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General

Montgomery police vow to catch 13-year-old cheerleader’s killer, crack down on crime

Montgomery police and city officials said they will not stop until they find the shooter or shooters who killed a 13-year-old cheerleader inside her home.

Diamond Moore was asleep inside her home on Greensboro Court in Montgomery when, about 2:30 a.m. Friday, shots fired from outside went through her window and killed her.

“All of these crimes, especially the homicide, as a parent, have touched me in a way that I am incredibly angry about and I will not rest until they are solved,” Montgomery Police Chief Jim Graboys said Monday in a joint press conference with Mayor Steven Reed.

“Of every possible crime, this is the most egregious,” Graboys said. “It weighs on me. It weighs on all of us.”

Graboys and Reed had scheduled a news conference for Tuesday to talk about strides in public safety. Instead, a violent weekend in the city prompted them to move up briefing.

“This past weekend has been very difficult and painful for us and all of our citizens,” Graboys said.

In addition to Diamond’s slaying, a man was critically injured shortly after 5 p.m. Friday in the 3200 block of Birmingham Highway.

On Saturday night, shots were fired in downtown Montgomery. Though no one was injured, Graboys said the bullets damaged two buildings and a vehicle.

“My prayers are with the family as they prepare to lay Diamond Moore to rest. To the family, we will not stop until this case is solved,’’ the chief said.

“To the critically injured victim on Birmingham Highway, we will spare no resources or efforts to assure your assailant is caught and charged.”

“Our officers have been working tirelessly, developing leads to identify the perpetrators of these cases,” he said. “We will not rest, and we will not stop.”

Montgomery Police Chief Jim Graboys and Mayor Steven Reed discuss a violent weekend in the city that included the shooting death of 13-year-old Diamond Moore.(Montgomery Police Department)

Diamond was the cheer captain at Southlawn Middle School.

A balloon release in her memory is scheduled for 5:30 p.m. Thursday.

Reed addressed Diamond’s slaying over the weekend.

“No family should ever have to endure this kind of unimaginable loss, and no community should grow accustomed to this kind of senseless violence,” Reed said.

“Diamond should be alive today. She should be enjoying her summer,” Reed said. “Instead, her family is preparing for a funeral. We will not accept this as normal in Montgomery. We will not allow violence to steal the futures of our children.”

Diamond is Montgomery’s 32nd homicide this year.

Graboys said police are going to be making operational changes to be even more proactive in pursuing crime prevention and crime suppression.

The chief said those changes include increasing coverage in crime hotspots, zero-tolerance targeted traffic enforcement details, and beefing up coverage with facial recognition and license plate readers, as well as drones.

“No one should be feeling unsafe anywhere in this city,” Graboys said.

“Every homicide, every shooting, every crime, all of them are important. No matter who, when or where they take place.”

General

Can Trump’s 22-year-old counterterrorism chief face Iran sleeper cell threats? ‘Amazing insult to America’

Amid threats by Iran to activate sleeper cells in the United States in retaliation for the strikes on its nuclear facilities over the weekend, attention has turned to a 22-year-old Trump administration appointee overseeing the prevention of terrorist attacks in the U.S.

And Thomas Fugate, the former Heritage Foundation intern who now oversees a Homeland Security Department program tasked with preventing extremist attacks like school shootings and other hate-fueled incidents, is not instilling confidence among the administration’s critics.

Fugate’s portfolio includes the Center for Prevention Programs and Partnerships, or CP3, which is tasked with preventing extremist attacks like school shootings and other hate-fueled incidents.

Fugate was the subject of an extensive ProPublica profile published earlier this month, with experts raising eyebrows over the 22-year-old’s career trajectory.

“Typically, people familiar with CP3 say, a candidate that green wouldn’t have gotten an interview for a junior position, much less be hired to run operations,” the outlet reported.

A counterterrorism expert doubted that Fugate was capable of the job.

“Maybe he’s a wunderkind. Maybe he’s Doogie Howser … But that’s not likely the case,” the unnamed counterterrorism researcher told ProPublica in a reference to the 1990s TV show starring Neil Patrick Harris as a teen surgeon.

“It sounds like putting the intern in charge,” the researcher said.

Following the attack on Iran’s nuclear infrastructure, Trump administration critics slammed Fugate on social media and resurrected news stories about the 22-year-old Homeland Security official.

“As major U.S. cities brace for possible terror attacks in response to the strikes on Iran, just a reminder of who Trump put in charge of terror prevention,” tweeted the Republicans Against Trump account on X. “God help us all.”

Barry McCaffrey, a retired general and NBC and MSNBC military analyst, on Sunday called Fugate’s appointment an “Amazing insult to America.”

Actor Mark Ruffalo also expressed concern about Fugate’s qualifications.

“Hate crime and home grown terrorist attacks are up and now we are vulnerable to attacks from Iran,” Ruffalo tweeted. “Who is this guy? How is he qualified for all this?”

The Daily Beast, which also reported on Fugate’s appointment, noted he was a “neighborhood gardener” five years ago and worked in a grocery store “as recently as August 2023.”

“Iranian Sleeper Cells?” tweeted The Maine Wonk on X. “Don’t worry America. 23 year old former grocery store clerk Thomas Fugate is on the case at DHS.”

General

CNN’s Anderson Cooper forced to evacuate after incoming missile alert during live broadcast in Israel

CNN’s Anderson Cooper evacuated from his location in Tel Aviv, Israel, early Monday morning, during a live broadcast after missile alarms warned of attack.

Cooper, 58, shared during the broadcast the alarm is a 10-minute warning of incoming missiles.

“So these…are the alerts that go out on all of our phones when you’re in Israel. It’s a 10-minute warning of incoming missiles or something incoming from Iran,” he said.

“So now the location we’re in has a verbal alarm telling people to go down into bomb shelters. So we have about a 10-minute window to get down into a bomb shelter.

Cooper was broadcasting with international correspondent Clarissa Ward and Jerusalem correspondent Jeremy Diamond about the Middle East conflict.

“All right. I think we’re going to head down to the shelters. Chuck, do we have capabilities as we go down?,” Cooper asked a member of his crew.

Cooper noted the alarm was the first day as they made their way to a shelter.

Mark Heim is a reporter for The Alabama Media Group. Follow him on Twitter @Mark_Heim. He can be heard on “The Opening Kickoff” on WNSP-FM 105.5 FM in Mobile or on the free Sound of Mobile App from 6 to 9 a.m. daily.

General

Country music singer stopped at airport for loaded gun: ‘I was half-awake and clearly not thinking’

Sammy Kershaw was stopped by airport security last month in Lafayette, La. for having a loaded handgun.

Absolute Publicity, which issued a statement regarding the incident, reports the country music singer’s bag was flagged by TSA.

“It was early, I was half-awake and clearly not thinking straight,” Kershaw said in a statement. “I’ve sang songs about heartbreak and hard times but not about forgetting to check my carry-on for a loaded firearm. That’s a new one!”

Kershaw was fined $5,000 fine. He could’ve been fined as much as $10,000 and received jail time.

“I guess it’s safe to say I won’t be packing heat to my next show,” the statement continued. ”Let this be your friendly PSA: Check your bags, check ‘em twice. Let’s all stay safe out there.”

General

Alabama star gets medical redshirt approved

Alabama men’s basketball received good news from the NCAA.

Latrell Wrightsell Jr., a graduate guard, officially had his medical redshirt approved, Yea Alabama announced Monday.

Wrightsell sustained an Achilles injury early in the 2024-25 season, then he missed the rest of the season. Yea Alabama announced that Wrightsell Jr. had re-signed back in April. But the approval from the NCAA makes his return official.

The Omaha, Nebraska played in only eight games in 2024-25 before his Achilles injury during the Oregon game in late November. Before he was injured, Wrightsell averaged 25.6 minutes, 11.5 points, and 0.5 steals per game. He shot 42.2% from deep and 50% overall.

Wrightsell played for Cal State Fullerton before transferring to Alabama ahead of the 2023-24 season. In his first season with the Crimson Tide, Wrightsell played in 31 games, made 44.7% from beyond the arc, scoring 8.9 points and tallying 1.1 steals.

Wrightsell joins a guard group that includes returners Aden Holloway, Labaron Philon and Houston Mallette as well as transfers Jalil Bethea and Preston Murphy Jr. Alabama also signed freshmen guards London Jemison and Davion Hannah.

Nick Kelly is an Alabama beat writer for AL.com and the Alabama Media Group. Follow him on X and Instagram.

General

Walmart week-long summer sales event to coincide with Prime Day 2025

Walmart announced that it will be host a major annual sales event of its own set to overlap Prime Day 2025. However, the “Walmart Deals” sales event will last for six days total compared to Amazon’s four day event.

The Walmart Deals sale officially kicks off Tuesday, July 8 and run through Sunday, July 13. However, Walmart+ members will have early access to these deals starting on Monday, July 7 at 7 p.m. E.T.

Those who are not a Walmart+ member can sign up for a 30-day free trial in order to take advantage of these early discounts as some of the best deals have been known to sell out during this early sale period. You will have the option to cancel your membership at anytime before the trial period ends.

Walmart also announced that, for the first time ever, Walmart Deals will be available both in stores and online, offering more flexibility for customers to shop the way they want, whether that’s a quick in-store run, curbside pickup or delivery to their doorstep.

“From barbecues to back-to-school, we know this is a busy shopping season for our customers, which is why we’re excited to bring back the Walmart Deals event,” Executive Vice President, General Merchandise, Walmart U.S Megan Crozier said.

“As customers look to save on both the items that they want and need this season, this summer’s event will feature a wider selection of products including wellness finds and everyday essentials. We also know families are continuing to shop earlier for the new school year, so we’ve brought back deals on first-day essentials to help customers save more when it matters most.”

Those who want a preview of these upcoming deals can check them out at Walmart.com/deals or simply on the Walmart app.

General

Alabama drug trafficker first to be convicted under law named for slain police officer

Attorney General Steve Marshall announced today the conviction and life sentence of Reginald Eugene Scott, 45, of Huntsville, for trafficking in cocaine.

To secure this life sentence, the attorney general’s office, in conjunction with the Alabama Law Enforcement Agency and the Huntsville Police Department, for the first time employed the Agent Billy Clardy III Act to use “enhanced investigative techniques” to uncover Scott’s drug trafficking organization operating in Madison County, according to a release from Marshall’s office.

Passed by the Alabama legislature in 2023 in honor of fallen Huntsville police officer Billy Clardy III, this act created a wiretapping program for state and local law enforcement to secretly monitor and record people suspected of felony drug crimes, according to its text.

“Today’s life sentence for a drug trafficker is a fitting tribute to Agent Billy Clardy III,” Marshall wrote in the release.

“Agent Clardy dedicated his life to combating the scourge of drugs in our community.”

Scott was a leader and organizer of a wide-ranging drug trafficking organization with ties to criminal elements throughout the southeast, Marshall’s office said.

And over the course of the investigation, law enforcement recovered numerous firearms related to drug trafficking.

Scott pleaded guilty to one count of trafficking incocaine, a Class A felony, and received a life sentence under Alabama’s Habitual Felony Offender Act – having been convicted of four prior felony drug offenses.

In Dec. 2019, Clardy was shot and killed by LaJeromeny Brown during an undercover drug operation in north Huntsville, as AL.com previously reported.

As a result of his death, the Alabama Legislature passed the Agent Billy Clardy III Act in 2023.

“The legislation honoring his name will forever assist law enforcement in rooting out those who would poison our communities while adding safety and security to our officers,” Marshall wrote.

“Agent Clardy’s death was not in vain.”

Marshall reiterated in the release that this case is ongoing, and he expects more convictions to come.

General

4-star former Auburn WR commit flips his pledge to Florida State

Auburn football’s 2026 recruiting class took another hit on Monday.

Four-star wide receiver Devin Carter flipped his commitment from Auburn to Florida State, becoming the third blue-chip prospect to decommit from the Tigers in the past month. Carter committed to Auburn in January, but recently completed an official visit to FSU in early June, according to 247Sports.

Carter is also the son of former FSU and NFL running back Dexter Carter, who played for the Seminoles from 1986-1989. Devin Carter is ranked by 247Sports as the No. 135 overall player in the class of 2026 and the 15th-best receiver.

He plays high school football at Douglas County High School in Georgia, where he caught 41 passes for 669 yards and five touchdowns as a junior in 2024.

With Carter’s flip, Auburn’s 2026 class is now down to five players and only one rated as a four-star prospect or higher by the 247Sports composite rankings

Peter Rauterkus covers Auburn sports for AL.com. You can follow him on X at @peter_rauterkus or email him at [email protected]m

General

GOP congresswoman says Trump betrayed isolationists with Iran attack: ‘MAGA is not a cult’

Georgia Congresswoman Marjorie Taylor Greene vehemently voiced her opposition to President Trump’s strikes on Iran’s nuclear facilities, claiming the attack “feels like a complete bait and switch to please the neocons.”

Greene, who had joined Trump on the campaign trail in 2024, said there were three major promises that were part of the MAGA foreign policy agenda: “NO MORE FOREIGN WARS. NO MORE REGIME CHANGE. WORLD PEACE.”

But after issuing the order to strike three nuclear facilities in Iran, Trump reneged on those promises, according to Greene.

“Only 6 months in and we are back into foreign wars, regime change, and world war 3,” she tweeted. “It feels like a complete bait and switch to please the neocons, warmongers, military industrial complex contracts, and neocon tv personalities that MAGA hates and who were NEVER TRUMPERS!”

Greene, who sides with MAGA’s isolationist wing, has been feuding with neoconservatives who wanted the U.S. to get involved in Israel’s combat operations in Iran.

Fox News host and neoconservative Mark Levin called Greene a “shameless” nitwit after she tweeted: “I don’t know anyone in America who has been the victim of a crime or killed by Iran, but I know many people who have been victims of crime committed by criminal illegal aliens or MURDERED by Cartel and Chinese fentanyl/drugs.”

“Marjorie Taylor Green [sic], shameless nitwit. How incredibly dumb is this Marjorie Taylor Green [sic]?” tweeted Levin.

“She doesn’t know anyone in America who has been a victim of crime or killed by Iran? You mean the thousands of Americans, especially military personnel, killed and maimed by the Iranian terrorist regime?”

Greene also questioned the administration’s changing story on the effectiveness of the strikes.

“After the bombs were dropped, we were told ‘complete success’ and Iran’s nuclear capabilities were totally wiped out,” she said. “Then it quickly turned to Iran’s nuclear facilities ‘partially damaged’ and now it’s ‘we don’t know where their enriched uranium is.’”

The Georgia congresswoman said her views are shaped by the future of her three children, ages 22, 25 and 27.

“I am FIGHTING for them to have a future where they can afford to buy a home, afford insurance, invest for retirement, enjoy life, retain their God given freedoms, afford to raise a family under their Christian faith, not be in debt, safety and security, AND NOT HAVE OUR OWN TAX PAYER FUNDED GOVERNMENT DESTROY IT ALL,” she said.

She said the MAGA movement is not a monolith.

“Contrary to brainwashed Democrat boomers think and protest about, Trump is not a king, MAGA is not a cult, and I can and DO have my own opinion,” Greene said.

General

NBA Draft: Mr. Basketball becomes an All-Star across a decade

The NBA will hold its 79th draft on Wednesday and Thursday. Thirty first-round picks will be made starting at 7 p.m. CDT Wednesday at Barclays Center in Brooklyn, New York. NBA teams have drafted 49 players from Alabama high schools and colleges in the first round, and AL.com is counting down to the 2025 draft with a decade-by-decade look at the state’s first-rounders, including the first 10 years of the 21st century:

When the 1998 and 1999 NBA drafts passed without a player from an Alabama high school or college selected in the first round, it marked the first time since 1973 and 1974 that back-to-back drafts had gone by without an Alabama-roots pick.

But the absence turned out to be more than a blip.

From 1975 through 199ne picked higher than 25th — and during the 10 drafts, just 15 state players were selected in any round.

One of those five first-rounders played in an NBA All-Star Game. Gerald Wallace had opened the decade as Alabama’s Mr. Basketball f7, 27 players with Alabama basketball roots entered the NBA as first-round picks in the 23 drafts. Eleven first-round choices in the 1980s and 10 in the 1990s had played at Alabama high schools or colleges.

But in the first decade of the 21st century, only five players with Alabama basketball roots entered the NBA as first-rounders – noor Childersburg High School in 2000, then closed it by representing the Charlotte Bobcats in the 2010 NBA All-Star Game.

The first-round NBA Draft picks from 2000 through 2009 who had played at Alabama high schools and colleges included:

2000: Mamadou N’Diaye (Auburn), No. 26 by the Denver Nuggets

N’Diaye broke Charles Barkley’s school record for blocked shots at Auburn, but he didn’t duplicate Sir Charles’ NBA success. The 7-foot center never played for the Nuggets, who traded him to the Toronto Raptors, and N’Diaye had three more stops in front of him during his five NBA seasons. In 69 NBA regular-season games, N’Diaye averaged 3.8 points and 3.3 rebounds. On Nov. 4, 2002, N’Diaye blocked eight shots in the Raptors’ 109-105 victory over the Chicago Bulls.

2001: Gerald Wallace (Childersburg High School, Alabama), No. 25 by the Sacramento Kings

Alabama’s Mr. Basketball for the 1999-2000 season at Childersburg, Wallace played one season for the Crimson Tide before a 14-year NBA career. The 6-foot-7 forward was traded five times and left the Kings for the Charlotte Bobcats in the 2004 expansion draft. Wallace reached career highs for the Bobcats in the 2007-08 season with averages of 19.4 points and 3.5 assists per game. “Crash” played in the 2010 NBA All-Star Game. That season, he reached a career high with an average of 10.0 rebounds per game, made the NBA All-Defensive team and finished third in the voting for the Defensive Player of the Year Award. In 832 NBA regular-season games, Wallace averaged 11.9 points, 5.8 rebounds, 2.1 assists and 1.4 steals. Wallace led the NBA with an average of 2.5 steals per game in the 2005-06 season.

2008: D.J. White (Hillcrest High School in Tuscaloosa), No. 29 by the Detroit Pistons

The 6-foot-9 power forward went from Hillcrest to Indiana, where he averaged 17.4 points and 10.3 rebounds per game as a senior. On draft night, the Pistons traded White to the Oklahoma City Thunder in a deal that brought second-round pick and former Parker High School and UAB standout Walter Sharpe to Detroit. In 2013, White was traded by Boston in a deal that brought former Childersburg High School and Alabama star Gerald Wallace to the Celtics and included a first-round pick that became Crimson Tide standout Collin Sexton in the first round of the 2018 draft. In 138 NBA regular-season games, White averaged 5.9 points, 3.2 rebounds and 0.6 assists.

2009: DeMarre Carroll (John Carroll Catholic High School in Birmingham), No. 27 by the Memphis Grizzlies

“The Junkyard Dog” played for eight teams in his 11 NBA seasons. Carroll, who entered the NBA from Missouri, reached his career highs in the 2017-2018 season when he averaged 13.5 points, 6.6 rebounds and 2.0 assists in 73 games for the Brooklyn Nets. In 578 NBA regular-season games, Carroll averaged 8.9 points, 4.2 rebounds and 1.3 assists. He also averaged 8.9 points, 4.3 rebounds and 1.1 assists in 64 playoff games.

2009: Toney Douglas (Auburn), No. 29 by the Los Angeles Lakers

The Lakers drafted Douglas from Florida State, but he averaged 16.9 points per game for Auburn as a freshman in the 2004-05 season before leaving the Tigers for the Seminoles. Los Angeles sent him to the New York Knicks on draft night, the first of four times that Douglas was traded during his eight NBA seasons. The 6-foot-2 guard reached his career highs during the 2010-11 season when he averaged 10.6 points, 3.0 rebounds and 3.0 assists in 81 games with the Knicks. In 394 NBA regular-season games, Douglas averaged 7.6 points, 2.2 rebounds and 2.3 assists.

Mark Inabinett is a sports reporter for Alabama Media Group. Follow him on X at @AMarkG1.