An NFL player is fighting for his life; officials used genealogyto track down the Idaho murder suspect; and the Times Square attacker has been arrested. These stories and more highlight your morning rundown for Tuesday, Jan. 3, 2023.
NFL’s Damar Hamlin in critical condition
During the Monday Night Football game between the Buffalo Bills and the Cincinnati Bengals last night, Bills safety Damar Hamlin took a hit before collapsing on the field. He was administered CPR on site before being taken away in an ambulance. The Bills organization said Hamlin suffered cardiac arrest.
His heartbeat was revived, but Hamlin is currently sedated, on a breathing tube, and in critical condition at a local hospital, according to the team.
Uncertainty surrounds House Speaker vote
A new Congress will convene Tuesday, kicking off two years of divided government after Republicans won the House in the midterm election. Democrats continue to hold control of the Senate.
Eyes will be on the House today to see whether the new GOP majority can agree on Rep. Kevin McCarthy, Calif., to be the next speaker. A vote will take place at noon, but as of now, it’s uncertain if McCarthy has enough caucus support to take the gavel.
Genealogy used in Idaho murders
Law enforcement officials say Bryan Kohberger was identified as their murder suspect through DNA testing, using genealogy databases. Kohberger was arrested Friday and charged with four counts of first-degree murder in the killings of four University of Idaho students.
The attorney for Koeberger says he is eager to be exonerated.
Today, he’ll be back in court to face charges. The first step in his extradition back to Idaho.
Dozens of Russian soldiers killed
The Russia-Ukraine war has only intensified two-fold since the new year.
Russia says Ukraine carried out an attack using rocket systems from the U.S. responsible for the killing of 63 soldiers.
Ukraine has said the number of Russian casualties is closer to 400. Russia responded by sending Iranian made drones to Ukraine’s capitol.
Ukraine says since the new year, more than 80 drones have been intercepted and shot down before hitting the city.
NYE Times Square attacker arrested
“Officers assigned to the New Year’s eve detail were at the corner of West 52nd street and 8th Avenue, outside of a security screening zone, when unprovoked, a 19-year-old male approached an officer and attempted to strike him over the head with a machete. The male then struck two additional officers in the head with a machete,” NYPD Commissioner Keechant Sewell said Sunday.
The suspect, accused of attacking New York police with a machete on New Years Eve, has been arrested and charged with attempted murder.
Nineteen-year-old Trevor Bickford was already on the FBI’s terrorist watch list before carrying out the attack according to officials.
He reportedly aspired to join the Taliban in Afghanistan and called the U.S. his “enemy” in a diary.
He also wrote what seems to be a suicide note the day of the attack. Officials have not called it a terrorist attack.
