Month: April 2026

Alt-pop artist D4vd has been formally charged with first-degree murder in the death of a 14-year-old girl whose dismembered remains were discovered inside his impounded Tesla in Los Angeles, authorities announced on Monday.

The 21-year-old musician, whose legal name is David Burke, was arrested last week following a lengthy investigation into the death of Celeste Rivas Hernandez and is currently being held without bail. Prosecutors allege that Burke not only killed the teen but also engaged in unlawful sexual conduct with her when she was under 14, and later mutilated her body. The case had been under review by a grand jury, and authorities spent months gathering forensic and digital evidence before filing charges. Prosecutors have not yet decided whether they will seek the death penalty.

According to investigators, Rivas Hernandez — who had previously been reported missing after running away at 13 — was last seen alive on April 23, 2025, when she arrived at Burke’s Hollywood Hills residence. She was not heard from again. Months later, in September, police made a gruesome discovery at a Hollywood tow yard after being called to investigate a strong odor coming from a vehicle. Inside Burke’s abandoned Tesla, officers found her decomposed remains, which had been placed in separate bags.

Authorities believe she had been dead for weeks before the body was found, which occurred just one day after what would have been her 15th birthday. While the exact cause of death has not been publicly released, officials confirmed that the findings of the medical examiner remain sealed.

Prosecutors say the case includes several aggravating factors that could elevate the punishment to life without parole or even the death penalty. These include allegations that the killing was carried out for financial gain, involved lying in wait, and was intended to silence a witness — as the victim was allegedly connected to the sexual abuse charges. District Attorney Nathan Hochman said during a press briefing that “there is physical evidence and there is forensic and digital evidence that we intend to present in court to prove these charges beyond a reasonable doubt.”

Police also revealed that the investigation uncovered evidence suggesting Burke had been in a sexual relationship with the victim while she was a minor. Officials defended the pace and secrecy of the investigation, emphasizing the need for precision over speculation. LAPD Chief Jim McDonnell said: “My duty is not to fuel speculation. It’s to deliver justice, and that requires patience and discipline on everybody’s part. This investigation was driven by a single purpose — to secure justice for Celeste Rivas and for those who loved her.”

Burke’s legal team has strongly denied the allegations. His attorneys said: “Let us be clear — the actual evidence in this case will show that David Burke did not murder Celeste Rivas Hernandez and he was not the cause of her death. We will vigorously defend David’s innocence.”

Before his arrest, D4vd had continued touring despite early scrutiny but later canceled remaining performances as the investigation intensified. Known for his breakout success on TikTok and hits like “Romantic Homicide,” the singer had quickly risen in popularity before becoming the focus of this high-profile criminal case.

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An early-morning mass shooting in Shreveport, Louisiana, left eight children dead and several others injured after what authorities believe began as a domestic dispute.

Police responded to reports of gunfire around 6 a.m. Sunday in a neighborhood south of downtown, where they uncovered a sprawling crime scene stretching across multiple locations, including at least two nearby homes and additional related sites. In total, 10 people were shot. The victims included eight children between the ages of 1 and 14, along with two adult women, one of whom suffered life-threatening injuries.

According to officials, the suspect fled the area after the shootings and carjacked a vehicle nearby, prompting a police pursuit that ended in Bossier Parish. There, officers confronted the man, and he was shot and killed. Authorities believe he was the only person responsible for the gunfire.

Investigators say the violence was not random but stemmed from a domestic situation. Some of the children killed are believed to have been related to the suspected gunman. Police Chief Wayne Smith said: “This is an extensive scene unlike anything most of us have ever seen. I just don’t know what to say, my heart is just taken aback. I cannot begin to imagine how such an event could occur.”

Speaker of the House Mike Johnson posted on X: “Heartbreaking tragedy in Shreveport this morning — 8 children were senselessly killed and multiple others were injured. My team is in touch with local law enforcement as more details emerge. We’re holding the victims, their families and loved ones, and our Shreveport community close in our thoughts and prayers during this incredibly difficult time. And we are grateful to the Shreveport, Bossier, and Louisiana State Police for their swift response.”

The investigation remains active, with law enforcement working to piece together the sequence of events across the multiple scenes. Louisiana State Police have been asked to review the officer-involved shooting, and officials confirmed that no officers were injured. Shreveport Mayor Tom Arceneaux said Investigators say the violence was not random but stemmed from a domestic situation. Some of the children killed are believed to have been related to the suspected gunman. Police Chief Wayne Smith said: “This is an extensive scene unlike anything most of us have ever seen. I just don’t know what to say, my heart is just taken aback. I cannot begin to imagine how such an event could occur. It’s a terrible morning.”

Officials are continuing to gather information and are asking anyone with relevant details, photos, or video to come forward as the community grapples with the aftermath of the tragedy.

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Five people were wounded early Sunday after gunfire broke out in downtown Iowa City near the University of Iowa campus. Police responded around 1:46 a.m. in the 100 block of East College Street, where a large fight had erupted.

The shooting took place in the Pedestrian Mall—commonly known as the Ped Mall—a busy downtown area filled with restaurants, bars, and shops just steps from campus. Videos from bystanders showed a chaotic scene, with a crowd scattering as gunfire rang out. As officers arrived, they reported hearing shots and quickly found several victims. “Arriving officers heard gunfire. First responders on scene. Confirmed victims,” police said.

All five victims were taken to nearby hospitals. Officials later confirmed that one person remains in critical condition, while the other four are stable. At least three of those injured are University of Iowa students, according to university leadership. In a message to the campus community, University of Iowa President Barb Wilson said, “While we await additional information, I am thinking about these students and their families, friends, and all the people who care about them. I am holding them close in my thoughts, along with everyone in our community who is hurting or feeling shaken right now.”

Iowa Gov. Kim Reynolds posted on X Sunday morning: “Kevin’s and my prayers this morning are with the victims of the shooting in Iowa City and their families. This senseless act of violence has devastated the university community and our state. I have spoken with University of Iowa President Barbara Wilson and Board of Regents Chair Robert Cramer and assured them that the full resources of the state are available to assist with the investigation. The Department of Public Safety has contacted the Iowa City Police Department to offer their support.”

No arrests have been announced. Investigators have released surveillance images of several persons of interest and are asking for the public’s help in identifying them. Anyone with information on the people pictured is asked to contact Detective Cade Burma at cburma@iowa-city.org or call 319-356-5275.

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Former Virginia lieutenant governor Justin Fairfax fatally shot his wife, Cerina Fairfax, before taking his own life at their home in Annandale, Virginia, according to authorities.

Police say the couple’s teenage children were inside the house when the violence unfolded shortly after midnight on Thursday. Their son called 911, initially believing his mother had been stabbed. Responding officers instead discovered evidence of a shooting, including shell casings near Cerina Fairfax’s body in the basement. Justin Fairfax was later found upstairs in a bedroom with a self-inflicted gunshot wound.

Fairfax County Police Chief Kevin Davis said the sequence of events appeared to happen quickly, with no extended confrontation. “I think it all kind of happened at once,” he noted. “There wasn’t a pause … it all happened pretty spontaneously.”

Earlier this year, Fairfax had accused his wife of assault, but police later determined no such incident occurred based on home surveillance footage. Officials described the case as a domestic dispute linked to a complicated breakup, and believe the incident stemmed from ongoing tensions tied to the couple’s separation and pending divorce. Although still living under the same roof, they had been staying in separate bedrooms. Cerina Fairfax had filed for divorce months earlier, and Justin Fairfax had recently received court documents related to the case. Authorities suggested that development may have escalated the situation. “That may have been a spark,” Davis said, adding that detectives are continuing to examine what led to the violence.

The deaths mark a stunning fall for a once-prominent political figure. Fairfax, who served as Virginia’s lieutenant governor from 2018 to 2022 under Ralph Northam, had previously been viewed as an emerging force in state politics. His trajectory shifted dramatically in 2019 when two women publicly accused him of sexual assault stemming from separate incidents years earlier. One allegation dated back to their time as students at Duke University, while another involved an encounter during the Democratic National Convention in 2004. Fairfax denied both claims, maintaining the encounters were consensual and resisting calls to resign.

Authorities emphasized the emotional toll on the couple’s children, who are now receiving support services. The police chief described the situation as deeply distressing for both the family and the broader community. “It’s very sad for this community,” Police Chief Davis said. “A lot of people who know the Fairfax family, everybody’s shocked. We’re shocked.”

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