Chris Oconnell: Latest News

PHILADELPHIA - A former hairdresser, a retired school teacher and a longtime retail worker are among the dozens of new officers who will graduate the Philadelphia Police Academy next week. The group of 39 new officers who will swear and oath to protect and serve are largely younger men and women, but a few middle-aged recruits are excited about a second-career."I was actually praying for this job since 2014," 47-year-old Rosmeyra Maldonado told FOX 29's Chris O'Connell.

OLD CITY - Protesters filling Chestnut Street in Old City Thursday night outside the Museum of the American Revolution and demonstrators hurling insults at members of Moms for Liberty, arriving by bus for their opening night event and annual summit."I think these people are a sham and they’ve completely twisted reality and absolutely this is an insult to Philadelphians. This is the birthplace of democracy," Dorothy Daub Grossman stated.The Center City Marriott under heavy security as the headquarters for the group’s weekend event.

DREXEL HILL, Pa. - A Delaware County community in outrage over anti-Semitic signs, posted on Upper Darby stop signs, sidewalks and yards. Police are looking for whoever is responsible for planting the hate-filled messages."There was a little brochure pamphlet thing.

PHILADELPHIA - Authorities say six kids between the ages of 11-14 have been arrested in the brutal and seemingly unprovoked beating of a woman in Center City. The Philadelphia Police Department said three boys - ages 11, 13 and 14 - and three girls - ages 12, 13, and 14 - are charged with a number of crimes, including aggravated assault, robbery, and reckless endangerment (REAP). The department on Thursday shared a surveillance photo of the only remaining unidentified suspect in the brutal assault. He is seen wearing gray sweatpants and dark-colored pants. Police say a 34-year-old woman was attacked by a group of juveniles near the corner of 15th and Chestnut streets who punched and stomped on her.The victim's father said his daughter suffered a broken orbital bone, widespread bruising, and required stitches."This is not the behavior of a normal juvenile delinquent," Dr.

The Philadelphia Police Department is trying to identify a person who they believe was involved with the brutal beating of a woman in Center City. PHILADELPHIA - Police have asked for the public's help to identifying a suspect who they believe participated in the brutal and seemingly unprovoked beating of a woman in Center City.The Philadelphia Police Department on Thursday shared a surveillance photo of the wanted person, who is seen wearing a gray shirt and dark pants. It's believed the suspect was part of a violent group of teens who ambushed a 34-year-old woman near the corner of 15th and Chestnut streets last Thursday night. Police say the group continued to punch and stomp on the victim until she became unconscious, then left her injured on the sidewalk. Police sources tell FOX 29's Chris O'Connell that authorities believe they have identified the suspects and all are between the ages of 12 and 15-years-old.Authorities said they have identified seven of the eight suspects and the Philadelphia District Attorney's Office has approved charges. Dr.

PHILADELPHIA - A local YouTube star has been sentenced to prison for his role in what prosecutors have called one of the largest illegal TV pirating rings they’ve ever seen.Bill Omar Carrasquillo - a 36-year-old known online as ‘Omi in a Hellcat’ - was sentenced to 5.5 years in prison after a years-long investigation concluded with a 62-count federal indictment accusing him of conspiracy to commit copyright infringement, tax evasion, and fraud.In addition to his 66-month sentence, Carrasquillo was also ordered to forfeit $30 million in assets and pay $15 million in restitution to the cable companies involved and the IRS. The indictment claimed that from 2016 to 2019, Carrasquillo and two partners created an illegal multi-million dollar TV streaming empire.It claimed his company stole and retransmitted cable signals from companies like Comcast and Verizon FIOS. Subscribers would pay a $15 a month subscription for access to premium cable channels, on-demand movies, and pay-per-view events, according to the indictment.RELATED HEADLINES: Carrasquillo, a former drug dealer from North Philly turned millionaire, gained internet fame by showing off his collection of high-end cars and expensive jewelry to hundreds of thousands of followers. Following his arrest in Sept.

NEW CASTLE, Del. - Out of all the loss, devastation, and heartbreak that has come from Southwest Florida this week, there is still hope for some of the displaced, four-legged victims of the storm.The Brandywine Valley SPCA organized a rescue airlift of shelter animals from Florida following Hurricane Ian's catastrophic damage. On Monday, 68 animals arrived in New Castle, Del., on a Wings of Rescue Flight, ready to be adopted into their next loving family as early as Tuesday. "Many of these animals quite rankle would have never made it out," said Laura Page of Brandywine Valley SPCA. The animals were adoptable in Florida shelters prior to the storm.

PHILADELPHIA - A Delaware County man is crediting his overindulgence at a Philadelphia Phillies dollar dog night promotion with saving his life. Bill Finn said he went to the fan-favorite promotion at Citizen's Bank Park last September with a goal to pack in as many hot dogs as he could. "I was going for my record, like eight," Bill told FOX 29's Chris O'Connell. The next morning Bill woke up with a wicked stomach ache that he attributed to a hot dog hangover, but his symptoms persisted for more than a week. MORE LOCAL HEADLINES"A week or two he still is not feeling better, and I’m like are you have to go to the doctor but a typical male he didn’t want to listen to me," Bill's wife Heather said.One doctor's visit lead to several over the next few days, and a month later he was diagnosed with stage-4 Diffuse Large B-Cell Lymphoma, otherwise known as blood cancer.Bill started his chemotherapy treatment days before he and Heather welcomed their firstborn son, Ryker. Over the next seven months, he received aggressive radiation and chemotherapy. About a year after what Bill calls a life-saving dollar dog night, the Phillies invited him back to Citizen's Bank Park where he got to go on the field and meet Phillies' legend Charlie Manuel."I went back to work.

PHILADELPHIA - A Delaware County man is crediting his overindulgence at a Philadelphia Phillies dollar dog night promotion with saving his life. Bill Finn said he went to the fan-favorite promotion at Citizen's Bank Park last September with a goal to pack in as many hot dogs as he could. "I was going for my record, like eight," Bill told FOX 29's Chris O'Connell. The next morning Bill woke up with a wicked stomach ache that he attributed to a hot dog hangover, but his symptoms persisted for more than a week. MORE LOCAL HEADLINES"A week or two he still is not feeling better, and I’m like are you have to go to the doctor but a typical male he didn’t want to listen to me," Bill's wife Heather said.One doctor's visit lead to several over the next few days, and a month later he was diagnosed with stage-4 Diffuse Large B-Cell Lymphoma, otherwise known as blood cancer.Bill started his chemotherapy treatment days before he and Heather welcomed their firstborn son, Ryker. Over the next seven months, he received aggressive radiation and chemotherapy. About a year after what Bill calls a life-saving dollar dog night, the Phillies invited him back to Citizen's Bank Park where he got to go on the field and meet Phillies' legend Charlie Manuel."I went back to work.

PHILADELPHIA - Authorities in a Philadelphia suburb are warning residents about a pair of armed carjackers after two incidents last week, including the gunpoint robbery of a senior woman.The Upper Darby Police Department said the first theft happened on the 500 block of Wilde Avenue early Thursday morning. Two men armed with handguns allegedly mugged a woman in her 60s outside her home on the 500 block of Wilde Avenue and stole her purse before driving off in her 2015 Acura RDX. Investigators believe the same duo tried to carjack another woman at gunpoint on the 4000 block of Brunswick Avenue on Sunday morning, but they were thwarted when they couldn't get her keys."Two incidents in a couple days is very odd to me," a neighbor told FOX 29's Chris O'Connell.

KING OF PRUSSIA, Pa. - A lunchtime panic erupted at King of Prussia mall when a witness says a woman pulled out a gun during an argument with another shopper about cutting in line. The incident reportedly happened at the Five Guys restaurant in the mall's food court. Witnesses say the dangerous spat sent shoppers stampeding towards the exits. The woman was quickly taken into custody by responding officers from the Upper Merion Police Department. No one was hurt and no shots were fired, but the brief chaos was enough to leave some shoppers and employees shaken."I'm thinking it's like a mass shooting or something," a witness told FOX 29's Chris O'Connell.

PHILADELPHIA - Wawa's Welcome America Festival begins this weekend, and Philadelphia wants residents and visitors to be prepared for over two weeks of fun, music and events. The festivities begin on Sunday with a Junteenth block party in Center City and runs through Independence Day, culminating with the return of Party on the Parkway. City officials announced in May that the July 4th concert and fireworks spectacular on the Benjamin Franklin Parkway will be headlined by Jason Derulo and Ava Max. "It's a lot of energy, a lot of energy, it'll be lit for real," Tevin Mack told FOX 29's Chris O'Connell.Wawa Welcome America July 4th concert rock the Benjamin Franklin Parkway at pre-pandemic levels this summer. Wawa announced Tuesday that Jason Derulo and Ava Max will headline the annual Independence Day celebration.The city on Friday shared several road closures that will accompany the slate of events over the next 16 days.

WILMINGTON, Del. - Dozens of police have responded to an apartment building in Wilmington, Delaware after three officers were shot.The incident happened near North Market and East 25th streets around 10:30 p.m. Wednesday.The three officers have been transported to the hospital in stable condition.FOX 29's Chris O'Connell reports police have surrounded an apartment where a barricaded man is inside after firing shots from a building. Residents are being told to avoid the area. SKYFOX flew over the scene Wednesday night.

WILMINGTON, Del. - Dozens of police have responded to an apartment building in Wilmington, Delaware, following reports of police officers shot.The incident happened near North Market and East 25th streets around 10:30 p.m. Wednesday.FOX 29's Chris O'Connell reports police have surrounded an apartment where a barricaded man is inside after firing shots from a building.

PHILADELPHIA - A 5-year-old girl has been shot in West Philadelphia’s Belmont neighborhood, according to sources.It happened on 42nd and Westminster streets around 9:30 p.m. Wednesday.SKYFOX flew over the scene Wednesday night.

FOX 29 journalist Chris O'Connell takes a look at the major storm damage in Delaware County