Latest news with #PaulYoung
CNN
an hour ago
- Politics
- CNN
Memphis man charged with attempted kidnapping after allegedly trespassing at mayor's home
A man is accused of trying to kidnap the mayor of Memphis, Tennessee, after being seen on surveillance video climbing a wall in the city leader's neighborhood and beelining for his home late Sunday, according to police. A Taser, gloves, rope and duct tape were found in 25-year-old Trenton Abston's vehicle when he was arrested, Memphis police said Wednesday, noting the arrest was made after officers reviewed 'public and private security camera footage' from the area near Mayor Paul Young's home. 'Young looked at his Ring doorbell video and observed the unknown male wearing a hoodie and gloves standing at the door,' according to a police report obtained by CNN affiliate WHBQ. The mayor feared for his safety and didn't answer the door, the report said. Police say the suspect acknowledged looking up the mayor's address and said he wanted to confront him about crime in Memphis, WHBQ reported. The alleged attempted kidnapping of the Memphis mayor happened less than 48 hours after a gunman in Minnesota shot two state lawmakers and their spouses early Saturday. Democratic Minnesota Rep. Melissa Hortman and her husband, Mark, were killed, while Democratic Sen. John Hoffman and his wife, Yvette, were injured after being shot multiple times. Abston is charged with attempted kidnapping, stalking and aggravated criminal trespass, police said. The suspect allegedly 'walked straight to our home' and was then seen 'knocking on the door with gloves on, a full pocket and a nervous demeanor,' Young said in a statement on social media. The Memphis mayor, who took office in January 2024, tied the incident to 'angry online rhetoric' and noted its proximity to the Minnesota shootings. '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 in an Instagram post that included a photo of his family. 'The link between angry online rhetoric and real-life violence is becoming undeniable.' Abston is currently being held at the Shelby County Sheriff's Office jail, according to online records. He is set to appear in court on Friday. CNN is working to identify an attorney for him. Increasing threats to politicians and the Minnesota attacks have heightened concerns over the security of public officials. Last year, threats against federal lawmakers surged, with US Capitol Police investigating over 9,000 cases — a staggering 83% rise from the previous year. Memphis' mayor urged the country to 'do better' after the incident at his home. 'Let's raise our discourse, reduce the hate, and protect one another — no matter our beliefs. Let's reclaim our strength as one community. Let's choose love,' Young said.
CNN
an hour ago
- Politics
- CNN
Memphis man charged with attempted kidnapping after allegedly trespassing at mayor's home
A man is accused of trying to kidnap the mayor of Memphis, Tennessee, after being seen on surveillance video climbing a wall in the city leader's neighborhood and beelining for his home late Sunday, according to police. A Taser, gloves, rope and duct tape were found in 25-year-old Trenton Abston's vehicle when he was arrested, Memphis police said Wednesday, noting the arrest was made after officers reviewed 'public and private security camera footage' from the area near Mayor Paul Young's home. 'Young looked at his Ring doorbell video and observed the unknown male wearing a hoodie and gloves standing at the door,' according to a police report obtained by CNN affiliate WHBQ. The mayor feared for his safety and didn't answer the door, the report said. Police say the suspect acknowledged looking up the mayor's address and said he wanted to confront him about crime in Memphis, WHBQ reported. The alleged attempted kidnapping of the Memphis mayor happened less than 48 hours after a gunman in Minnesota shot two state lawmakers and their spouses early Saturday. Democratic Minnesota Rep. Melissa Hortman and her husband, Mark, were killed, while Democratic Sen. John Hoffman and his wife, Yvette, were injured after being shot multiple times. Abston is charged with attempted kidnapping, stalking and aggravated criminal trespass, police said. The suspect allegedly 'walked straight to our home' and was then seen 'knocking on the door with gloves on, a full pocket and a nervous demeanor,' Young said in a statement on social media. The Memphis mayor, who took office in January 2024, tied the incident to 'angry online rhetoric' and noted its proximity to the Minnesota shootings. '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 in an Instagram post that included a photo of his family. 'The link between angry online rhetoric and real-life violence is becoming undeniable.' Abston is currently being held at the Shelby County Sheriff's Office jail, according to online records. He is set to appear in court on Friday. CNN is working to identify an attorney for him. Increasing threats to politicians and the Minnesota attacks have heightened concerns over the security of public officials. Last year, threats against federal lawmakers surged, with US Capitol Police investigating over 9,000 cases — a staggering 83% rise from the previous year. Memphis' mayor urged the country to 'do better' after the incident at his home. 'Let's raise our discourse, reduce the hate, and protect one another — no matter our beliefs. Let's reclaim our strength as one community. Let's choose love,' Young said.
CNN
2 hours ago
- Politics
- CNN
Memphis man charged with attempted kidnapping after allegedly trespassing at mayor's home
A man is accused of trying to kidnap the mayor of Memphis, Tennessee, after being seen on surveillance video climbing a wall in the city leader's neighborhood and beelining for his home late Sunday, according to police. A Taser, gloves, rope and duct tape were found in 25-year-old Trenton Abston's vehicle when he was arrested, Memphis police said Wednesday, noting the arrest was made after officers reviewed 'public and private security camera footage' from the area near Mayor Paul Young's home. 'Young looked at his Ring doorbell video and observed the unknown male wearing a hoodie and gloves standing at the door,' according to a police report obtained by CNN affiliate WHBQ. Police say the suspect acknowledged looking up the mayor's address and said he wanted to confront him about crime in Memphis, WHBQ reported. The alleged attempted kidnapping of the Memphis mayor happened less than 48 hours after a gunman in Minnesota shot two state lawmakers and their spouses early Saturday. Democratic Minnesota Rep. Melissa Hortman and her husband, Mark, were killed, while Democratic Sen. John Hoffman and his wife, Yvette, were injured after being shot multiple times. Abston is charged with attempted kidnapping, stalking and aggravated criminal trespass, police said. The suspect allegedly 'walked straight to our home' and was then seen 'knocking on the door with gloves on, a full pocket and a nervous demeanor,' Young said in a statement on social media. The Memphis mayor, who took office in January 2024, tied the incident to 'angry online rhetoric' and noted its proximity to the Minnesota shootings. '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 in an Instagram post that included a photo of his family. 'The link between angry online rhetoric and real-life violence is becoming undeniable.' Abston is currently being held at the Shelby County Sheriff's Office jail, according to online records. He is set to appear in court on Friday. CNN is working to identify an attorney for him. Increasing threats to politicians and the Minnesota attacks have heightened concerns over the security of public officials. Last year, threats against federal lawmakers surged, with US Capitol Police investigating over 9,000 cases — a staggering 83% rise from the previous year. Memphis' mayor urged the country to 'do better' after the incident at his home. 'Let's raise our discourse, reduce the hate, and protect one another — no matter our beliefs. Let's reclaim our strength as one community. Let's choose love,' Young said.
NZ Herald
8 hours ago
- NZ Herald
Man accused of stalking Memphis mayor and knocking on his door, while armed with Taser
A man in Tennessee was arrested and charged with attempted kidnapping after police said he repeatedly visited the gated community of Memphis Mayor Paul Young before scaling a wall and knocking on his door earlier this week while armed with a Taser and wearing gloves. Memphis police said the man
NBC News
8 hours ago
- Politics
- NBC News
Man with taser, tape and rope accused of stalking, trying to kidnap Memphis mayor
A man found with a taser, rope, and duct tape and seen in the Memphis mayor's neighborhood has been accused of stalking and attempting to kidnap the city leader. Trenton Abston, 25, is being held in Shelby County Jail with no bail or bond listed and a court appearance scheduled for Friday, according to jail records. Abston has been charged with attempted kidnapping, stalking, and aggravated criminal trespassing, the Memphis Police Department said in a statement. Police said they believed he was targeting the city's mayor, Paul Young. "At the time of his arrest, officers recovered a taser, gloves, rope, and duct tape from his vehicle," the department said. It wasn't clear if Abston has a lawyer. The public defender's office for the region did not immediately respond to a request for comment. Police initially believed the suspect was going door-to-door in a subdivision that includes Mayor Paul Young's home in East Memphis on Sunday night. Memphis police and the mayor said security video shows the suspect scaling a wall to the subdivision and then walking directly to the mayor's home. "We now know that he walked straight to our home, knocking on the door with gloves on, a full pocket, and a nervous demeanor," the mayor said in a statement. Much of the incident was on security camera video, officials said, though police didn't detail what happened after the suspect came to the mayor's door. This week, the police department tried to reassure residents it is aware of high-profile political violence in the nation and is prepared to fight it. "We understand the concerns raised by this incident and want to reassure the public that the Memphis Police Department remains fully committed to the safety of all residents, including our city's elected officials," it said Wednesday. Earlier in the week, Vance Boelter, 57, was charged with murder in a deadly rampage on elected officials that began in Minnesota's Twin Cities region. Authorities have accused him of impersonating law enforcement and fatally shooting a Democratic Minnesota state representative and her husband, and wounding another state legislator and his wife. The Memphis mayor said in his statement that it's time to redouble efforts to keep political discussion civil. "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 said. "Let's raise our discourse, reduce the hate, and protect one another — no matter our beliefs," the mayor said. "Let's reclaim our strength as one community. Let's choose love."
