Latest news with #Abston
Global News
4 hours ago
- Politics
- Global News
Man arrested, accused of attempting to kidnap Memphis, Tenn. mayor
A Memphis man has been arrested after he allegedly sought to kidnap the city's mayor. The man went to the elected official's family home and was later found with a taser, gloves, rope and duct tape in his vehicle, according to police. Memphis police said that Trenton Abston, 25, is facing charges of attempted kidnapping, stalking and aggravated criminal trespass. View image in full screen Trenton Abston is accused of attempting to kidnap the mayor of Memphis, Paul Young. Memphis Police Department According to The Associated Press, Mayor Paul Young, a Democrat, was at home with his wife and two young children on Sunday night when Abston knocked on the door. Story continues below advertisement Legal documents obtained by the AP say that Young could see from his doorbell camera that the man was wearing gloves and had a lumpy bulge in his hoodie pocket. When no one answered the door, the man fled. His face was caught on a security camera. The attempted kidnapping occurred one day after a gunman, posing as a police officer, killed a Minnesota lawmaker and her husband and severely injured a state senator and his wife, prompting a massive, multi-day manhunt for the suspect, who police later arrested and identified as Vance Boelter. Get daily National news Get the day's top news, political, economic, and current affairs headlines, delivered to your inbox once a day. Sign up for daily National newsletter Sign Up By providing your email address, you have read and agree to Global News' Terms and Conditions and Privacy Policy Investigators say Boelter appeared to spend months preparing for the shootings. His list of potential targets contained dozens of names, including officials in at least three other states. Online court records do not show if Abston has legal representation. He is scheduled to appear in court on Monday to tell a judge if he has been able to hire a lawyer. Story continues below advertisement Abston told police he approached the mayor's home on Sunday intending to discuss crime rates in Memphis, adding that he was angry with Young and armed with a taser when he approached his home. A police investigation revealed that in May and June, Abston's vehicle was captured by security cameras multiple times near Young's home. Young lives in a secure neighbourhood that has a large exterior wall, a gate, a guardhouse, security, and video surveillance, according to court documents. Authorities said security footage shows Abston scaling an exterior wall and going directly towards Young's home. Law enforcement says it used a special database to identify Abston as a suspect and confirmed his identity by showing his work manager a photo from the night of the incident, and then detained Abston at his workplace on Wednesday. 'Abston took substantial steps toward the commission of a kidnapping,' he court filing says. In a post on X on Wednesday, Young said the man 'walked straight to our home, knocking on the door with gloves on, a full pocket, and a nervous demeanor.' We've just learned that the individual responsible for Sunday night's incident has been apprehended and charged by MPD. On Sunday night, around 9:30 pm, a man jumped a wall leading into our subdivision. We now know that he walked straight to our home. — Paul Young (@mayorpaulyoung) June 18, 2025 Story continues below advertisement Young called on the people of Memphis to 'change how we talk to and about each other,' adding that 'disagreement must never lead to violence.' 'In today's climate, especially after the tragic events in Minnesota and the threats my wife and I often receive online, none of us can be too careful,' he continued, 'The link between angry online rhetoric and real-life violence is becoming undeniable.' Young ended by calling on the community to 'choose love.' — With files from The Associated Press
New York Post
5 hours ago
- Politics
- New York Post
Suspect with Taser and rope charged in attempted kidnapping of Memphis mayor, police say
MEMPHIS, Tenn. (AP) — A man has been charged with an attempted kidnapping of the mayor of Memphis after he went to the mayor's house in a gated community and was later arrested with a Taser, gloves, rope and duct tape in his vehicle, according to police. Memphis police on Wednesday announced that Trenton Abston, 25, is facing charges of attempted kidnapping, stalking and aggravated criminal trespass. Mayor Paul Young, a Black Democrat, was at home with his wife and children when Abston knocked on the door Sunday night, according to an arrest affidavit. Young said could see from his doorbell camera that the man was wearing gloves and had a lumpy bulge in his hoodie pocket. 4 A man was charged with an attempted kidnapping of Memphis Mayor Paul Young. WREG 3 When no one answered, the man fled, but his face was captured on camera, the affidavit says. The attempt happened just one day after the killing a prominent Minnesota Democratic lawmaker. The suspect charged is accused of impersonating a police officer and gunning down former House Speaker Melissa Hortman and her husband, Mark, in their home outside Minneapolis. Online court records reviewed Friday do not show if he has hired a lawyer. Abston, who is Black, is scheduled to appear in court Monday to tell a judge if he has been able to hire an attorney. 4 Paul Young is the mayor of Memphis, Tennessee. WREG 3 Abston told police investigators that he waited until Sunday evening to approach Young at his home about crime in the city, saying he was angry at the mayor and armed with a Taser when he went to the home, the affidavit says. Police found in their investigation that Abston's vehicle was seen on video footage multiple times in the immediate area of Young's home between May and June, the affidavit says. The subdivision has a large exterior wall, a gate, a guard house, security and video surveillance, the affidavit says. 4 Police were at the scene of Mayor Paul Young's home. WREG 3 Security footage shows that Abston scaled a wall and went directly to Young's residence, authorities said. On Tuesday, police used law enforcement databases to identify Abston as a person of interest in the case. They confirmed his identity by showing his work manager a photo from the night of the incident, and then detained Abston at his workplace on Wednesday, the affidavit says. 'Abston took substantial steps toward the commission of a kidnapping,' the affidavit said. Young said the man jumped a wall leading into the subdivision where his family lives. He said the man 'walked straight to our home, knocking on the door with gloves on, a full pocket, and a nervous demeanor.' 4 Memphis police on Wednesday announced that Trenton Abston, 25, is facing charges of attempted kidnapping, stalking and aggravated criminal trespass. WREG 3 Young challenged people in his city to 'change how we talk to and about each other,' saying, 'disagreement must never lead to violence.' 'In today's climate, especially after the tragic events in Minnesota and the threats my wife and I often receive online, none of us can be too careful,' Young wrote on social media on Wednesday. 'The link between angry online rhetoric and real-life violence is becoming undeniable.'
Los Angeles Times
5 hours ago
- Los Angeles Times
Man with Taser and rope charged in attempted kidnapping of mayor, Memphis police say
MEMPHIS, Tenn. — A man has been charged with an attempted kidnapping of the mayor of Memphis after he went to the mayor's house in a gated community and was later arrested with a Taser, gloves, rope and duct tape in his vehicle, according to police. Memphis police on Wednesday announced that Trenton Abston, 25, is facing charges of attempted kidnapping, stalking and aggravated criminal trespass. Mayor Paul Young, a Black Democrat, was at home with his wife and children when Abston knocked on the door Sunday night, according to an arrest affidavit. Young said he could see from his doorbell camera that the man was wearing gloves and had a lumpy bulge in his hoodie pocket. When no one answered, the man fled, but his face was captured on camera, the affidavit says. The attempt happened just one day after the killing of a prominent Minnesota Democratic lawmaker. The suspect charged is accused of impersonating a police officer and gunning down former House Speaker Melissa Hortman and her husband, Mark, in their home outside Minneapolis. Online court records reviewed Friday do not show whether he has hired a lawyer. Abston, who is Black, is scheduled to appear in court Monday to tell a judge if he has been able to hire an attorney. Abston told police investigators that he waited until Sunday evening to approach Young at his home about crime in the city, saying he was angry at the mayor and armed with a Taser when he went to the home, the affidavit says. Police found in their investigation that Abston's vehicle was seen on video footage multiple times in the immediate area of Young's home between May and June, the affidavit says. The subdivision has a large exterior wall, a gate, a guard house, security and video surveillance, the affidavit says. Security footage shows that Abston scaled a wall and went directly to Young's residence, authorities said. On Tuesday, police used law enforcement databases to identify Abston as a person of interest in the case. They confirmed his identity by showing his work manager a photo from the night of the incident, and then detained Abston at his workplace on Wednesday, the affidavit says. 'Abston took substantial steps toward the commission of a kidnapping,' the affidavit said. Young said the man jumped a wall leading into the subdivision where his family lives. He said the man 'walked straight to our home, knocking on the door with gloves on, a full pocket, and a nervous demeanor.' Young challenged people in his city to 'change how we talk to and about each other,' saying, 'disagreement must never lead to violence.' 'In today's climate, especially after the tragic events in Minnesota and the threats my wife and I often receive online, none of us can be too careful,' Young wrote on social media on Wednesday. 'The link between angry online rhetoric and real-life violence is becoming undeniable.'
San Francisco Chronicle
5 hours ago
- San Francisco Chronicle
Man with Taser and rope charged in attempted kidnapping of mayor, Memphis police say
MEMPHIS, Tenn. (AP) — A man has been charged with an attempted kidnapping of the mayor of Memphis after he went to the mayor's house in a gated community and was later arrested with a Taser, gloves, rope and duct tape in his vehicle, according to police. Memphis police on Wednesday announced that Trenton Abston, 25, is facing charges of attempted kidnapping, stalking and aggravated criminal trespass. Mayor Paul Young, a Black Democrat, was at home with his wife and children when Abston knocked on the door Sunday night, according to an arrest affidavit. Young said could see from his doorbell camera that the man was wearing gloves and had a lumpy bulge in his hoodie pocket. When no one answered, the man fled, but his face was captured on camera, the affidavit says. The attempt happened just one day after the killing a prominent Minnesota Democratic lawmaker. The suspect charged is accused of impersonating a police officer and gunning down former House Speaker Melissa Hortman and her husband, Mark, in their home outside Minneapolis. Online court records reviewed Friday do not show if he has hired a lawyer. Abston, who is Black, is scheduled to appear in court Monday to tell a judge if he has been able to hire an attorney. Abston told police investigators that he waited until Sunday evening to approach Young at his home about crime in the city, saying he was angry at the mayor and armed with a Taser when he went to the home, the affidavit says. Police found in their investigation that Abston's vehicle was seen on video footage multiple times in the immediate area of Young's home between May and June, the affidavit says. The subdivision has a large exterior wall, a gate, a guard house, security and video surveillance, the affidavit says. Security footage shows that Abston scaled a wall and went directly to Young's residence, authorities said. On Tuesday, police used law enforcement databases to identify Abston as a person of interest in the case. They confirmed his identity by showing his work manager a photo from the night of the incident, and then detained Abston at his workplace on Wednesday, the affidavit says. 'Abston took substantial steps toward the commission of a kidnapping,' the affidavit said. Young said the man jumped a wall leading into the subdivision where his family lives. He said the man 'walked straight to our home, knocking on the door with gloves on, a full pocket, and a nervous demeanor.' Young challenged people in his city to 'change how we talk to and about each other,' saying, 'disagreement must never lead to violence.' 'In today's climate, especially after the tragic events in Minnesota and the threats my wife and I often receive online, none of us can be too careful," Young wrote on social media on Wednesday. "The link between angry online rhetoric and real-life violence is becoming undeniable.'
The Hill
6 hours ago
- Politics
- The Hill
Man charged with attempted kidnapping of Memphis mayor
A Memphis man was charged on Wednesday for attempted kidnapping after allegedly stalking Mayor Paul Young (D). Police said Trenton Abston, 25, has also been charged for criminal trespassing after visiting Young's home on Sunday. Investigators said at the time of Abston's arrest, officers recovered a taser, gloves, rope, and duct tape from his vehicle. 'Upon further review of both public and private security camera footage, we have determined that the suspect did not approach multiple homes, as initially reported,' the Memphis Police Department said in a Wednesday statement. 'Instead, after scaling a wall, the individual went directly to the Mayor's residence,' they added. Abston is scheduled to appear in court on Monday morning. Young addressed the incident in a Facebook post on Wednesday, thanking officers for apprehending Abston while citing a growing concern for targeted political violence after two Democratic lawmakers in Minnesota were shot over the weekend along with their spouses. 'In today's climate, especially after the tragic events in Minnesota and the threats my wife and I often receive online, none of us can be too careful. The link between angry online rhetoric and real-life violence is becoming undeniable,' Young wrote. 'What starts as reckless words online can all too quickly become something much more dangerous. The angry rhetoric, the hateful speech, and the heated threats create a culture where violence feels like a next step instead of a red line,' he added. 'We cannot allow that line to be crossed.'
