Latest news with #TrentonAbston
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.
UPI
5 hours ago
- Politics
- UPI
Man charged with trying to kidnap Memphis mayor
Trenton Abston was arrested and charged Wednesday in connection to a suspicious man seen trespassing on the property of Memphis Mayor Paul Young. Image courtesy of Memphis Police Department/ Facebook June 20 (UPI) -- Authorities in Memphis have arrested and charged a 25-year-old man accused of attempting to kidnap the city's mayor over the weekend. The suspect, identified as Trenton Abston, was arrested on Wednesday, the Memphis Police Department said in a statement. Police recovered a Taser, gloves, rope and duct tape from Abston's vehicle following the man's arrest, according to authorities. Abston was arrested after police on Sunday responded to reports of an individual conducting "suspicious activity" outside the home of Memphis Mayor Paul Young. Police said a review of both public and private security camera footage of the incident shows that the suspect had scaled a wall to enter the mayor's property. Young, in a statement on Facebook, said the incident occurred at about 9:30 local time Sunday. He said a man had jumped a wall leading to his subdivision and walked straight to his home, "knocking on the door with gloves on, a full pocket and a nervous demeanor." "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 said, referring to the recent assassination of Democratic state Rep. Melissa Hortman and the attempted assassination of Democratic state Sen. John Hoffman. Young is also a Democrat. "What starts as reckless words online can all too quickly become something more more dangerous," he said. Abston has been charged with attempted kidnapping, stalking and aggravated criminal trespass. "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," the Memphis Police Department said. "We take any potential threat seriously and will continue to act swiftly and thoroughly." A politically divided United States has seen an increase in violence targeting elected officials in recent years. On Jan. 6, 2021, an extremist violent mob attempted an insurrection at the U.S. Capitol in response to Democrat Joe Biden being elected president, with some calling for the deaths of elected officials. Paul Pelosi, the husband of Rep. Nancy Pelosi, D-Calif., was brutally beaten by a man with a hammer at the home he shared with his wife in 2022. Violence has also been directed at Republicans, with President Donald Trump being the subject of two assassination attempts.
New York Times
9 hours ago
- New York Times
Man Is Charged With Trying to Kidnap Memphis Mayor, Police Say
A 25-year-old man who said he was angry about crime in Memphis and wanted to confront the city's mayor scaled a wall at the mayor's home late Sunday night and, armed with a stun gun, knocked on the front door, according to the Memphis Police Department. The man, Trenton Abston, was arrested on Wednesday and charged with attempted kidnapping, stalking and aggravated criminal trespass in connection with the episode at the home of Mayor Paul Young. The police said that they had later recovered the stun gun, as well as gloves, rope and duct tape, from Mr. Abston's car. Mr. Young was home, along with his wife and two young children, when he saw the man knock on his door through his doorbell camera, the police said. 'Paul Young reported that he did not know the male and his presence at his door at a late hour wearing a hoodie and gloves put him, his wife and children in fear for their safety,' according to a criminal complaint filed on Wednesday. According to the complaint, in footage recorded by the mayor's doorbell video camera, the man appeared to have 'a lumpy bulge' in the pocket of his hoodie when he knocked on the door. Mr. Young did not open the door, and the man fled. Mr. Young recounted the events of Sunday night in a Facebook post on Wednesday under a family portrait in which he, his wife and their two school-age children are smiling. Want all of The Times? Subscribe.
