Man killed holding phone, not a gun
LAS VEGAS – A man who was fatally shot by Las Vegas police while holding a cellphone that was mistaken for a gun had recently been convicted of multiple crimes in Arizona.
According to Maricopa County Superior Court records, a jury convicted Keith Childress Jr., 23, on Dec. 17 of burglary, armed robbery, kidnapping, aggravated assault and theft.
The shooting occurred Thursday after Childress had been under surveillance and fled from federal authorities, Las Vegas police said in a statement. He was found outside a home west of downtown. Police said his right hand held what they believed to be a firearm.
Officers told him to drop the gun and ordered him to stop when he moved toward them. Police said two officers opened fire when Childress didn’t obey. He was pronounced dead at the scene.
France quarrels over revoking citizenship
PARIS – The push by France’s Socialist government to revoke the citizenship of convicted terrorists with dual nationality after the Paris attacks has turned into a harsh political dispute, with the far right applauding the move, while some on the left express indignation at what they call a divisive measure.
French President François Hollande submitted the proposal three days after the Nov. 13 attacks in Paris that left 130 dead, in a shift toward a hard line on security.
Under current French law, citizenship revocation can only be applied to people who have been naturalized, not if they are French-born, and the procedure is rarely implemented.
R.R. Martin misses deadline on ‘Thrones’
NEW YORK – Winter is not coming.
“Game of Thrones” author George R.R. Martin says he missed a Dec. 31 deadline to finish “The Winds of Winter,” the latest book in his fantasy series. That means the HBO season based on that sixth novel will start airing in April, while he’s still writing.
The words “you won’t like it” appeared Saturday on Martin’s blog, reporting the missed deadline.
Martin says he wanted to say he’s delivered “The Winds of Winter” for publication, but estimates it’ll take months more if all goes well.
Associated Press & Washington Post
