Former President Biden speaks out following deadly shooting at Brown University
Former President Joe Biden denounced the Dec. 13 shooting at Brown University in a statement on Sunday, calling it “senseless.”
“Students should have the freedom to learn in school without having to fear for their lives,” Biden wrote in a post on X. “Period.”
“We must never accept senseless violence that leaves families and communities shattered. It pierces the very soul of our nation.”
The Democrat added that Americans “can and must do more to prevent gun violence and save lives.”
“Jill and I are grieving the lives lost and those wounded at Brown University, and we are keeping the victims, their loved ones, and all of Providence in our prayers,” he added.
One of the students killed in the Dec. 13 shooting at Brown University was identified as Ella Cook, according to an Alabama church.
Cathedral Church of the Advent in Birmingham posted a video of its Sunday sermon, where a priest addressed the recent tragedy.
“Some of you haven’t heard, a lot of you have heard…[about] the tragedy yesterday at Brown University, the shooting of a number of people,” the priest said.
“Tragically, one of our parishioners, Ella Cook, was one of those who was killed yesterday.”
The priest said that Cook “encouraged and lift[ed] up those around her.”
“And those of you who knew her, those of you who know her, she was an incredible grounded faithful bright light.. at Brown University, she was an incredible light in that particular place as well.”
Authorities confirmed on Sunday that they recovered two handguns after arresting a person of interest behind the Dec. 13 Brown University
shooting.
According to The Associated Press, one of the firearms had a laser.
During the noon news conference on Sunday, local officials declined to say whether they’d recovered any type of evidence.
Fox News Channel’s CB Cotton contributed to this report.
Dan McKee, the governor of Rhode Island, ordered all state buildings and facilities to lower their flags to half staff to honor the victims of the Dec. 13 shooting at Brown University.
“My heart is with the victims, the families, the Brown University community, and the brave law enforcement officials who responded to this horrific attack,” McKee said in a statement.
“In the face of tragedy, Rhode Island will do what we do best: come together with compassion and resolve to support one another.”
McKee also asked Rhode Islanders to lower their own flags to honor the tragedy.
President Donald Trump offered condolences to the victims of attacks across the globe on Sunday, from the mass shooting at Brown University to the Hanukkah terrorist attack in Australia.
Trump addressed the tragedies while speaking at a Christmas reception at the White House on Sunday, saying his thoughts and support are with the victims of the shooting at Brown. He also condemned the “pure antisemitism” of the terrorist attack in Sydney, Australia, as well as the killing of three Americans in Syria on Saturday.
“I want to just pay my respects to the people – unfortunately, two are no longer with us – at Brown University. Nine injured, and two are looking down on us right now from heaven,” Trump said.
“And, likewise, in Australia, as you know, there was a terrible attack. Eleven dead, 29 badly wounded. And that was an antisemitic attack, obviously. And it, I just want to pay my respects to everybody,” he continued.
“We’re here for a different reason. We’re here to celebrate Christmas and to celebrate,” Trump told the crowd gathered. “And I think today we can very say loudly that we celebrate Hanukkah because there was such a horrible attack that was a purely antisemitic attack.”
This update is an excerpt of an article by Anders Hagstrom.
The New England Patriots organization
said it was “heartbroken” over the shooting at Brown University in Providence, Rhode Island, that left at least two people dead and nine others wounded.P
Police said a person of interest was in custody early Sunday following the incident. The person was apprehended at a hotel in Coventry but wasn’t immediately identified. Providence police Chief Col. Oscar Perez said the detained person was in their 30s.
“The New England Patriots are heartbroken by the horrific events at Brown University,” the team said.
“We extend our deepest sympathies to those affected and their families, and we remain grateful to the first responders and law enforcement who acted swiftly to protect the students, faculty, staff and the community.”
This update is an excerpt of an article by Ryan Gaydos.
Sen. Jack Reed, D-R.I., on Sunday said that college campuses need to be a safe place for students following the deadly shooting at Brown University, telling reporters that “we have to make it that way.”
Reed spoke with reporters following a noon press conference in Providence, Rhode Island.
“Once again, people have to scratch their heads and say, ‘What kind of country is this is?’ You’re taking an exam and someone bursts in and starts shooting. That’s not the way it should be,” Reed told Fox News Digital.
“We’d like to think our campuses are one of the places that are removed from this type of violence,” Reed continued. “And we have to make it that way.”
The shooting happened around 4 p.m. Saturday inside a classroom in the Barus and Holley engineering building at the Ivy League school. Two students were killed and nine others were wounded. A person of interest was detained early Sunday at a hotel in a nearby town about 17 miles from the campus.
FBI Director Kash Patel said the agency used “geolocation capabilities” to help authorities track down the person of interest in the deadly shooting at Brown University.
Patel posted an update on X about the FBI’s response to the shooting that left two students dead and nine others wounded on Saturday at the Ivy League school in Providence, Rhode Island.
Patel wrote that the FBI’s Cellular Analysis Survey Team provided critical “geolocation capabilities” that helped FBI Boston’s Safe Streets Task Force, U.S. Marshals and Coventry Police Department detain the person of interest at a hotel room in Coventry.
The detention was sparked by a tip that Providence police had received, Patel said, without elaborating.
Fox News Correspondent Bryan Llenas earlier reported that police in Coventry said the person of interest was found at around 3:45 a.m. at a hotel in Coventry, about 17 miles south of Providence.
Few details about the person of interest were immediately provided. Officials said the person of interest is a man in his 20s after earlier stating he was in his 30s.
Officials held a press conference at noon but said no official updates were immediately available as the investigation remains ongoing.
“Right now, the investigation continues to progress extremely fast,” Providence Police Chief Oscar Perez said. “We’re in the process of collecting evidence and seizing items that we need to seize, search locations that we need to search.”
Students at Brown University described huddling in locked rooms with barricaded doors for hours after a deadly shooting unfolded on campus Saturday.
The students, who wished to remain anonymous, spoke on Sunday with Fox News Digital from the Ivy League university campus, saying they sheltered for about seven hours after a gunman opened fire around 4 p.m. in an engineering building on campus.
“Everyone kinda like huddled around a certain area with the lights off, barricaded the doors and then it was about like, oh, maybe 7 or 8 p.m., when the DPS or the public safety officer came from Brown and then they got us out,” one student said.
The student, who said he was in the gym at the time, said DPS then swept the building with a SWAT team.
“At first it was it was a little like jarring to see,” he said of witnessing SWAT officers in the building. “I think they were very professional. They did their job.”
Another student described hunkering down in his dorm room after hearing gunshots.
“I waited for the all-clear. I wasn’t going to risk it,” said the student, who is an economics major. “I’m still a bit shocked.”
Another student said he and a group of students were in “a pretty open building” in Campus Center and went upstairs to rooms with doors they were able to lock and barricade.
“I think it obviously hits harder than like other news has hit about similar incidents ’cause it’s on our campus,” the student said. “I don’t really know what like solution wise, like I feel like there wasn’t really much like prevention that we could do, and I think Brown handled it really well.”
The student said Brown constantly provided students with updates and supplied food to those who authorities eventually escorted to the Olney-Margolies Athletic Center.
A Brown University senior said he spent the night helping evacuate classmates after losing a close friend in a shooting
at his school that left two people dead and nine others injured.
Ben Marcus told “Fox & Friends Weekend” on Sunday that he was celebrating Shabbat at Brown’s Hillel, a center for Jewish life on campus, when the building’s security guard rushed in with an urgent warning.
“None of us were on our phones. The security guard at the Hillel building just leaped into action, and he said, ‘Everyone upstairs, this is really serious. There’s a shooter,'” Marcus said.
One of the victims, whose name has not yet been released, was a close friend of Marcus.
“I actually lost a very good friend of mine… I don’t think her name is public yet,” he said. But she was a really, really special person… really amazing at creating dialogue and interfaith activities, and we’ll really miss her.”
This is an excerpt from an article by Fox News Digital’s Max Bacall. To read more, click here.
The Brown University shooter fired dozens of rounds with a handgun during a campus shooting that killed two students and wounded nine others, according to a report.
A law enforcement source provided the new details to The Associated Press on condition of anonymity because they were not authorized to publicly discuss the investigation.
The shooter was armed with a handgun and fired more than 40 9mm rounds, according to a law enforcement official. Investigators have not recovered a gun as of Sunday morning, though did recover two loaded 30-round magazines, the official said.
The shooting happened inside a classroom in the Barus and Holley engineering building at the Ivy League school in Providence, Rhode Island.
A person of interest
in their 30s was taken into custody early Sunday morning, officials said during an earlier press conference. Police did not immediately provide additional details about the individual.
Brown University announced Sunday that all remaining academics for the Fall semester will be postponed indefinitely following a deadly shooting that happened on campus.
Provost Francis J. Doyle III wrote in a message to the Brown community that school officials “encourage everyone to focus on their own safety and well-being” at this time.
“Given the deeply tragic events that took place on our campus yesterday, all remaining undergraduate, graduate and medical classes, exams, and papers or projects for the Fall 2025 semester will not take place as scheduled,” Doyle wrote.
Students are free to leave campus at this time, and those who choose to remain will have access to on-campus services and support, he wrote.
Doyle added that school officials “know there will be many academic concerns about the implications of not holding classes and exams as scheduled,” and will release more information in the coming days.
Rhode Island police announced early Sunday that they have a person of interest in custody in connection with the Brown University
campus shooting that left two students dead and nine others injured.
Police told reporters at a 7 a.m. press conference that the person of interest was taken into custody earlier Sunday morning, though were only able to provide limited information at this time.
“The next process for us is what we do best in our detectives is to coordinate with the prosecutors, to collect evidence, to conduct interviews, and then from there will be able to, when is appropriate and accurate, to share more details with you all,” Providence Chief of Police Oscar Perez said.
Police could not immediately confirm where the person of interest was taken into custody or say whether the individual was affiliated with the university.
Fox News Correspondent Bryan Llenas reported that police in Coventry, Rhode Island, said the person of interest was found at around 3:45 a.m. at a hotel in Coventry, about 17 miles south of Providence, though details on how investigators tracked the individual were not immediately provided.
Authorities were not seeking other suspects at this point, Perez said, though police were still investigating.
Providence Mayor Brett Smiley told reporters that seven of the victims are in stable condition while one is in critical but stable condition. One victim has been discharged.
Officials said additional updates were expected later Sunday.
Brown University announced early Sunday that police have lifted a campus-wide shelter in place order, though advised that police activity is continuing in some parts that are considered an active crime scene as they hunt a gunman in a deadly shooting.
The school’s announcement came around 5:40 a.m., hours after a gunman killed two students and wounded nine others in a classroom at the Ivy League school in Providence, Rhode Island, during final exams.
The school advised that access remains limited to parts of campus where police are active.
Those who leave areas within the police perimeter, including Minden Hall and nearby apartment buildings, would be unable to immediately return.
Brown encouraged those on campus to always follow instructions from law enforcement.
The unidentified gunman appeared to be in his 30s, and was dressed in all black, according to the Providence Police Department.
The shooting happened inside a classroom in the Barus and Holley engineering building.
The suspected gunman was seen leaving the building on foot in video footage released by police.
Massachusetts leaders offered prayers after a shooting at Brown University in Rhode Island on Saturday left two students dead and nine others wounded, calling the incident “horrific” and “tragic.”
“My heart is with @BrownUniversity and the City of Providence, and I’m praying for everyone impacted by this tragic act of violence. @MassStatePolice are in close contact with Rhode Island officials and I’ve been in touch with @GovDanMcKee to offer our full support and assistance,” Gov. Maura Healey wrote on X.
U.S. Sen. Elizabeth Warren, D-Mass., said “the deadly shooting at Brown University is horrific.”
“Students should be able to learn in peace, not fear gun violence. My heart goes out to the victims, their loved ones, and the entire Providence community,” she wrote.
U.S. Sen. Ed Markey, D-Mass., said he is “heartbroken by the news of a horrific mass shooting at Brown University and sending love and prayers for the victims, their families, and the entire Providence community.”
“We must act now to end this painful epidemic of gun violence. Our children should be safe at school,” he added.
The gunman remains at large, according to officials.
Brown University President Christina Paxson confirmed all victims in the shooting on Saturday are students and that the campus remains on lockdown as police continue searching for the gunman.
Two students were killed in the shooting while nine others were wounded.
Paxson said six students remain in critical but stable condition, one student is in critical condition, another is in stable condition and another was treated and released.
“Our full focus right now is on our community, their safety and providing support for the victims and their families,” she said.
Professors who had final exams scheduled for Sunday notified their students that the tests have been postponed.
Non-emergency staff scheduled to work an overnight shift were also told not to come in while the shelter-in-place order remains in place.
“Providence Police have advised that our campus must remain on lockdown,” Paxson said. “It is an active police scene, and the priority is to keep everyone safe. All members of the campus community will receive an alert notifying students, faculty and staff when the shelter in place order is lifted. Until then, we advise parents and families not to travel to the Brown campus. This is for their safety.”
An economics professor at Brown University said the deadly shooting at the school on Saturday broke out during a review session for her course’s final exam.
Rachel Friedberg, who teaches Principles of Economics, was not present when the shooter entered the room while students reviewed material for her final exam, but said a teaching assistant who led the session told her what happened.
“The room has stadium seating with doors that enter at the top,” Friedberg told Ocean State Media. “He said that the shooter came in the doors, yelled something — he couldn’t remember what he yelled — and started shooting.”
“Students started to scramble to try to get away from the shooter, trying to get lower down in the stadium seating, and people got shot,” the professor continued. “I don’t know if they’re the only ones who got shot or not.”
Two people were killed and at least nine others were wounded in the shooting that unfolded at the university on Saturday. The gunman remains at large, according to officials.
Providence Mayor Brett Smiley said there is no “ongoing threat” following the Brown University shooting that left two students dead and at least nine others injured on Saturday, adding that events do not need to be canceled in the aftermath of the tragic incident.
The gunman remains at large as of late Saturday night, according to officials.
“In the hours that have eclipsed since the initial shooting, we’ve received no additional credible information that there is any specific, ongoing threat from this individual,” the mayor said at a news conference. “And so we do not believe these events need to be canceled. We do believe you can safely go to church in the morning in order to provide an additional sense of safety and comfort and confidence.”
“There will be an enhanced, invisible law enforcement presence throughout the community tomorrow,” Smiley continued. “I would like to reiterate our deep gratitude for how hard law enforcement is working right now. It will be up and out all night tonight and throughout the day tomorrow, and will remain hard at work until the individual responsible is brought to justice. But tomorrow, on Sunday, you will see police officers throughout the city. And we are receiving and relying on and grateful for the assistance from the state police and our neighboring communities, all of whom have offered to help. We know this is a scary time.”
Authorities released video footage Saturday night of a person of interest in a deadly mass shooting at Brown University in Rhode Island.
Nearly a dozen Brown University students were shot at the campus on Saturday.
The unidentified gunman, who appeared to be in his 30’s, killed two Brown University students and wounded nine others.
Video footage released by the Providence Police Department shows the man leaving the building on foot, dressed in black.
Officials confirmed the shooting happened inside a classroom in the Barus and Holley engineering building.
Fox News’ Landon Mion contributed to this report.
Providence Mayor Brett Smiley on Saturday evening confirmed that a ninth person had been injured in the Brown University shooting, in addition to the two people who were killed.
“One of the new details that I’m sorry to have to share is that there is one additional victim today, so now there are nine injured individuals,” Smiley said during a press conference.
He said the newly identified victim did not suffer a gunshot wound but “had received fragments from the shooting that had occurred near them.”
The victim’s injuries are non-life-threatening, Smiley said.
Officials also confirmed that all the victims — with the exception of the most recently identified individual — were students.
Authorities initially reported two fatalities and eight wounded.
Rhode Island
Hospital released more information about eight of the nine surviving Brown University mass shooting victims, noting the hospital remains on lockdown but is still accepting emergency room patients.
Rhode Island Hospital confirmed it received a total of eight patients from the shooting, including six patients in critical but stable condition, one patient in critical condition, and one patient in stable condition.
Two students were killed in the shooting.
“Rhode Island Hospital is working closely with and providing support to all impacted family members, and remains in continuous communication with Brown University,” hospital officials wrote in a statement. “Our thoughts and prayers are with everyone affected by this incident.”
As of 7:20 pm. local time, the Miriam Hospital has not received any patients.
The Diocese of Providence
asked the community to “unite in prayer” after 11 people were shot Saturday during an attack at Brown University in Rhode Island.
Rev. Bruce Lewandowski, bishop of Providence, wrote in a statement he is “deeply saddened and troubled by the senseless shooting.”
“Let us unite in prayer for those who lost their lives, for the injured, for the Brown University community and all affected by this tragedy,” Lewandowski wrote. “May God continue to guide our elected officials, law enforcement, and first responders as they work to keep everyone safe.”
The Diocese of Providence said it is offering its resources, clergy and personnel, and charitable assistance wherever needed.
“May God bless us all and may Our Lady of Providence keep us in her care,” Lewandowski wrote.
U.S. Secret Service Director Sean Curran on Saturday said he has directed personnel in Providence to offer “any and all support” in the wake of the shooting at Brown University.
“We are saddened to learn of the senseless act of violence at Brown University,” the agency said in a post on X. “I’ve instructed our Secret Service personnel in Providence to provide any and all support needed.”
“Prayers for the victims and all those impacted.”
Brown University officials sent an alert just before 8:30 p.m. local time, telling the community it is “imperative” members of the community remain sheltered in place as law enforcement searches for a gunman accused of killing two people and wounding eight others.
“The Brown campus continues to be in lockdown,” university officials wrote in the alert. “This means keeping all doors locked and ensuring no movement across campus.”
The law enforcement response remains ongoing.
“Safety is the utmost and essential priority,” officials wrote.
Rhode Island Gov. Dan McKee released a statement on X noting the state is “making every resource available” and the investigation into Saturday’s mass shooting at Brown University continues.
“Our capital city experienced an unthinkable tragedy today,” McKee wrote in the post. “Our hearts are with the people of Providence and all those impacted.”
A shelter in place remains in effect for the greater Brown University area.
An official wearing tactical gear at the scene of the Brown University mass shooting told Fox News Digital’ there are “too many unknowns,” referring to people in the area, leading to the prolonged shelter in place order.
Students are still sheltering in place as authorities work to clear university buildings.
The gunman, who was wearing all black at the time of the shooting, remains at large prompting a massive manhunt.
Fox News Digital’s Andrea Margolis contributed to this post.
Elias Christian, a Providence resident who lives just blocks from Brown University’s Barus and Holley engineering and physics building, said he first sensed something was wrong Saturday evening when he heard emergency vehicles racing toward campus.
“I haven’t lived here too long, just a couple years, but I haven’t heard of anything like this happening,” Christian told Fox News Digital. “… This is known as kind of the safe part of the city and has a safer reputation in general.”
He said the shooting feels especially jarring because of where it unfolded.
“This is kind of the heart of Brown,” he said.
Christian said he did not feel particularly scared himself, noting that police appeared to have the situation “under control.”
However, he recognized that it must have been “much scarier” for those who were closer when the chaos began.
“I’m sure it was so much scarier for people who were here before it was under control,” Christian said. “And all the students in this building and in the area.”
Fox News Digital’s Andrea Margolis contributed to this report.
Brown University students were seen being evacuated from university building by police as the manhunt continues for a male gunman accused of fatally shooting two people and wounding eight others on Saturday.
Students could be seen visibly shaken up while walking out of the Building for Environmental Research and Teaching, while police lights flashed around them.
Many buildings remain locked down as the search continues.
Authorities are combing Brown University after a gunman killed two people and wounded eight others in a mass shooting Saturday.
At the scene, Fox News Digital’s Andrea Margolis reported police are standing in the doors of buildings, with streets blocked off in yellow crime scene tape.
Through flashing lights and sirens, armed law enforcement could be seen walking in the direction of the Barus and Holley engineering building, where university officials and police said the shooting unfolded.
The campus remains quiet and many onlookers have moved away as police continue their search for the unidentified male gunman still at large in the community.
Armored vehicles have also responded to the scene.
Local business owner Roshan, who runs the Metro Mart near Brown University in Providence, said he was arriving in the area just a few blocks away when he first noticed the heavy police presence on Saturday evening.
“I saw the ambulance and police, and they blocked the way so I couldn’t park. I usually park in front of my store,” he told Fox News Digital. “It’s very scary … like 90% of the people here are students. It’s terrible.”
He said he closed his store and stood outside trying to get information from police and social media when he learned about the shooting.
Roshan described the city as “one of the safest areas,” adding that he often walks the streets at night without concern.
“And all of a sudden, a shooting like this … this is terrifying right now,” he said.
Fox News Digital’s Andrea Margolis contributed to this post.
A junior Brown University student barricaded in a university building basement told Fox News Digital students barricaded in the top floor of a university building during the shooting, called 911, and waited nearly two hours before police arrived.
“They brought us down into a basement office space with a few hundred people and have been sweeping the building getting groups of people as they call 911 and inform them of their location,” the student said. “We’re hearing pretty daunting numbers and people are all checking in on their friends.”
Fox News Digital’s Adriana James-Rodil contributed to this post.
President Donald Trump on Saturday addressed the mass shooting Saturday at Brown University, calling it a “terrible thing.”
Trump said he has been briefed on the shooting, which claimed at least two lives and wounded eight others.
“What a terrible thing it is,” the president told the media following the Army-Navy football game. “All we can do right now is pray for the victims and for those that were very badly hurt, it looks like. … We’ll inform you later as to what’s happening, but it’s a shame. Let’s just pray.”
Authorities are searching a suspect accused of opening fire at Brown University’s Barus and Holley engineering building, killing at least two people and wounding eight others.
The unidentified male gunman was last seen leaving the Barus and Holley engineering building after the shooting at about 4 p.m. local time.
Officials said the alleged shooter was dressed in black.
Multiple local law enforcement agencies, along with the FBI and U.S. Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF) are investigating.
At least two people are dead and eight others remain in critical, but stable condition following a shooting Saturday during final exams at Brown University in Rhode Island.
Providence Mayor Brett Smiley did not confirm if the victims were students or faculty.
WATCH: Bystander risks life to disarm suspect during deadly terror attack at Hanukkah event
Harrowing footage from the Hanukkah shooting in Sydney, Australia, shows a bystander tackling and disarming one of the gunmen who opened fire and killed 16 people while injuring dozens more on Sunday.
The footage shows the bystander sneak up on the shooter as he is firing on victims off-screen. The man then tackled the shooter and wrenched the gun away from him. He then turned the weapon on the shooter, but did not fire.
The hero has been identified by Australian media as Ahmed al-Ahmad, 43. The man’s cousin, Mustafa al-Ahmad, told Australia’s News 7 that Ahmed was shot once in the arm and once in the shoulder. The injuries came when the second gunman fired on Ahmed after he tackled the first man.
“He’s a hero. One hundred percent a hero. Once we saw on social media, he’s one hundred percent a hero,” Mustafa told the outlet.
NBA CHAMPION CALLS ON OFFICIALS TO ‘PUBLICLY HANG’ AUSTRALIAN TERRORISTS AFTER ATTACK AT HANUKKAH EVENT
Ahmed is currently in surgery and is expected to make a full recovery, according to Australian media.
Praise and gratitude poured in for Ahmed on social media as the footage of his takedown spread.
ISRAELI OFFICIALS HEAP BLAME ON AUSTRALIAN GOVERNMENT AFTER BONDI BEACH SHOOTING: ‘COUNTLESS WARNING SIGNS’
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu praised the man as “brave” in a statement regarding the shooting. Netanyahu had initially stated that the man who intervened was a Jew, but that was before al-Ahmad was identified.
“We saw an action of a brave man – turns out a Muslim brave man, and I salute him – that stopped one of these terrorists from killing innocent Jews,” Netanyahu said.
Chris Minns, the premier of Australia’s New South Wales state, also hailed al-Ahmad as a hero.
“That man is a genuine hero, and I’ve got no doubt that there are many, many people alive tonight as a result of his bravery,” Minns said in a statement.
MOSSAD–EUROPEAN INTELLIGENCE OPERATION LAUNCHES SWEEPING CRACKDOWN ON HAMAS GLOBAL TERROR NETWORK
New South Wales police confirmed on Monday local time that Sunday’s shooting killed at least 16 people, adding that 40 people remained hospitalized. One of the gunmen was killed, and the other remains in critical condition.
CLICK HERE TO DOWNLOAD THE FOX NEWS APP
Australian authorities have confirmed the attack targeted the Jewish community, which was celebrating the first day of Hanukkah on Bondi Beach.
Neither of the shooters has been identified.
Rabbi slams Australia over Bondi murder of two Jewish leaders, one with ‘deep US ties’
A senior New York rabbi has condemned Australia’s “inaction” after a Hanukkah celebration on Bondi Beach was shattered by a mass shooting that wounded 40 and killed at least 15 people, including two prominent rabbis.
Rabbi Schmaya Krinsky of the Chabad-Lubavitch World Headquarters in New York City, said the attack, carried out by a father and son, reflected a growing climate of antisemitism in Australia that authorities had failed to confront.
“As well as Rabbi Eli Schlanger, we have now learned that Chabad Rabbi Yaakov Levitan has succumbed to his wounds. May his memory also be a blessing,” Krinsky told Fox News Digital.
“Jewish people around the world right now are uneasy, but they are defiant,” he said. “Every incremental escalation of antisemitic language that is tolerated has a direct, and now, deadly, consequence, and must no longer go unchecked.”
PATRIOTS PAY TRIBUTE TO BROWN UNIVERSITY SHOOTING, AUSTRALIA TERROR ATTACK VICTIMS
“Australian authorities need to act with alacrity and stamp out both the acts and the rhetoric that normalize antisemitism,” Krinsky added.
The tragic mass shooting Dec. 14 came when two gunmen opened fire on a large “Chanukah by the Sea” event near Campbell Parade at Bondi Beach.
The attack, reportedly being investigated as a terrorist incident by police, included improvised explosive devices found in one suspect’s vehicle, as previously reported by Fox News Digital.
ANTISEMITIC THREATS ESCALATE NATIONWIDE AS PROTESTERS CALL FOR REPEAT OF OCT 7 MASSACRE
The elder assailant was killed at the scene and his son was taken into custody in critical condition.
Krinsky, who was also in Melbourne in July when a synagogue arson attack took place at the East Melbourne Synagogue, said he had already seen the “unease” in Australia growing firsthand.
“I witnessed firsthand the unease and concern felt by many within the Australian Jewish community amid the rise in antisemitic incitement, and their sense that the response from the authorities was inadequate, he said.
FAITH, FREEDOM AND THE FIGHT AGAINST RISING ANTISEMITISM
“At that point, there was a feeling that the Jewish community in Australia has been increasingly uneasy with what they feel is the lack of a strong enough response to these acts.”
Schlanger, 41, who was one of the first deceased victims to be identified, was assistant rabbi at Chabad of Bondi and an organizer of the beach event.
TRUMP ENCOURAGES JEWISH AMERICANS TO ‘CELEBRATE PROUDLY’ DURING HANUKKAH AFTER DEADLY BONDI BEACH SHOOTING
“While each Chabad center operates independently, they function under our global umbrella organization,” Krinsky clarified. “There are no words to underscore the anguish and heartbreak caused by this gut-wrenching tragedy.”
“Rabbi Schlanger was among the victims of this barbarism,” he added. “He had deep ties to the United States and studied here, he has family here and although the attack took place far away, this Hanukkah we feel him closer than ever.”
“He was younger than I am, and we attended the same institutions of learning, though at different times,” Krinsky noted. “He dedicated his life to living in communities around the world, far away from home, inspired by the Rebbe’s teachings and vision.
PATRIOTS WILL HOLD PREGAME CEREMONY FOR VICTIMS OF BROWN UNIVERSITY AND BONDI BEACH
Schlanger, born in the U.K., married Chaya, the daughter of prominent Australian Rabbi Yehoram Ulman.
“Following their marriage, some 18 years ago, they moved to Sydney to help grow the community and bring the beauty and spirit of the Jewish tradition to life for many in the Sydney Jewish community,” Krinsky explained. “He would have found some place to move to go about the work that he had he wanted to dedicate his life to.”
As the world responded, Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese condemned the attack as an “act of pure evil,” according to The Associated Press.
“We are crushed for the families who were celebrating the Festival of Light on Bondi Beach,” Krinsky said.
101-YEAR-OLD KRISTALLNACHT SURVIVOR WARNS CURRENT ERA ‘EQUIVALENT TO 1938’ ON ANNIVERSARY OF NAZI RIOT
“But every Chabad community worldwide is already doing what we do best: spreading more light, strengthening Jewish pride and observance, and increasing acts of goodness and kindness.”
“The perpetrator may have wanted to dim the Hanukkah lights in Sydney – but they will burn even brighter across Australia and around the globe.”
CLICK HERE TO DOWNLOAD THE FOX NEWS APP
A statement released by Chabad Lubavitch Headquarters in New York said, “Let us be clear: this was a treacherous act of terror – an attack on the community, on goodness, and on light itself. It reflects a climate in which Jew hatred has been allowed to grow and to turn violent. That reality must be confronted.”
“We will honor the lives taken by enhancing Jewish practice, pride and visibility. May their light rise from this sorrow, and their memory be a blessing to us all,” the statement read.
MIKE DAVIS: Dem-appointed judge orders government to destroy key Comey evidence by Monday
After more than eight years of Democrat lawfare against President Trump, his aides and his allies, the Justice Department under Attorney General Pam Bondi is bringing much-needed accountability — which is what American voters demanded in our last presidential election. But Democrat activist judges are doing what they do best: weaponization and sabotage.
In South Carolina, Clinton-appointed Judge Cameron Currie — handpicked by a Biden-appointed judge — wrongly disqualified Eastern District of Virginia U.S. Attorney Lindsey Halligan, the bold and fearless prosecutor who had secured an indictment against former FBI Director James Comey for lying and obstruction of a Senate investigation into his politicization, weaponization, and corruption of the intel agencies and law enforcement to go after political enemies and protect political allies. The government is appealing that decision to the Fourth Circuit Court of Appeals. Now, another Clinton-appointed judge in the District of Columbia, Colleen Kollarr-Kotelly, has interfered even more egregiously with the government’s case. This ruling threatens the separation of powers essential to the Republic, and either the D.C. Circuit or Supreme Court must intervene immediately.
Comey was indicted on two charges: making false statements to Congress and obstruction of Congress. The indictment stemmed from the events surrounding Operation Crossfire Hurricane, more colloquially known as the Russiagate hoax. Comey used his longtime friend, Columbia Law Professor Daniel Richman, as a conduit to leak material unfavorable to President Trump to media outlets. In addition to being a law professor, Richman was a government contractor. He and Comey communicated frequently via email on government and private accounts. Communications on a government email account enjoy no reasonable expectation of privacy — the standard under the Fourth Amendment as a result of Justice Harlan’s concurrence in Katz v. United States (1967) — because the government can monitor its own email servers.
Six years ago, even Obama-appointed Judge James Boasberg, a judicial disgrace about whom we often have written, signed a warrant authorizing the search and seizure of emails on Richman’s computer and iCloud account and his account at Columbia. Richman was able to review all emails and withhold the information he deemed privileged from all but one account. Now, Richman — who was the recipient of many emails from Comey and the sender of many emails to him — has sought to reclaim those emails pursuant to Federal Rule of Criminal Procedure 41(g). This rule allows an individual to ask a court to reclaim his property obtained pursuant to an unlawful search and/or seizure in violation of the Fourth Amendment.
COURT SAYS BOASBERG DIDN’T KNOW ARCTIC FROST SUBPOENAS HIT LAWMAKERS, GRASSLEY CALLS THAT ‘DEEPLY TROUBLING’
Shockingly, Kollar-Kotelly granted the motion and has ordered the FBI to destroy the emails by 4 p.m. on Monday. Kollar-Kotelly’s ruling ordered the destruction of emails obtained pursuant to a warrant signed by another (Obama) judge six years ago. She claims that the seized information relates to a new investigation; however, she is basing this assertion on a decision by Eastern District of Virginia U.S. Magistrate Judge William Fitzpatrick. Fitzpatrick issued a suppression-like decision even though suppression was not briefed by the parties — yet another example of blatant and unlawful judicial sabotage by partisans in robes.
Collar-Kotelly has ordered that a copy of the emails be given to Biden-appointed Judge Michael Nachmanoff, who is presiding over the Comey case in Virginia. This salvation of a copy of the emails, however, does not lessen the impact of Kollar-Kotelly’s horrible ruling. The FBI and the prosecution will be unable to review them in their efforts to seek a new indictment if Currie’s dismissal ruling survives on appeal. The statute-of-limitations law allows the government only six months after an indictment’s dismissal, suspended during the appellate process, to seek a new indictment. The inability to view this evidence would substantially increase the time necessary to seek an indictment. Even if a higher court reverses Currie, the government’s inability to review the emails to use as evidence and prepare for trial would massively hamper its case.
Kollar-Kotelly’s decision is more disturbing because it implicates the separation of powers. Usually, Rule 41(g) comes into play where a defendant has had property wrongly seized, and he moves to reclaim it. Here, Comey is not seeking to reclaim anything; Richman, a then-government contractor with whom Comey communicated extensively about government business, is seeking this evidence. Richman has run to a partisan Democrat judge not even involved in the criminal case — and not even in the same district — to procure the destruction of crucial evidence in that case in an obvious effort to assist his friend Comey. Comey cannot challenge the warrant against Richman because he lacks standing to do so. Incredibly, Kollar-Kotelly suggested that Richman could move to quash this evidence in Virginia. She’s going way out of her way to help Comey. Judges presiding over cases often have excluded evidence against defendants as having been obtained in violation of the Fourth Amendment. It is, however, extraordinary for a different judge — especially in a different district — to interfere in and dramatically hamper the prosecution’s case based on a claim by a third party of a wrongful search and seizure, especially when the evidence the government wishes to use consists of communications between that third party and the defendant — a defendant who was a senior government official.
CLICK HERE TO DOWNLOAD THE FOX NEWS APP
The government obtained the evidence it wishes to use against Comey pursuant to a lawful warrant, even one signed by a highly partisan Obama-appointed judge. Now, a Clinton-appointed judge who is not presiding over the case — and is not even in the same district — is blatantly trying to aid Comey by preventing the government from using that evidence either to re-indict Comey or try him if the original indictment is reinstated. This ruling contravenes the normal way in which Rule 41(g) applies. The Clinton judge’s staggering timeline — destruction by tomorrow afternoon — also illustrates her agenda. She should have stayed a ruling of such magnitude to allow the appellate process to play out. Instead, she has put the government in an incredibly precarious position: having to obtain a stay from either the D.C. Circuit or the Supreme Court in just a few hours. Kollar-Kotelly’s order had no legal basis, and a higher court must put a stop to it.
Kollar-Kotelly’s ruling is part of a larger pattern. Leftist judges like Obama-appointed D.C. Judge Tanya Chutkan — who presided over President Trump’s January 6-related case, Boasberg, who signed off on the national disgrace that was Operation Arctic Frost, and many other Democrat judges did nothing to stop and did much to escalate the lawfare waged against President Trump, his aides, and his allies. Now, the Justice Department is seeking legal accountability for lawfare perpetrators like Comey. Currie and Kollar-Kotelly have endeavored to prevent — or, at the very least, drastically decrease the chances of — such legal accountability. Courts do not order the FBI to destroy evidence in pending investigations, except when the evidence is harmful to a lawfare perpetrator like Comey. The inconsistency between the treatment afforded lawfare perpetrators and lawfare targets threatens the very legitimacy of the federal judiciary. If higher courts do not reign in these rogue judges, Congress must do so through oversight, withholding of funds from judicial appropriations, and impeachment. A system where the judiciary enables lawfare and then shields its perpetrators from legal consequences is unsustainable, and higher courts must put a stop to it.
Patrick Mahomes sidelined for season after knee injury in Chiefs’ loss to Chargers
Kansas City Chiefs star Patrick Mahomes will be out for the rest of the season as he suffered a torn ACL on Sunday in a loss to the Los Angeles Chargers, according to multiple reports.
Mahomes’ knee buckled while he was scrambling and as he was getting hit by Chargers defensive end Da’Shawn Hand. He was helped off the field and he limped to the locker room. An MRI reportedly confirmed the extent of the damage.
CLICK HERE FOR MORE SPORTS COVERAGE ON FOXNEWS.COM
The quarterback wrote a message to fans as word of his injury trickled out.
“Don’t know why this had to happen,” Mahomes wrote on X. “And not going to lie (it) hurts. But all we can do now is Trust in God and attack every single day over and over again. Thank you Chiefs kingdom for always supporting me and for everyone who has reached out and sent prayers. I Will be back stronger than ever.”
Chiefs coach Andy Reid offered a gloomy outlook for Mahomes as he spoke to reporters following the loss.
PHILIP RIVERS THROWS FIRST TOUCHDOWN PASS SINCE 2020 SEASON
“… It didn’t look good,” Reid said when asked whether he knew if Mahomes’ injury was serious. “I mean you guys saw it. We’ll just see where it goes.”
The loss to the Chargers also meant the Chiefs will not be making the postseason. Kansas City made it to the AFC Championship each season since 2018. They made it to the Super Bowl in each of the last three seasons, winning two titles in that span.
Mahomes will finish the season with 3,398 passing yards and 22 touchdown passes.
CLICK HERE TO DOWNLOAD THE FOX NEWS APP
Kansas City is 6-8 on the year.
Nutrient deficiency linked to heart disease risk for millions, new study warns
More than three-quarters of the global population is falling short on omega-3 intake, a nutrient gap that may increase the risk of heart disease, cognitive decline, inflammation and vision problems.
That’s according to an analysis published in Nutrition Research Reviews, in which researchers from the University of East Anglia, the University of Southampton and Holland & Barrett analyzed omega-3 intake patterns across multiple countries and age groups.
The review found that 76% of people worldwide are not meeting the recommended levels of two omega-3 fats that are essential for heart health: eicosapentaenoic acid (EPA) and docosahexaenoic acid (DHA).
TREATING GUM DISEASE COULD REDUCE RISK OF HEART ATTACKS AND STROKES, STUDY SUGGESTS
The analysis considered recommendations from global health authorities and assessed how closely populations follow them.
Most adults should aim for at least 250 milligrams of EPA and DHA per day, though actual intake is far lower in many regions, according to the researchers.
To explore the health implications of low omega-3 intake, Fox News Digital spoke with Michelle Routhenstein, a New York–based preventive cardiology dietitian at Entirely Nourished.
HIGH-POTASSIUM FOODS COULD ‘SIGNIFICANTLY’ LOWER RISK OF HEART FAILURE, STUDY FINDS
Low omega-3 levels can have a noticeable impact on heart health, cognitive function and inflammation throughout the body, the expert confirmed.
Low intake can also increase the risk of heart attacks and sudden cardiac death, she added. It’s also associated with higher triglycerides, irregular heart rhythms and plaque in the arteries.
Inadequate omega-3 levels have also been linked to changes in brain function, including faster cognitive decline, a higher risk of Alzheimer’s disease and increased rates of depression.
Routhenstein noted that low levels may also worsen inflammation in autoimmune conditions such as psoriasis, and can negatively affect eye health, since omega-3s play a key structural role in the retina.
SITTING ALL DAY? NEW STUDY SAYS CERTAIN FOODS MAY PROTECT YOUR HEART FROM DAMAGE
To improve omega-3 levels, the expert said it’s important to understand how much is needed and where to get it.
“The richest dietary sources of EPA and DHA are oily fish, such as salmon, mackerel, sardines, herring, trout and anchovies,” Routhenstein told Fox News Digital.
Many people benefit from eating oily fish more frequently, often three to four times per week, Routhenstein noted. For individuals who do not eat fish regularly, supplements can help raise EPA and DHA to healthier levels.
CLICK HERE TO SIGN UP FOR OUR HEALTH NEWSLETTER
For those taking omega-3 supplements, dosing should be based on lab results, medications, omega-3 levels and overall medical history, according to Routhenstein. Moderate, quality-controlled supplements are generally considered safe for most people.
CLICK HERE FOR MORE HEALTH STORIES
There is also some evidence supporting prescription-strength omega-3 products.
“High-dose EPA, such as 4 grams per day of icosapent ethyl, has been shown to reduce major cardiovascular events in certain high-risk populations, while similar doses of mixed EPA/DHA have not consistently shown the same benefit,” Routhenstein said.
Testing omega-3 levels can also help determine whether intake is adequate. The omega-3 index, a blood test that measures EPA and DHA in red blood cells, is considered one of the most reliable ways to assess status.
CLICK HERE TO DOWNLOAD THE FOX NEWS APP
“Levels around 8% are associated with lower cardiovascular risk, while levels below approximately 4% are considered low,” Routhenstein said.
Understanding baseline levels can help guide more personalized decisions about diet and supplementation.
TEST YOURSELF WITH OUR LATEST LIFESTYLE QUIZ
Those who are unsure about their omega-3 status or whether supplementation is appropriate should speak with a healthcare provider to determine the best approach.
Illegal alien truck driver released on bond after fatal crash in sanctuary state
A semi-truck driver, who was identified as an illegal alien from India, was released from jail on a $100,000 bond after he was accused of causing a crash in Washtington state that claimed the life of a 29-year-old man.
Fox News has learned that Kamalpreet Singh was released from the King County jail. It is not clear if the facility ignored a U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement detainer lodged against the truck driver. Washington is a sanctuary state.
Department of Homeland Security (DHS) assistant secretary Tricia McLaughlin sharply criticized Washington’s sanctuary policies and former President Biden’s administration’s handling of the case.
“These demented and dangerous sanctuary policies have deadly consequences,” she said in a statement to Fox News. “Robert Pearson would still be alive today if the Biden Administration hadn’t released this illegal alien into our country. How many more Americans have to be killed before Democrat politicians start to put the public’s safety ahead of politics?”
ILLEGAL IMMIGRANT CAUGHT DRIVING COMMERCIAL TRUCK WITH VALID NEW YORK CDL AT CALIFORNIA CHECKPOINT
Singh was arrested by U.S. Border Patrol agents in Lukeville, Arizona, after crossing illegally into the United States on Dec. 23, 2023, but he was released into the country instead of being detained, an ICE source said.
He faces charges of vehicular homicide after he allegedly crashed into the back of a vehicle on State Route 167 in Washington, crushing it between another truck and killing 29-year-old Robert B. Pearson.
Singh struck the rear of a blue 2010 Mazda 3 sedan that had stopped behind a white 2016 Peterbilt truck, the Auburn Examiner reported.
ILLEGAL IMMIGRANT ALLEGEDLY CAUSES FATAL SEMI-TRUCK CRASH ON HIGHWAY, KILLING DRIVER: OFFICIALS
The Freightliner overrode the back of the Mazda and pushed it under the rear of the Peterbilt, the report states.
The engine compartment of the Mazda, which was driven by Pearson, caught fire, but the flames were quickly extinguished.
Singh and the Peterbilt driver were not injured. The Washington State Patrol (WSP) said drugs and alcohol were not involved, and the cause of the collision remains under investigation.
Fox News Digital has reached out to WSP for comment.
ILLEGAL IMMIGRANT TRUCK DRIVER IN FATAL CALIFORNIA CRASH SHOULD NEVER HAVE HAD LICENSE: DOT REPORT
CLICK HERE TO DOWNLOAD THE FOX NEWS APP
Singh is not believed to have any relation to two other Indian illegal immigrant truck drivers with the same last name – Jashanpreet Singh in California and Harjinder Singh in Florida – who are facing charges in separate fatal crashes.
Undrafted Jets QB throws first career TD as family watches emotional moment unfold
Brady Cook wasn’t exactly tasked with salvaging the New York Jets’ 2025 season as he made the first start of his career on Sunday against the Jacksonville Jaguars.
However, he was expected to showcase what he could do on the field – and he didn’t disappoint in the first quarter. Cook led the Jets on an eight-play, 65-yard drive that ended with a touchdown pass to Adonai Mitchell, and helped cut the deficit to seven points at the time.
CLICK HERE FOR MORE SPORTS COVERAGE ON FOXNEWS.COM
The CBS broadcast showed Cook’s parents celebrating in the stands at EverBank Stadium. It was the first touchdown pass of Cook’s career. He also completed six consecutive passes before throwing an interception.
Cook got some playing time against the Miami Dolphins last week. He was 14-of-30 for 163 yards and threw two interceptions as New York fell 34-10.
PHILIP RIVERS, 44, OFFICIALLY TABBED COLTS STARTER, WILL PLAY IN FIRST NFL GAME IN NEARLY FIVE YEARS
Jets head coach Aaron Glenn tapped Cook as the starter as the experiments with Justin Fields and Tyrod Taylor didn’t yield much success over the course of the year.
Cook latched onto the Jets’ roster as an undrafted free agent. He was waived as training camp came to a close but came back later on the practice squad. He bounced from the main roster to the practice squad a few times during the season before the game against the Dolphins.
CLICK HERE TO DOWNLOAD THE FOX NEWS APP
The former Missouri standout, 24, played his entire collegiate career with the Tigers. He had 9,251 passing yards and 50 touchdown passes during his career at Missouri.
Viral clip renews scrutiny of eatery after mother says she was shamed
A Florida mother says a man she believed to be the owner of a popular riverside restaurant in Georgia yelled at her and ordered her to leave after she breastfed her infant — an encounter she says she recorded on her cellphone that shows a man shouting, “Get on out of here!”
The incident happened at Toccoa Riverside Restaurant in Blue Ridge, according to Aris Kopiec, and has since spread widely online, reigniting scrutiny of the business’ treatment of young families.
Kopiec told FOX Business she was dining with her husband, three young daughters — ages 4, 2 and 4 months — and family friends when her baby began to cry.
She said she latched her infant, covered up immediately, and ensured she was fully concealed from the view of anyone except her own table.
‘I FELT VIOLATED’: NEW MOM ALLEGES BRITISH AIRWAYS ATTENDANT LIFTED HER NURSING COVER MID-FLIGHT
“The only people who could see me were at my table,” she said. “I covered myself immediately.”
Kopiec said she pulled her shirt back down and was preparing to take her older children outside when she bumped into either a chair or another guest in the crowded enclosed porch area. That, she says, is when the restaurant’s owner stepped toward her.
“He looked at me and said, ‘You can’t do that here,’” Kopiec recalled. “I wasn’t even breastfeeding at that point. I was holding my baby in one arm and helping my kids with the other. He wouldn’t let me get any words out. He kept saying, ‘I have to protect my restaurant. You need to go to a corner.’”
CRACKER BARREL CEO SAYS SHE FELT LIKE SHE GOT ‘FIRED BY AMERICA’ AFTER REDESIGN BACKLASH
Kopiec said she and her friend took the older children outside to wait while their spouses paid inside. Kopiec said staff apologized to the men in the group, but not to her.
She said when she returned to gather her belongings, the confrontation escalated. She said she calmly informed the man she claims is the owner that Georgia law explicitly protects breastfeeding in public places.
“I just told him, if he wanted to protect his restaurant, he should follow the law,” she said. “That’s when he lost his mind.”
Kopiec said the man refused to give his name. After her friend mentioned having his photograph, Kopiec began recording.
TSA IMPLEMENTS DEDICATED SECURITY LINES FOR FAMILIES AT SOME AIRPORTS
In the video she shared with FOX Business, a man standing behind the counter shouts, “Get on out of here!” as Kopiec holds her infant in her arms.
“It was so aggressive,” she said. “I knew I had to get my kids out of there.”
Kopiec left the restaurant shaken.
“Honestly, I felt like I was in the wrong,” she said. “My instinct was to apologize. But then I reminded myself — women have a legal right to breastfeed. I did nothing wrong.”
Public records and local business listings confirm 67-year-old Tim Richter as the owner of Toccoa Riverside Restaurant. In September, a spotlight from the Fannin County Chamber of Commerce via Facebook also identified Richter as the longtime owner and praised the restaurant’s hospitality, a characterization many online commenters have contrasted sharply with the tone in the new viral video.
In a phone call with FOX Business, a man who identified himself as the restaurant’s owner declined to confirm whether he is the individual shown in the video. He defended the business, saying, “I’ve had the restaurant for thirty-three years. We’ve been breastfeeding for thirty-three years,” and claimed the incident had been “staged for clicks.”
Toccoa Riverside Restaurant did not provide any further comment.
CAMPBELL’S FIRES EXECUTIVE ALLEGEDLY CAUGHT CALLING COMPANY’S FOOD ‘S— FOR POOR PEOPLE’ IN RECORDING
Georgia law states that a mother may breastfeed “in any location where the mother and baby are otherwise authorized to be,” protecting nursing mothers from being removed or restricted for feeding their children.
Etiquette expert and author Alison Cheperdak told FOX Business the filmed confrontation raises serious concerns. Cheperdak’s etiquette book for everyday situations, “Was it Something I Said?” is set to publish early next spring.
“Breastfeeding is natural and legally protected,” Cheperdak said. “Hospitality is about care, not confrontation, and raising one’s voice at a guest is never acceptable.”
She added that a mother owes no apology for feeding her child.
“A calm explanation is appropriate, but the responsibility is on the restaurant to treat her with respect,” she said. “Even if a restaurant wants a quieter atmosphere, policies should never undermine basic respect for families.”
‘REAL RELIEF’: NEW GOP PROPOSAL COULD HELP FAMILIES RECEIVE THOUSANDS OF DOLLARS
Local Atlanta outlets, as well as Food and Wine, reported in 2023 that Toccoa Riverside raised eyebrows for posting an “adult surcharge” for parents deemed “unable to parent,” sparking backlash from families who said they had been reprimanded for their children’s behavior.
A FOX 5 Atlanta report on the surcharge controversy said parents claimed the owner had scolded their children and allegedly made a 3-year-old cry.
Kopiec said she hopes the attention leads to positive change. “Every nursing mom deserves to feel safe feeding her baby,” she said. “We have a legal right to breastfeed, period.”
GET FOX BUSINESS ON THE GO
As for the restaurant, she said she has chosen not to hold onto anger. “I’ve chosen to forgive,” she said. “But I would really like to see them welcome breastfeeding moms.”
The video continues to circulate widely online, where commenters are debating breastfeeding protections and the treatment of young mothers and infants in public spaces.