&t=0" width="560" height="314" style="border:none;overflow:hidden" scrolling="no" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen="true" allow="autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; picture-in-picture; web-share" allowFullScreen="true"></iframe></div>The disclosure, made at a hastily convened late night news conference, represents a dramatic setback in an investigation into killings that set off hours of chaos on the Ivy League campus and unravels progress that authorities thought they had made earlier in the day when they detained a man at a Rhode Island hotel in connection with the attack.<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2025/12/1765713698495.png" alt="Image from police video" />
 <figcaption>Image from police video</figcaption>
 </figure><h2>No current suspect in deadly shooting</h2>The release of the lone person of interest leaves law enforcement without any known suspect, with officials pledging to redouble efforts in the investigation by canvassing for video surveillance that could help pinpoint the killer's identity.“We have a murderer out there,” said Attorney General Peter Neronha, while Providence Mayor Brett Smiley acknowledged that ”the news is likely to cause fresh anxiety for our community."Despite an enhanced police presence at Brown, officials are not recommending another shelter-in-place order like the one that followed the Saturday afternoon shooting, when hundreds of officers searched for the shooter and urged students and staff to shelter in place. The lockdown, which stretched into the night, was lifted early Sunday, but authorities had not yet released information about a potential motive.On Sunday morning, officials took into custody a person of interest at a Hampton Inn hotel in Coventry, Rhode Island, about 20 miles (32 kilometers) from Providence. Two people familiar with the matter identified that individual as a 24-year-old man from Wisconsin, though authorities never released the individual's name."I’ve been around long enough to know that sometimes you head in one direction and then you have to regroup and go in another and that’s exactly what has happened over the last 24 hours or so,” Neronha said.He said that “certainly there was some degree of evidence that pointed to the individual” who'd been taken into custody but “that evidence needed to be corroborated and confirmed. And over the last 24 hours leading into just very, very recently, that evidence now points in a different direction.”<h2>Shooting occurred during busy period on campus</h2>The shooting occurred during one of the busiest moments of&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/deadly-campus-shootings-aea218f6d4d2b1fea4a0fc38160b1c17">the academic calendar</a>, as final exams were underway. Brown canceled all remaining classes, exams, papers and projects for the semester and told students they could leave campus, underscoring the scale of the disruption and the gravity of the attack.As police scoured the area for the shooter, many students remained barricaded in rooms while others hid behind furniture and bookshelves. One video showed students in a library shaking and wincing as they heard loud bangs just before police entered the room to clear the building.University President Christina Paxson teared up while describing her conversations with students both on campus and in the hospital.“They are amazing and they’re supporting each other,” she said at a news conference. “There’s just a lot of gratitude.”The gunman opened fire inside a classroom in the engineering building, firing more than 40 rounds from a 9 mm handgun, a law enforcement official told AP. Two handguns were recovered when the person of interest was taken into custody and authorities also found two loaded 30-round magazines, the official said. One of the firearms was equipped with a laser sight that projects a dot to aid in targeting, said the official, who was not authorized to discuss the investigation publicly and spoke to AP on the condition of anonymity.One student of the nine wounded students had been released from the hospital, said Paxson. Seven others were in critical but stable condition, and one was in critical condition.Durham Academy, a private K-12 school in Durham, North Carolina, confirmed that a recent graduate, Kendall Turner, was critically wounded. The school said her parents were with her.“Our school community is rallying around Kendall, her classmates, and her loved ones, and we will continue to offer our full support in the days ahead,” the school said.<h2>Community comes together to remember victims</h2>On Sunday evening, city leaders, residents and others gathered at a park to honor the victims. The event originally was scheduled as a Christmas tree and Hanukkah menorah lighting.“For those who know at least bit of the Hanukkah story, it is quite clear that if we can come together as a community to shine a little bit of light tonight, there’s nothing better that we can be doing,” Mayor Brett Smiley said at a news conference earlier in the day.Smiley said he visited some wounded students and was inspired by their courage, hope and gratitude. One told him that active shooting drills done in high school proved helpful.“The resilience that these survivors showed and shared with me, is frankly pretty overwhelming,” he said.<h2>Exams were underway when the shooting began</h2>Investigators were not immediately sure how the shooter got inside the first-floor classroom at the Barus &amp; Holley building, a seven-story complex that houses the School of Engineering and physics department. The building includes more than 100 laboratories, dozens of classrooms and offices, according to the university’s website.Engineering design exams were underway. Outer doors of the building were unlocked but rooms being used for final exams required badge access, Smiley said.Emma Ferraro, a chemical engineering student, was in the lobby working on a final project when she heard loud pops. Once she realized they were gunshots, she darted for the door and into a nearby building where she waited for hours.Surveillance video released by police showed a suspect, dressed in black, walking from the scene.<h2>Former ‘Survivor’ contestant left the building just before shooting</h2><a href="https://apnews.com/article/neurodiversity-alliance-x-games-alex-hackel-survivor-eva-erickson-c86492878ab0a3c774808ce98ec9d290">Eva Erickson</a>, a doctoral candidate who was the runner-up earlier this year on the CBS reality competition show “Survivor,” said she left her lab in the engineering building 15 minutes before shots rang out.The engineering and thermal science student shared candid moments on “Survivor” as the show’s first openly autistic contestant. She was locked down in the campus gym following the shooting and shared on social media that the only other member of her lab who was present was safely evacuated.Brown senior biochemistry student Alex Bruce was working on a final research project in his dorm across the street from the building when he heard sirens outside.“I’m just in here shaking,” he said, watching through the window as officers surrounded his dorm.Brown, the seventh-oldest higher education institution in the U.S., is one of the nation’s most prestigious colleges, with roughly 7,300 undergraduates and more than 3,000 graduate students.___Ramer reported from Concord, New Hampshire. Contributing were Associated Press journalists Jennifer McDermott in Providence; Christopher Weber in Los Angeles; and Alanna Durkin Richer, Mike Balsamo and Eric Tucker in Washington, D.C.

Brown University shooter still at large; person of interest released

JOHNSON COUNTY —The Johnson County Sheriff's Office responded to a report of a stabbing which ultimately ended in an officer-involved shooting on Friday, according to a statement from the sheriff's office. One person died. He has been identified as 55-year-old Jonathan Lunceford of Blue Spring, Missouri, according to the sheriff's office.

Just before 11 a.m. on Friday, law enforcement received a call reporting a stabbing at the Panasonic facility at 103rd and Astra Parkway in De Soto.

Deputies arrived on scene shortly after and located one victim with multiple stab wounds. The deputies located the suspect and an officer-involved shooting occurred. Deputies performed life-saving efforts on the suspect, later identified as Lunceford. He was pronounced deceased by MED-ACT at 11:25 a.m.

MED-ACT transported the victim with stab wounds in critical condition to the hospital.

Johnson County Park Police also responded to the incident. No deputies or officers were injured.

The case remains under investigation by the Johnson County Officer Involved Critical Incident Investigations Team.&nbsp;

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2025/12/1765575072296.png" alt="Law enforcement on the scene of the investigation-photo courtesy KCTV" />
 <figcaption>Law enforcement on the scene of the investigation-photo courtesy KCTV</figcaption>
 </figure>JOHNSON COUNTY —The Johnson County Sheriff's Office responded to a report of a stabbing which ultimately ended in an officer-involved shooting on Friday, according to a statement from the sheriff's office. One person died. He has been identified as 55-year-old Jonathan Lunceford of Blue Spring, Missouri, according to the sheriff's office.Just before 11 a.m. on Friday, law enforcement received a call reporting a stabbing at the Panasonic facility at 103rd and Astra Parkway in De Soto.Deputies arrived on scene shortly after and located one victim with multiple stab wounds. The deputies located the suspect and an officer-involved shooting occurred. Deputies performed life-saving efforts on the suspect, later identified as Lunceford. He was pronounced deceased by MED-ACT at 11:25 a.m.MED-ACT transported the victim with stab wounds in critical condition to the hospital.Johnson County Park Police also responded to the incident. No deputies or officers were injured.The case remains under investigation by the Johnson County Officer Involved Critical Incident Investigations Team.&nbsp;

Sheriff IDs suspect who died in Kan. officer-shooting at battery plant

WASHINGTON (AP) — A JetBlue flight from the small Caribbean nation of Curaçao halted its ascent to avoid colliding with a U.S. Air Force refueling tanker on Friday, and the pilot blamed the military plane for crossing his path.

“We almost had a midair collision up here,” the JetBlue pilot said, according to a recording of his conversation with air traffic control. “They passed directly in our flight path. ... They don’t have their transponder turned on, it’s outrageous.”

The incident involved JetBlue Flight 1112 from Curaçao, which is just off the coast of Venezuela, en route to New York City's JFK airport. It comes as the U.S. military has stepped up its drug interdiction activities in the Caribbean and is also seeking to&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/venezuela-us-military-trump-fa18-fighter-jets-06fd7cdc5ac26e7a46165431b95508b0">increase pressure</a>&nbsp;on Venezuela's government.

“We just had traffic pass directly in front of us within 5 miles of us — maybe 2 or 3 miles — but it was an air-to air-refueler from the United States Air Force and he was at our altitude,” the pilot said. “We had to stop our climb.” The pilot said the Air Force plane then headed into Venezuelan air space.

Derek Dombrowski, a spokesman for JetBlue, said Sunday: “We have reported this incident to federal authorities and will participate in any investigation." He added, “Our crewmembers are trained on proper procedures for various flight situations, and we appreciate our crew for promptly reporting this situation to our leadership team.”

The Pentagon referred The Associated Press to the Air Force for comment. The Air Force didn't immediately respond to a request for comment.

The Federal Aviation Administration&nbsp;<a href="https://www.faa.gov/air_traffic/publications/us_restrictions/venezuela/KICZ-Advisory-NOTAM-A0012-25.pdf">last month issued a warning</a>&nbsp;to U.S. aircraft urging them to “exercise caution” when in Venezuelan airspace, “due to the worsening security situation and heightened military activity in or around Venezuela.”

WASHINGTON (AP) — A JetBlue flight from the small Caribbean nation of Curaçao halted its ascent to avoid colliding with a U.S. Air Force refueling tanker on Friday, and the pilot blamed the military plane for crossing his path.“We almost had a midair collision up here,” the JetBlue pilot said, according to a recording of his conversation with air traffic control. “They passed directly in our flight path. ... They don’t have their transponder turned on, it’s outrageous.”The incident involved JetBlue Flight 1112 from Curaçao, which is just off the coast of Venezuela, en route to New York City's JFK airport. It comes as the U.S. military has stepped up its drug interdiction activities in the Caribbean and is also seeking to&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/venezuela-us-military-trump-fa18-fighter-jets-06fd7cdc5ac26e7a46165431b95508b0">increase pressure</a>&nbsp;on Venezuela's government.“We just had traffic pass directly in front of us within 5 miles of us — maybe 2 or 3 miles — but it was an air-to air-refueler from the United States Air Force and he was at our altitude,” the pilot said. “We had to stop our climb.” The pilot said the Air Force plane then headed into Venezuelan air space.Derek Dombrowski, a spokesman for JetBlue, said Sunday: “We have reported this incident to federal authorities and will participate in any investigation." He added, “Our crewmembers are trained on proper procedures for various flight situations, and we appreciate our crew for promptly reporting this situation to our leadership team.”The Pentagon referred The Associated Press to the Air Force for comment. The Air Force didn't immediately respond to a request for comment.The Federal Aviation Administration&nbsp;<a href="https://www.faa.gov/air_traffic/publications/us_restrictions/venezuela/KICZ-Advisory-NOTAM-A0012-25.pdf">last month issued a warning</a>&nbsp;to U.S. aircraft urging them to “exercise caution” when in Venezuelan airspace, “due to the worsening security situation and heightened military activity in or around Venezuela.”

JetBlue flight near Venezuela avoids 'midair collision' with US Air Force tanker

KANSAS CITY—Three suspects are facing charges in connection with a shooting in Kansas City earlier this month, according to Jackson County Prosecutor Melesa Johnson

<a href="https://www.jacksoncountyprosecutor.com/DocumentCenter/View/2772/T-Huntington-Redacted-Complaint">Tyler J. Huntington</a>,30,&nbsp;&nbsp;faces Unlawful Use of a Weapon, two counts of Armed Criminal Action, and 1st Degree Assault.&nbsp;

<a href="https://www.jacksoncountyprosecutor.com/DocumentCenter/View/2775/Viverette-Complaint-Red">Victor Viverette</a>, 30, faces 1st Degree Domestic Assault and Unlawful Possession of a Firearm.&nbsp;

<a href="https://www.jacksoncountyprosecutor.com/DocumentCenter/View/2774/J-Huntington-Redacted-Probable-Cause">Jerome D. Huntington</a>, 54,&nbsp;&nbsp;faces one count of Unlawful Possession of a Firearm.

<a href="https://www.jacksoncountyprosecutor.com/DocumentCenter/View/2771/T-Huntington-Redacted-Probable-Cause">According to court records</a>, Raytown police responded to a shooting on Dec. 9 and located Viverette bleeding from his right forearm.&nbsp;

Based on witness reports and surveillance footage, detectives determined that both Tyler and Jerome Huntington encountered Viverette while driving.&nbsp;

Tyler and Jerome, who were driving a white Jeep, slammed on their brakes and Viverette’s vehicle crashed into it. Tyler and Jerome exited the vehicle with firearms. They both discharged their weapons at Viverette’s vehicle, who fired back through his windshield. Viverette was shot. Both vehicles fled the scene.

While detectives were investigating the shooting,&nbsp;<a href="https://www.jacksoncountyprosecutor.com/DocumentCenter/View/2776/Victor-Viverette-pc-red">police received a report</a>&nbsp;that Viverette had strangled and physically assaulted his girlfriend before taking her dog earlier that day.

Tyler Huntington is being held on a $150,000 cash-only bond.&nbsp; Viverette is being held on a $250,000 cash-only bond.&nbsp; Jerome Huntington is being held on a $100,000 cash-only bond.&nbsp;

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2025/12/1765540002776.png" alt="Jerome Huntington photo Jackson Co." />
 <figcaption>Jerome Huntington photo Jackson Co.</figcaption>
 </figure>KANSAS CITY—Three suspects are facing charges in connection with a shooting in Kansas City earlier this month, according to Jackson County Prosecutor Melesa Johnson<a href="https://www.jacksoncountyprosecutor.com/DocumentCenter/View/2772/T-Huntington-Redacted-Complaint">Tyler J. Huntington</a>,30,&nbsp;&nbsp;faces Unlawful Use of a Weapon, two counts of Armed Criminal Action, and 1st Degree Assault.&nbsp;<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2025/12/1765540138243.png" alt="VIverette photo Jackson Co." />
 <figcaption>VIverette photo Jackson Co.</figcaption>
 </figure><a href="https://www.jacksoncountyprosecutor.com/DocumentCenter/View/2775/Viverette-Complaint-Red">Victor Viverette</a>, 30, faces 1st Degree Domestic Assault and Unlawful Possession of a Firearm.&nbsp;<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2025/12/1765540042613.png" alt="Tyler Huntington photo Jackson Co." />
 <figcaption>Tyler Huntington photo Jackson Co.</figcaption>
 </figure><a href="https://www.jacksoncountyprosecutor.com/DocumentCenter/View/2774/J-Huntington-Redacted-Probable-Cause">Jerome D. Huntington</a>, 54,&nbsp;&nbsp;faces one count of Unlawful Possession of a Firearm.<a href="https://www.jacksoncountyprosecutor.com/DocumentCenter/View/2771/T-Huntington-Redacted-Probable-Cause">According to court records</a>, Raytown police responded to a shooting on Dec. 9 and located Viverette bleeding from his right forearm.&nbsp;Based on witness reports and surveillance footage, detectives determined that both Tyler and Jerome Huntington encountered Viverette while driving.&nbsp;Tyler and Jerome, who were driving a white Jeep, slammed on their brakes and Viverette’s vehicle crashed into it. Tyler and Jerome exited the vehicle with firearms. They both discharged their weapons at Viverette’s vehicle, who fired back through his windshield. Viverette was shot. Both vehicles fled the scene.While detectives were investigating the shooting,&nbsp;<a href="https://www.jacksoncountyprosecutor.com/DocumentCenter/View/2776/Victor-Viverette-pc-red">police received a report</a>&nbsp;that Viverette had strangled and physically assaulted his girlfriend before taking her dog earlier that day.Tyler Huntington is being held on a $150,000 cash-only bond.&nbsp; Viverette is being held on a $250,000 cash-only bond.&nbsp; Jerome Huntington is being held on a $100,000 cash-only bond.&nbsp;

Suspects exchanged gunfire after KC area traffic crash

JACKSON COUNTY—Law enforcement are investigating two suspects on multiple allegations.

Just before 3 p.m. Dec. 9, a&nbsp; Sheriff’s Deputy conducted a traffic stop on a Chevrolet pickup on 150th&nbsp;Road near U.S. Highway 75, according to Jackson County Sheriff Tim Morse.&nbsp; 

The driver, Perkins Whitetail, 70, of Mayetta, was arrested and booked into the Jackson County Jail on requested charges of possession of methampehtamine, possession of a hallucinogenic drug, possession of a depressant and possession of drug paraphernalia.&nbsp; 

The passenger Ella Montoy Mzhickteno, 55, of Mayetta, was arrested and booked into the Jackson County Jail on requested charges of possession of methamphetamine, possession of a hallucinogenic drug, possession of a depressant and possession of drug paraphernalia.

At approximately 7 p.m. that day, Jackson County Sheriff’s Deputies conducted a search warrant at 209 E. Clark Street, Mayetta the residence of Perkins Whitetail.&nbsp; During the search, deputies seized items believed to be illegal drug contraband. The following additional requested charges were added to Whitetail including possession of methampehtamine, possession of an opioid, possession of a hallucinogenic drug, possession of THC and possession of drug paraphernalia.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2025/12/1765676980931.png" alt="Whitetail photo Jackson Co." />
 <figcaption>Whitetail photo Jackson Co.</figcaption>
 </figure>JACKSON COUNTY—Law enforcement are investigating two suspects on multiple allegations.Just before 3 p.m. Dec. 9, a&nbsp; Sheriff’s Deputy conducted a traffic stop on a Chevrolet pickup on 150th&nbsp;Road near U.S. Highway 75, according to Jackson County Sheriff Tim Morse.&nbsp; The driver, Perkins Whitetail, 70, of Mayetta, was arrested and booked into the Jackson County Jail on requested charges of possession of methampehtamine, possession of a hallucinogenic drug, possession of a depressant and possession of drug paraphernalia.&nbsp; The passenger Ella Montoy Mzhickteno, 55, of Mayetta, was arrested and booked into the Jackson County Jail on requested charges of possession of methamphetamine, possession of a hallucinogenic drug, possession of a depressant and possession of drug paraphernalia.At approximately 7 p.m. that day, Jackson County Sheriff’s Deputies conducted a search warrant at 209 E. Clark Street, Mayetta the residence of Perkins Whitetail.&nbsp; During the search, deputies seized items believed to be illegal drug contraband. The following additional requested charges were added to Whitetail including possession of methampehtamine, possession of an opioid, possession of a hallucinogenic drug, possession of THC and possession of drug paraphernalia.

Traffic stop led to arrests and drug bust at Kansas home

WICHITA, Kan.&nbsp;— Sedgwick County District Attorney Marc Bennett is urging area residents to remain vigilant against financial scams targeting seniors, following the release of a startling new report by the U.S. Department of Justice.

The “2025 Annual Report to Congress on Department of Justice Activities to Combat Elder Fraud and Abuse” reveals the staggering scope of financial exploitation targeting older adults in the United States. According to the report, thieves attempted to steal or succeeded in stealing more than $2 billion from over 1 million older Americans during the reporting period.

“The figures released in this report are a reminder of the pervasiveness of elder financial abuse,” Bennett said. “While this is a national report, the threat is local. These sophisticated criminal networks do not discriminate by location, and we want to ensure the citizens of Sedgwick County are aware of the scale of this problem so they can better protect themselves and their loved ones.”

The DOJ report details that federal litigators pursued more than 280 enforcement actions against over 600 defendants. These perpetrators included both domestic offenders and transnational criminals operating from overseas, many of whom were extradited to face charges in U.S. courts.

The District Attorney’s Office encourages residents to look out for common “red flags” of fraud, which often include:

“We are putting this information out as a warning,” Bennett added. “If you suspect you or an elderly family member has been targeted, please do not stay silent. Reporting these crimes is the first step in stopping them.”

WICHITA, Kan.&nbsp;— Sedgwick County District Attorney Marc Bennett is urging area residents to remain vigilant against financial scams targeting seniors, following the release of a startling new report by the U.S. Department of Justice.The “2025 Annual Report to Congress on Department of Justice Activities to Combat Elder Fraud and Abuse” reveals the staggering scope of financial exploitation targeting older adults in the United States. According to the report, thieves attempted to steal or succeeded in stealing more than $2 billion from over 1 million older Americans during the reporting period.“The figures released in this report are a reminder of the pervasiveness of elder financial abuse,” Bennett said. “While this is a national report, the threat is local. These sophisticated criminal networks do not discriminate by location, and we want to ensure the citizens of Sedgwick County are aware of the scale of this problem so they can better protect themselves and their loved ones.”The DOJ report details that federal litigators pursued more than 280 enforcement actions against over 600 defendants. These perpetrators included both domestic offenders and transnational criminals operating from overseas, many of whom were extradited to face charges in U.S. courts.The District Attorney’s Office encourages residents to look out for common “red flags” of fraud, which often include:<ul>
 <li>Urgency:&nbsp;Scammers often claim a situation is an emergency, for example, a grandchild in jail or a compromised bank account, to prevent the victim from thinking clearly or taking the time to ask clarifying questions.</li><li>Secrecy:&nbsp;Victims are often told not to tell family members or bank tellers about the withdrawal.</li><li>Unusual Payment Methods:&nbsp;Demands for payment via cryptocurrency, gift cards or wire transfers are almost always scams.</li>
 </ul>“We are putting this information out as a warning,” Bennett added. “If you suspect you or an elderly family member has been targeted, please do not stay silent. Reporting these crimes is the first step in stopping them.”

DOJ report: $2 billion in losses from elder abuse fraud

By&nbsp;&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/author/alex-veiga">ALEX VEIGA</a> Associated Press

The average rate on a 30-year U.S. mortgage edged higher this week, though it remains relatively near its low point so far this year.

The uptick brings the average long-term mortgage rate to 6.22% from 6.19% last week, mortgage buyer Freddie Mac said Thursday. A year ago, the rate averaged 6.6%.

Borrowing costs on 15-year fixed-rate mortgages, popular with homeowners refinancing their home loans, also rose this week. The rate averaged 5.54%, up from 5.44% last week. A year ago, it averaged 5.84%, Freddie Mac said.

Mortgage rates are influenced by several factors, from the Federal Reserve’s&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/federal-reserve-economy-inflation-jobs-442de589de9b99bb811f76e402b00948">interest rate policy decisions</a>&nbsp;to bond market investors’ expectations for the economy and inflation. They generally follow the trajectory of the 10-year Treasury yield, which lenders use as a guide to pricing home loans.

The 10-year yield was at 4.12% at midday Thursday, slightly higher than it was a week ago.

The rise in mortgage rates comes a day after the Federal Reserve&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/federal-reserve-economy-inflation-jobs-442de589de9b99bb811f76e402b00948">cut its main interest rate</a>&nbsp;for the third time this year and indicated another cut may be ahead in 2026.

The Fed doesn’t set mortgage rates, so even when it cuts its short-term rates that doesn’t necessarily mean rates on home loans will necessarily decline.

That’s what happened last fall after the central bank cut its main rate for the first time in more than four years. Instead of falling, mortgage rates marched higher, eventually cresting above 7% in January this year. At that time, the 10-year Treasury yield was climbing toward 5%.

Mortgage rates began declining this summer ahead of the central bank’s September rate cut, its first in a year. The average rate on a 30-year mortgage got as low as 6.17%, the lowest level in more than a year, on Oct. 30.

That pullback in rates&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/housing-home-sales-real-estate-home-prices-ee7705f4c272edfd5588fa78c2d6b501">helped lift sales of previously occupied U.S. homes in October</a>&nbsp;on an annual basis for the fourth straight month.

Still, affordability remains a challenge for many aspiring homeowners, especially first-time buyers who don’t have equity from an existing home to put toward a new home purchase. Uncertainty over the economy and job market are also keeping many would-be buyers on the sidelines.

The overall decline in mortgage rates this fall has been a boon for homeowners eager to refinance their home loan to a lower rate.

Applications for mortgage refinancing loans jumped 14% last week from the previous week, and accounted for about 58% of all home loan applications, according to the Mortgage Bankers Association. Applications for loans to buy a home climbed nearly 5%.

Economists generally forecast that the average rate on a 30-year mortgage will remain slightly above 6% next year.

“While this is unlikely to deliver the sharp relief some buyers are hoping for, rates are expected to be low enough to help counterbalance continued, but modest, home price growth,” said Anthony Smith, senior economist at Realtor.com.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2022/7/1659001075252.jpeg" alt="Photo AP" />
 <figcaption>Photo AP</figcaption>
 </figure>By&nbsp;&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/author/alex-veiga">ALEX VEIGA</a> Associated PressThe average rate on a 30-year U.S. mortgage edged higher this week, though it remains relatively near its low point so far this year.The uptick brings the average long-term mortgage rate to 6.22% from 6.19% last week, mortgage buyer Freddie Mac said Thursday. A year ago, the rate averaged 6.6%.Borrowing costs on 15-year fixed-rate mortgages, popular with homeowners refinancing their home loans, also rose this week. The rate averaged 5.54%, up from 5.44% last week. A year ago, it averaged 5.84%, Freddie Mac said.Mortgage rates are influenced by several factors, from the Federal Reserve’s&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/federal-reserve-economy-inflation-jobs-442de589de9b99bb811f76e402b00948">interest rate policy decisions</a>&nbsp;to bond market investors’ expectations for the economy and inflation. They generally follow the trajectory of the 10-year Treasury yield, which lenders use as a guide to pricing home loans.The 10-year yield was at 4.12% at midday Thursday, slightly higher than it was a week ago.The rise in mortgage rates comes a day after the Federal Reserve&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/federal-reserve-economy-inflation-jobs-442de589de9b99bb811f76e402b00948">cut its main interest rate</a>&nbsp;for the third time this year and indicated another cut may be ahead in 2026.The Fed doesn’t set mortgage rates, so even when it cuts its short-term rates that doesn’t necessarily mean rates on home loans will necessarily decline.That’s what happened last fall after the central bank cut its main rate for the first time in more than four years. Instead of falling, mortgage rates marched higher, eventually cresting above 7% in January this year. At that time, the 10-year Treasury yield was climbing toward 5%.Mortgage rates began declining this summer ahead of the central bank’s September rate cut, its first in a year. The average rate on a 30-year mortgage got as low as 6.17%, the lowest level in more than a year, on Oct. 30.That pullback in rates&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/housing-home-sales-real-estate-home-prices-ee7705f4c272edfd5588fa78c2d6b501">helped lift sales of previously occupied U.S. homes in October</a>&nbsp;on an annual basis for the fourth straight month.Still, affordability remains a challenge for many aspiring homeowners, especially first-time buyers who don’t have equity from an existing home to put toward a new home purchase. Uncertainty over the economy and job market are also keeping many would-be buyers on the sidelines.The overall decline in mortgage rates this fall has been a boon for homeowners eager to refinance their home loan to a lower rate.Applications for mortgage refinancing loans jumped 14% last week from the previous week, and accounted for about 58% of all home loan applications, according to the Mortgage Bankers Association. Applications for loans to buy a home climbed nearly 5%.Economists generally forecast that the average rate on a 30-year mortgage will remain slightly above 6% next year.“While this is unlikely to deliver the sharp relief some buyers are hoping for, rates are expected to be low enough to help counterbalance continued, but modest, home price growth,” said Anthony Smith, senior economist at Realtor.com.

Average US long-term mortgage rate ticks up but remains close to its low for the year

A shooting Saturday at Brown University in Providence, Rhode Island, left&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/brown-university-active-shooter-c7c9d1c7da19a76c2a27685c7e63d6da">two people dead and at least eight other critically injured.</a>&nbsp;Authorities were still searching for a suspect in the hours afterward.

The shooting occurred on a Saturday afternoon in a campus building with final exams underway. The suspect was dressed in black and left the building on foot, officials said.

The violence prompted a shelter-in-place order for the larger university area. Providence Mayor Brett Smiley said “we have all available resources” to find the suspect.

“Sadly, today is a day that the city of Providence and the state of Rhode Island prayed would never come,” the mayor said. “We've heard about horrific acts of gun violence and active shooter situations in other places, but not here.”

Brown is a private institution with roughly 7,300 undergraduate students and more than 3,000 graduate students.

Here is a look at other deadly shootings on U.S. college campuses in recent decades:

<a href="https://apnews.com/article/kentucky-state-university-shooting-976289946dde326a7e9f97a62bb2f82d">KENTUCKY STATE UNIVERSITY</a>: December 2025, 1 dead

A shooting at a residence hall at the public historically Black university left one student dead and another critically injured. The suspect, who is a parent of a student, faces murder and assault charges.

<a href="https://apnews.com/article/charlie-kirk-shooting-utah-university-republicans-8357c3d102de09e3320fde761258131a">UTAH VALLEY UNIVERSITY</a>: September 2025, 1 dead

Conservative activist Charlie Kirk was shot and killed while speaking on campus during one of his political events, sending hundreds of people running. A 22-year-old suspect faces aggravated murder in connection with Kirk's death. Prosecutors plan to seek the death penalty.

<a href="https://apnews.com/article/florida-state-university-shooting-phoenix-ikner-trial-2e37092ae8cf76e20069c603b7868548">FLORIDA STATE UNIVERSITY</a>: April 2025, 2 dead

Two died and six were wounded in a shooting at Florida State University in Tallahassee. A 21-year-old man has been charged with two counts of first-degree murder and seven counts of attempted first-degree murder in connection with the shooting.

<a href="https://apnews.com/article/campus-shooting-las-vegas-unlv-55ca455e2d00f1126cc1dbf4cc29139e">UNIVERSITY OF NEVADA, LAS VEGAS</a>: December 2023, 3 dead

A 67-year-old former business professor, whose applications to teach at UNLV had been rejected, opened fire in the building housing the university's business school, killing three professors and badly wounding a fourth. The gunman was killed in a shootout with police outside the building.

<a href="https://apnews.com/article/colleges-and-universities-michigan-education-shootings-153ab68bc4f108c2019bb138de2dc8fb">MICHIGAN STATE UNIVERSITY</a>: February 2023, 3 dead

A 43-year-old gunman fired inside an academic building and the student union, killing three students and injuring five others. He later killed himself miles away from the campus in East Lansing while being confronted by police.

<a href="https://apnews.com/article/university-of-virginia-shooting-live-updates-4cd9f0a64201d2460de887674fdfa02b">UNIVERSITY OF VIRGINIA</a>: November 2022, 3 dead

A student and former member of the school’s football team fatally shot three current players aboard a charter bus as they returned from a field trip, setting off panic and a 12-hour lockdown of the campus until the suspect was captured. Two other students were also wounded on the campus. The shooter has pleaded guilty to first-degree murder and other charges and is awaiting sentencing.

<a href="https://apnews.com/general-news-d274847cf7bf503cea150765f907d7c6">NORTHERN ARIZONA UNIVERSITY</a>: October 2015, 1 dead

Just weeks into his freshman year, a student walked onto the campus in Flagstaff and opened fire. One student was killed and three others were wounded in the first deadly shooting since the university was founded in 1899. The shooter later pleaded guilty to manslaughter and aggravated assault and was sentenced to six years in prison.

<a href="https://apnews.com/general-news-9236adb78dda4ad198b5b6719024d8b2">UMPQUA COMMUNITY COLLEGE</a>: October 2015, 9 dead

A 26-year-old man opened fire on his writing class, killing his instructor and eight other people at the school in rural Roseburg, Oregon. Nine more people were also wounded. The shooter then killed himself.

<a href="https://apnews.com/general-news-d46b47b1cd534a21ba6b162584a62505">UNIVERSITY OF CALIFORNIA, SANTA BARBARA</a>: May 2014, 6 dead

A 22-year-old college student frustrated over sexual rejections fatally stabbed or shot six students near the school in Isla Vista, California, and injured several others before he killed himself.

<a href="https://apnews.com/article/fires-shootings-santa-monica-1a2540a27047485fa8ca0e4733c6a2a4">SANTA MONICA COLLEGE</a>: June 2013, 6 dead

A deadly act of domestic violence at home turned public when a 23-year-old man left after killing his father and older brother, carjacked a woman and shot at other vehicles. He then entered the campus where he had previously been enrolled as a student and opened fire, killing four more people before he was fatally shot by police in the school's library.

<a href="https://apnews.com/general-news-232fa21ef43b4e7ea13c94d14e96b5e8">OIKOS UNIVERSITY</a>: April 2012, 7 dead

A former nursing student fatally shot seven people at the small private college in East Oakland, California. He was given seven consecutive life sentences and died in prison in 2019.

<a href="https://apnews.com/general-news-8e6fc851fe9d42aa824d7841314f3f3b">NORTHERN ILLINOIS UNIVERSITY</a>: February 2008, 5 dead

A 27-year-old former student shot and killed five people and wounded more than 20 others at the school in DeKalb, Illinois, before killing himself.

<a href="https://apnews.com/article/aa4caffe30834994b57a789500773b7b">VIRGINIA TECH</a>: April 2007, 32 dead

In the deadliest shooting at a U.S. college, a 23-year-old student killed 32 people on the campus in Blacksburg, Virginia. More than two dozen others were wounded. The gunman then killed himself.

<a href="https://www.desmoinesregister.com/story/news/2016/10/28/nov-1-1991-day-university-shooting-rampage-shocked-iowa/92053548/">UNIVERSITY OF IOWA</a>: November 1991, 5 dead

A former graduate student upset that his doctoral dissertation wasn't nominated for an academic award fatally shot himself after killing five people and injuring one other person in a shooting spree on the campus in Iowa City.

<a href="https://apnews.com/domestic-news-domestic-news-general-news-91cd1ab6a70e47ef850de78413acb8d5">UNIVERSITY OF TEXAS</a>: August 1966, 13 dead

A Marine-trained sniper opened fire from atop the 27-story clock tower in the heart of the university's flagship Austin campus in one of the nation's first mass shootings. He killed 13 people and wounded more than 30 others before authorities shot and killed him.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2023/12/1701947896986.png" alt="Police on the scene of a deadly shooting at UNLV in December 2023 image courtesy KVUU TV" />
 <figcaption>Police on the scene of a deadly shooting at UNLV in December 2023 image courtesy KVUU TV</figcaption>
 </figure>A shooting Saturday at Brown University in Providence, Rhode Island, left&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/brown-university-active-shooter-c7c9d1c7da19a76c2a27685c7e63d6da">two people dead and at least eight other critically injured.</a>&nbsp;Authorities were still searching for a suspect in the hours afterward.The shooting occurred on a Saturday afternoon in a campus building with final exams underway. The suspect was dressed in black and left the building on foot, officials said.The violence prompted a shelter-in-place order for the larger university area. Providence Mayor Brett Smiley said “we have all available resources” to find the suspect.“Sadly, today is a day that the city of Providence and the state of Rhode Island prayed would never come,” the mayor said. “We've heard about horrific acts of gun violence and active shooter situations in other places, but not here.”Brown is a private institution with roughly 7,300 undergraduate students and more than 3,000 graduate students.Here is a look at other deadly shootings on U.S. college campuses in recent decades:<a href="https://apnews.com/article/kentucky-state-university-shooting-976289946dde326a7e9f97a62bb2f82d">KENTUCKY STATE UNIVERSITY</a>: December 2025, 1 deadA shooting at a residence hall at the public historically Black university left one student dead and another critically injured. The suspect, who is a parent of a student, faces murder and assault charges.<a href="https://apnews.com/article/charlie-kirk-shooting-utah-university-republicans-8357c3d102de09e3320fde761258131a">UTAH VALLEY UNIVERSITY</a>: September 2025, 1 deadConservative activist Charlie Kirk was shot and killed while speaking on campus during one of his political events, sending hundreds of people running. A 22-year-old suspect faces aggravated murder in connection with Kirk's death. Prosecutors plan to seek the death penalty.<a href="https://apnews.com/article/florida-state-university-shooting-phoenix-ikner-trial-2e37092ae8cf76e20069c603b7868548">FLORIDA STATE UNIVERSITY</a>: April 2025, 2 deadTwo died and six were wounded in a shooting at Florida State University in Tallahassee. A 21-year-old man has been charged with two counts of first-degree murder and seven counts of attempted first-degree murder in connection with the shooting.<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2025/12/1765681604782.png" alt="A glass door to the Student Union at UNLV is damaged from apparent gunfire. Las Vegas police say there are multiple victims and one suspect is dead-photo courtesy KSVN TV" />
 <figcaption>A glass door to the Student Union at UNLV is damaged from apparent gunfire. Las Vegas police say there are multiple victims and one suspect is dead-photo courtesy KSVN TV</figcaption>
 </figure><a href="https://apnews.com/article/campus-shooting-las-vegas-unlv-55ca455e2d00f1126cc1dbf4cc29139e">UNIVERSITY OF NEVADA, LAS VEGAS</a>: December 2023, 3 deadA 67-year-old former business professor, whose applications to teach at UNLV had been rejected, opened fire in the building housing the university's business school, killing three professors and badly wounding a fourth. The gunman was killed in a shootout with police outside the building.<a href="https://apnews.com/article/colleges-and-universities-michigan-education-shootings-153ab68bc4f108c2019bb138de2dc8fb">MICHIGAN STATE UNIVERSITY</a>: February 2023, 3 deadA 43-year-old gunman fired inside an academic building and the student union, killing three students and injuring five others. He later killed himself miles away from the campus in East Lansing while being confronted by police.<a href="https://apnews.com/article/university-of-virginia-shooting-live-updates-4cd9f0a64201d2460de887674fdfa02b">UNIVERSITY OF VIRGINIA</a>: November 2022, 3 deadA student and former member of the school’s football team fatally shot three current players aboard a charter bus as they returned from a field trip, setting off panic and a 12-hour lockdown of the campus until the suspect was captured. Two other students were also wounded on the campus. The shooter has pleaded guilty to first-degree murder and other charges and is awaiting sentencing.<a href="https://apnews.com/general-news-d274847cf7bf503cea150765f907d7c6">NORTHERN ARIZONA UNIVERSITY</a>: October 2015, 1 deadJust weeks into his freshman year, a student walked onto the campus in Flagstaff and opened fire. One student was killed and three others were wounded in the first deadly shooting since the university was founded in 1899. The shooter later pleaded guilty to manslaughter and aggravated assault and was sentenced to six years in prison.<a href="https://apnews.com/general-news-9236adb78dda4ad198b5b6719024d8b2">UMPQUA COMMUNITY COLLEGE</a>: October 2015, 9 deadA 26-year-old man opened fire on his writing class, killing his instructor and eight other people at the school in rural Roseburg, Oregon. Nine more people were also wounded. The shooter then killed himself.<a href="https://apnews.com/general-news-d46b47b1cd534a21ba6b162584a62505">UNIVERSITY OF CALIFORNIA, SANTA BARBARA</a>: May 2014, 6 deadA 22-year-old college student frustrated over sexual rejections fatally stabbed or shot six students near the school in Isla Vista, California, and injured several others before he killed himself.<a href="https://apnews.com/article/fires-shootings-santa-monica-1a2540a27047485fa8ca0e4733c6a2a4">SANTA MONICA COLLEGE</a>: June 2013, 6 deadA deadly act of domestic violence at home turned public when a 23-year-old man left after killing his father and older brother, carjacked a woman and shot at other vehicles. He then entered the campus where he had previously been enrolled as a student and opened fire, killing four more people before he was fatally shot by police in the school's library.<a href="https://apnews.com/general-news-232fa21ef43b4e7ea13c94d14e96b5e8">OIKOS UNIVERSITY</a>: April 2012, 7 deadA former nursing student fatally shot seven people at the small private college in East Oakland, California. He was given seven consecutive life sentences and died in prison in 2019.<a href="https://apnews.com/general-news-8e6fc851fe9d42aa824d7841314f3f3b">NORTHERN ILLINOIS UNIVERSITY</a>: February 2008, 5 deadA 27-year-old former student shot and killed five people and wounded more than 20 others at the school in DeKalb, Illinois, before killing himself.<a href="https://apnews.com/article/aa4caffe30834994b57a789500773b7b">VIRGINIA TECH</a>: April 2007, 32 deadIn the deadliest shooting at a U.S. college, a 23-year-old student killed 32 people on the campus in Blacksburg, Virginia. More than two dozen others were wounded. The gunman then killed himself.<a href="https://www.desmoinesregister.com/story/news/2016/10/28/nov-1-1991-day-university-shooting-rampage-shocked-iowa/92053548/">UNIVERSITY OF IOWA</a>: November 1991, 5 deadA former graduate student upset that his doctoral dissertation wasn't nominated for an academic award fatally shot himself after killing five people and injuring one other person in a shooting spree on the campus in Iowa City.<a href="https://apnews.com/domestic-news-domestic-news-general-news-91cd1ab6a70e47ef850de78413acb8d5">UNIVERSITY OF TEXAS</a>: August 1966, 13 deadA Marine-trained sniper opened fire from atop the 27-story clock tower in the heart of the university's flagship Austin campus in one of the nation's first mass shootings. He killed 13 people and wounded more than 30 others before authorities shot and killed him.

A list of deadly shootings on college campuses in the US

ORLANDO, Fla. (AP) — The death of a 32-year-old man&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/florida-epic-universe-roller-coaster-death-851345f89f44e640f93cbf7d929923fc">after riding a high-speed roller coaster</a>&nbsp;at the Universal Epic Universe theme park was accidental, and an investigation has been closed, according to a Florida sheriff’s office report released this week.

Meanwhile, a medical examiner’s report released Friday showed that the left side of Kevin Rodriguez Zavala’s forehead had a deep gash, and the bony ridge above his eye was fractured. He had bleeding above his skull, bruises on his abdomen and arms, and his nose and right thigh bone were fractured, the medical examiner’s report said.

The medical examiner in Orlando previously had ruled the death an accident, saying Zavala died of blunt-impact injuries. The investigative report by the Orange County Sheriff’s Office in Orlando said that workers at Epic Universe followed procedures and weren’t careless or neglectful.

Epic Universe is the newest theme park at Universal Orlando Resort.

Security video showed Zavala “engaged and well” at the start of the ride but unresponsive and slouched over in his seat at the end, according to the sheriff’s office report.

When the ride came to a stop, Zavala was bleeding from the face, and his body was slumped over, according to witnesses.

Anna Marshall, a medical doctor who was standing in line to board the ride, said Zavala was slouched over and surrounded by blood when the coaster returned to the boarding platform. His arm was hanging over the ride, and his thigh bone was broken in half and resting on the back of the ride chair, she told investigators.

Zavala used a wheelchair. As Marshall rendered aid, Zavala’s girlfriend, Javiliz Cruz-Robles, who was beside him on the ride, told the doctor that he had metal rods in his back from a previous spinal surgery.

“Dr. Marshall explained that she did not believe that just because Kevin Rodriguez-Zavala didn’t have use of his legs that that was the sole reason why this occurred,” the report said.

Zavala’s family said the condition leading to his disability, which they described as spinal cord atrophy, didn’t cause his death on Sept. 17. The media office for attorney Ben Crump, who is representing Zavala’s family, didn’t return an emailed inquiry about the sheriff’s office report on Friday.

Zavala had severe facial trauma when the ride stopped. He was still secured in his ride seat by a lap bar, which ride operators had difficulty releasing for 10 minutes, Universal paramedic Sebastian Torres told sheriff’s office investigators.

“‘The guest was stuck on the ride vehicle face down, falling out of his seat, with legs inverted,’” Torres wrote in a statement included in the report.

Cruz-Robles told investigators that a ride operator had to push Zavala’s lap restraint down several times before it was safely in place when they first got on the ride, and she thought the restraint bar was positioned too low on their laps. When the coaster began the first downward movement, she said Zavala flew forward and hit his head on the metal bar in front of them. During the ride Zavala hit his head several times more, and Cruz-Robles said she tried but was unable to hold him back.

“Javiliz was crying for help, but due to being in the middle of the ride, no one heard her screaming for help until the train cart was getting close to the station,” the report said.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2025/12/1765718683623.jpg" alt="File image courtey PIxaby" />
 <figcaption>File image courtey PIxaby</figcaption>
 </figure>ORLANDO, Fla. (AP) — The death of a 32-year-old man&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/florida-epic-universe-roller-coaster-death-851345f89f44e640f93cbf7d929923fc">after riding a high-speed roller coaster</a>&nbsp;at the Universal Epic Universe theme park was accidental, and an investigation has been closed, according to a Florida sheriff’s office report released this week.Meanwhile, a medical examiner’s report released Friday showed that the left side of Kevin Rodriguez Zavala’s forehead had a deep gash, and the bony ridge above his eye was fractured. He had bleeding above his skull, bruises on his abdomen and arms, and his nose and right thigh bone were fractured, the medical examiner’s report said.The medical examiner in Orlando previously had ruled the death an accident, saying Zavala died of blunt-impact injuries. The investigative report by the Orange County Sheriff’s Office in Orlando said that workers at Epic Universe followed procedures and weren’t careless or neglectful.Epic Universe is the newest theme park at Universal Orlando Resort.Security video showed Zavala “engaged and well” at the start of the ride but unresponsive and slouched over in his seat at the end, according to the sheriff’s office report.When the ride came to a stop, Zavala was bleeding from the face, and his body was slumped over, according to witnesses.Anna Marshall, a medical doctor who was standing in line to board the ride, said Zavala was slouched over and surrounded by blood when the coaster returned to the boarding platform. His arm was hanging over the ride, and his thigh bone was broken in half and resting on the back of the ride chair, she told investigators.Zavala used a wheelchair. As Marshall rendered aid, Zavala’s girlfriend, Javiliz Cruz-Robles, who was beside him on the ride, told the doctor that he had metal rods in his back from a previous spinal surgery.“Dr. Marshall explained that she did not believe that just because Kevin Rodriguez-Zavala didn’t have use of his legs that that was the sole reason why this occurred,” the report said.Zavala’s family said the condition leading to his disability, which they described as spinal cord atrophy, didn’t cause his death on Sept. 17. The media office for attorney Ben Crump, who is representing Zavala’s family, didn’t return an emailed inquiry about the sheriff’s office report on Friday.Zavala had severe facial trauma when the ride stopped. He was still secured in his ride seat by a lap bar, which ride operators had difficulty releasing for 10 minutes, Universal paramedic Sebastian Torres told sheriff’s office investigators.“‘The guest was stuck on the ride vehicle face down, falling out of his seat, with legs inverted,’” Torres wrote in a statement included in the report.Cruz-Robles told investigators that a ride operator had to push Zavala’s lap restraint down several times before it was safely in place when they first got on the ride, and she thought the restraint bar was positioned too low on their laps. When the coaster began the first downward movement, she said Zavala flew forward and hit his head on the metal bar in front of them. During the ride Zavala hit his head several times more, and Cruz-Robles said she tried but was unable to hold him back.“Javiliz was crying for help, but due to being in the middle of the ride, no one heard her screaming for help until the train cart was getting close to the station,” the report said.The sheriff’s office report noted there were warning signs posted at the ride’s entrance telling patrons about sudden drops and accelerations. The signs said guests shouldn’t go on the ride with certain conditions, including “back, neck or similar physical conditions,” or if they’ve had recent surgeries or conditions that could be aggravated by the ride.Zavala’s parents told investigators that their son had previously fractured a thigh bone that required surgery in 2020 and had a hip dislocation that required surgery in 2010.The dual-launch coaster reaches speeds up to 62 mph (100 kph) and debuted officially in May when Universal Orlando Resort’s newest theme park opened to the public.___This story has been corrected to reflect that the incident took place at Universal Epic Universe theme park, not Universal Studios Florida theme park. Both parks are at the Universal Orlando Resort.