NFL Player Caught In 2024 Shootout After Attackers Thought He Was Cocaine Swindler
Reynolds has said he has 'moved past' the shooting.
Josh Reynolds, an NFL player for the New York Jets, was caught in a 2024 shootout due to mistaken identity.
The case on the October incident revealed that the shooters initially mistook Reynolds as a man who they said scammed them out of $250,000 worth of cocaine. Reynolds was shot in the back of the head and his leg but recovered to continue playing in the NFL. Two of his friends at the scene were also injured..
Reynolds, 30, who previously played with the Denver Broncos, had a striking resemblance to the man who scammed the group. According to court filings obtained by the Denver Post, seven adults and one juvenile involved in the shootout received attempted murder charges. One juvenile also earned a charge for their involvement.
Prosecutors said the group used four vehicles to follow Reynolds and his friends from a strip club Oct. 18. Lawyers called the move a “calculated and carefully coordinated assassination attempt,” as the group fired dozens of rounds at Reynolds.
One of the main assailants, Burr Charlesworth, pleaded guilty to the crime and received a 10-year prison sentence. He said the group had a plan to “f-ck him up,” referring to the man they thought finessed them out of the pricy drug.
The wide receiver was with the Broncos at the time of the shooting, but was later waived by the team. He signed a one-year deal worth up to $5 million with the Jets.
Reynolds has remained relatively mum about the traumatic incident, telling reporters in June that he “moved past” the ordeal.
“Yeah, life is precious, for sure,” Reynolds said in preseason. “But the more you’ve got to think about it, the more you’re just kind of reliving it.”
Another adult involved in the case remains at-large.
Anna Hall First American to World Heptathlon Gold Since Jackie Joyner-Kersee In ’93
Hall hit number two in all-time heptathlon points earlier in 2025 when she posted a 7,032-point total.
Anna Hall’s performance at the World Athletics Championships in Tokyo wasn’t just a stunning display of all around athleticism, it was historic.
Her 6,888-point performance made her the first American woman to capture a gold medal in the heptathlon since the legendary Jackie Joyner-Kersee in 1993. It’s Hall’s first major title after a few years of close calls and ill-timed struggles with injuries.
According to The Athletic, the 24-year-old Hall was in the lead after four events through the first day of competition. She only solidified her lead during day two as she posted a time of 2 minutes, 6.68 seconds in the 800 meter race and added personal bests in the javelin (48.13 m) and shot put (15.80m) while tying the best high-jump mark (1.89m) and turning in the second-fastest and third-fastest times, respectively, in the 200m and the 100m hurdles.
Hall hit number two all-time earlier in 2025 when she posted a 7,032 point total in Gotzis, Austria. This performance came just shy of that mark, but Hall was nonetheless elated to bring a medal home to the United States that her mentor made famous, as she told NBC Sports.
Anna Hall brings home gold in the women's heptathlon for her FIRST WORLD TITLE. 🇺🇸 pic.twitter.com/ypqtG0GGuU
According to NBC Sports, Joyner-Kersee, who is a two-time world champion and a two-time Olympic gold medalist in the event, sent text messages to Hall before the competition, after the first day’s events, and after the long jump was completed on Sept. 20. The Olympic legend also sat with Hall’s family near the finish line at the final event, the 800m.
“It means so much,” Hall told NBC Sports reporter Lewis Johnson. Ever since I came on the circuit and won my first medal, that’s been something I’ve been trying to do. Jackie and I have talked about it, and we were like, ‘The USA does make great heptathletes.’ It means the world to be able to bring the title back home where it belongs.
“The last two years, I really struggled with injuries, as I think everybody saw in Paris,” Hall explained. “That entire time, I just put my head down and I worked. And we were working on my upper body, we were working on technical things. My body wasn’t ready to have that show yet, but I’m so glad that I feel like that work is all paying off now. I came back this year, and I felt like I really lost my love, almost, for the sport. I was just sad all the time. I was doing all my workouts, but I didn’t want to be there. It took a while for my spark to come back.”
It picked the perfect time to come back, after her earlier performance in Gotzis, Hall joined a list of American performances in the event that now includes Joyner-Kersee and herself. Except for Hall’s second-place finish all-time, Joyner-Kersee holds six of the top finishes all-time, including, of course, the all-time record, a ridiculous 7,291 points.
Hall finished 174 points ahead of the silver medalist, Ireland’s Kate O’Connor, whose total produced an Irish national record.
MAGA Rappers Drop New Track Glorifying Lynching, Face Immediate Backlash
The song made the rounds on social media, with hordes of critics bashing its offensive lyrical content
Two MAGA-affliated rappers have released a new “Lynching Anthem” that has garnered intense pushback by the Black community and others.
The lyrics of JJ Lawhorn and Forgiato Blow’s “Good vs. Evil” describe one of the most heinous acts against the Black community. The song made the rounds on social media, with hordes of critics bashing its offensive lyrical content.
The so-called rappers talk about hanging someone with rope from a tree, quite vividly, making light of the horrific act that sought to dehumanize its victims.
“We need a big tall tree and a short piece of rope/hang ‘em up high at sundown,” detailed its lyrics. “Leave ’em swinging so the folks all know/you don’t mess around in our town.”
According to the NAACP records, around 4,743 lynching occurred in the United States from 1882 to 1968. Thpically carried out by “lawless mobs” of racist white people, lynchings were a means to “terrorize and control” Black people, most commonly in the American South.
The song made others highlight a recent hanging-induced death of Demartravion “Trey” Reed. The Delta State University student was found dead hanging on a tree at his Mississippi school’s campus. The state also historically has the highest number of lynchings recorded.
While police determined no foul play as of yet in Reed’s death, others believe the circumstances point to the young man’s lynching. Given this, and especially after the fatal shooting of Charlie Kirk, critics emphasized how this viral song promotes violence against the Black community.
“3 days ago @ForgiatoBlow47 makes a song about lynching and then yesterday a black man is lynched at his college. what else do you call this other than a call for violence,” questioned one X user.
The song’s release also aligns with the killing of Kirk, who used his platform to uphold white supremacist ideologies. Now, his “freedom fight” has become a call-to-action for the MAGA masses, with threats against Black people becoming bolder and more commonplace, especially through this new song.
The song’s production, unsurprisingly, also takes inspiration from trap music. Black southern rap artists pioneered the sub-genre of hip-hop.
“This is why we can’t let conservatives have anything that comes from black America cause why he singing LYNCH MUSIC OVER TRAP BEATS,” wrote another commenter.
Naysayers also noted how these men could post this alarming song with no legal consequences for promoting the violent act. On the other hand, those on the left have faced silencing for expressing their disdain for Kirk.
Colin Kaepernick’s Know Your Rights Camp Autopsy Initiative To Pay For Independent Autopsy Of Trey Reed
Reed's family, the Southern Poverty Law Center, and Benjamin Crump, are deeply concerned over the investigation into Reed's death.
On Sept. 19, national civil rights attorney Benjamin Crump announced that the Colin Kaepernick Know Your Rights Camp Autopsy Initiative will cover the cost of a second independent autopsy for slain Delta State student Demartravion “Trey” Reed.
Despite the historical parallels, the Mississippi State Medical Examiner’s Office determined that Reed had hung himself and committed suicide. In addition, the Cleveland Police Department noted in a press release that toxicology reports are ongoing and could take several weeks to be processed.
The independent autopsy, however, is on hold until Reed’s body has been released by the Mississippi State Medical Examiner’s Office.
NEWS ALERT: @AttorneyCrump has issued a statement to demand all video footage in the investigation of Demartravion “Trey” Reed’s death be shown to his family. The 21-year-old Delta State University student was found deceased on campus earlier this week. pic.twitter.com/LnFEGoMAyS
In a statement addressing both the hanging deaths of Reed and a white homeless man, Cory Zukatis, in Vicksburg, Mississippi, the Southern Poverty Law Center urged for a thorough investigation into both deaths by law enforcement.
“The tremendous outcry from the local community over concerns surrounding the loss of these two should not go unaddressed,” Bryan Fair, the interim president and CEO of the SPLC, said in the press release.
“The imagery of these two deaths immediately evokes the collective consciousness of those who are deeply aware of Mississippi’s troubled past,” Fair added. “These events remind us how inequity continues to endanger lives. By committing to a thorough investigation and providing transparency around these tragedies, local leaders and law enforcement can bring a deeper sense of peace and comfort during a time of tragedy. Our state office will be monitoring their efforts closely.”
“We must leave no stone unturned in the search for answers. While the details of this case are still emerging, we cannot ignore Mississippi’s painful history of lynching and racial violence against African Americans,” Thompson noted.
According to NBC News, Reed’s former peers at Delta State also noted that they want to know exactly what happened to him. “I just want justice. I don’t know what it is, but I want the truth to come out. I just want to know what the real answer is,” student Kolby Horace told the outlet.
In a separate statement released on Sept. 17, Crump noted that the family deserves to receive a real answer to their call for justice.
“Trey’s family deserves answers they can trust. We cannot accept rushed conclusions when the stakes are this high,” Crump said. “By demanding the family be allowed to view any video and commissioning an independent autopsy, we are taking every step to uncover the truth about what happened to Trey.”
Missouri Rep. Raychel Proudie Announces State Senate Bid Focused On St. Louis County
Proudie, known for her candid and direct approach, emphasized that her campaign is about producing outcomes rather than simply 'fighting.'
State Rep. Raychel Proudie, D-Ferguson, has announced her candidacy for the Missouri State Senate, launching a campaign focused on delivering tangible results for her constituents.
Having reached her term limit in the Missouri House, Proudie will vie for the District 14 Senate seat in a race that will be decided in August and November 2026.
“Hello Friends, We had four successful terms in the Missouri House advocating for victims of domestic violence, children and families, public safety, workers’ rights, nuclear and toxic waste cleanup, and bringing MILLIONS of dollars back to Saint Louis County. Real EXPERIENCE and real, tangible RESULTS is what is needed during these times of political instability—which is why I am honored to announce my candidacy for Missouri State Senate District 14,” she wrote on the donation section of her campaign.
“Please help me continue the work of improving the quality of life here in Missouri by kindly donating.”
Proudie, known for her candid and direct approach, emphasized that her campaign is about producing outcomes rather than simply “fighting.”
“What good does it do to say ‘we fought,’ if you lose?” Proudie said. “We (Democrats) say that, and then we get our teeth kicked in every election. And what do we have to show for it?”
A four-term representative for St. Louis County, Proudie has a record of advocating for victims of domestic violence, children, and families, as well as securing millions of dollars for the region. Her legislative work has also included efforts on public safety and the cleanup of nuclear and toxic waste.
She said her focus now is to bring that same dedication to the larger population of the Senate district, which includes cities like Ferguson, Hazelwood, Overland, and University City, as well as areas like Kinloch and Berkeley.
“For my district, I want to bring home the bacon,” she said.
The district, which is home to St. Louis Lambert International Airport and the University of Missouri–St. Louis is a solidly Democratic area, making the primary election winner all but assured of victory in the general election.
Proudie, 42, may face a challenge from state Rep. Doug Clemens, D-St. Ann, though he has not yet officially declared his candidacy. Two other contenders, Shante Duncan and Joseph Palm, both political outsiders, have already entered the race.
The District 14 seat is currently held by state Sen. Brian Williams, who has also served his maximum eight years. Proudie’s campaign aims to build on her track record of “real experience and real, tangible results” to address what she describes as political instability and a lack of support for north St. Louis County residents.
Beyoncé And Drake Producer Sidney ‘Omen’ Brown Found Dead At 49 In Harlem Apartment
Known as 'Omen,' the Grammy-winning producer has worked with Hip-Hop heavyweights, including Ludacris and Lil Wayne.
Sidney ‘Omen’ Brown, the Grammy-winning music producer known for his work with Beyoncé and Drake, has died at age 49.
Brown was found in his East Harlem apartment by a family member Sept. 13. His mother told TMZ that the relative found the producer dead in his residence, going to check on him after he missed his long-time gig at Barawine Harlem.
His family told news outlets how the death shocked them as Brown appeared to be in good health.
“He was holistic and healthy. So we don’t know of him being sick, so this is all pretty sudden,” his sister Nicole Iris Brown toldNBC News.
Known professionally as Omen, the Harlem native rose to fame producing music for hip-hop and R&B giants. He soon became a part of the Roc-A-Fella brand, further establishing himself in the rap scene. For Beyoncé and Drake’s 2013 collaboration of “Mine,” Omen also had producer, programmer, lyricist, and composer credits.
The grieving sibling added, “I hope people will remember that he was willing to help the younger generation. He was always big on helping younger people start their careers and get themselves into the game. It was about just the music, no matter who the artist was.”
He has also worked with fellow stars such as Usher, Ludacris, Lil Wayne, and Action Bronson. Omen earned a Grammy award for producing “Tell It Like It Is,” a track on Ludacris’ Release Therapy LP. The entire project won Rap Album of the Year at the 2007 ceremony.
Beyond his studio work, Omen also continued to work as a DJ through the New York City nightlife scene. His long-time employer, Barawine, also released a statement on the talented beatmaker’s death.
“Omen was part of Barawine’s team for over a decade bringing his unique talent to all,” wrote the bar. “There are not enough words to express our feelings. Our thoughts and prayers go to his family, his friends and all who love him.”
Black Jobless Rate Hits Highest Level Since 2021—And Fears Grow That AI Could Make It Worse
Federal Reserve Chair Jerome Powell noted that AI is one factor contributing to the difficulties recent college graduates face in finding employment.
As BLACK ENTERPRISE previously reported, the Black unemployment rate has risen to its highest point since the COVID-19 pandemic, coming in at 7.5% and, what’s more, it appears to be having an impact on the inability of recent college graduates to land work. The Black jobless rate is at its highest level since 2021.
According to CNN, one potential explanation could be the use of artificial intelligence screening during the application process, which is also occurring alongside indiscriminate federal job cuts. The federal government has traditionally been a reliable employer of Black Americans even when the general employment market has been hostile.
The Economic Policy Institute noted in its analysis of the rising unemployment rates that federal job cuts have frequently been cited as a contributing factor for the employment losses of Black women due to their relative overrepresentation in that sector.
As they stated, “This suggests that women aren’t losing jobs faster than men in the federal sector, but without additional information, we can’t rule out the idea that women’s federal losses are disproportionately falling on Black women.”
A recent Business Insider report also highlighted Federal Reserve Chair Jerome Powell’s comments on the role of artificial intelligence in the job market. Powell noted that AI is one factor contributing to the difficulties recent college graduates face in finding employment, though he added that “it’s hard to say how big it is.”
He explained, “It may be that companies or other institutions that have been hiring younger people right out of college are able to use AI more than they had in the past. That may be part of the story. It’s also part of the story, though, that job creation more broadly has slowed down.”
Over the last few years, as AI has been integrated into smartphones, job search algorithms, and workplaces, its potential to transform American society has been widely discussed — both for its promise and for concerns that it could worsen existing inequities in the employment ecosystem.
Powell previously noted in June that AI has the potential to disrupt the economy, in particular, the labor force. The Fed Chair said at the time that it could either enhance productivity, replace workers, or some combination of the two.
As it relates to Black workers, however, even though at least one leader of an advocacy group thinks that AI adoption shouldn’t be burdened by excessive protections, it shouldn’t be entirely unregulated, a tactic the Trump administration is determined to adopt. This arrangement carries outsized risk for Black Americans, according to Portia Allen-Kyle, the interim director of Color of Change.
Although she conceded to HR Dive that “AI is far too important to smother in bureaucracy at this early stage,” she also noted that the deregulation of this kind of technology is a wink and a nod to an era of America where the rich and powerful reigned and there was no effective middle class. “Bottom line: This is yet another blatant attempt to put profit over people,” Allen-Kyle pointed out before noting that the Trump administration wants to “preempt the ability of states to regulate.”
Allen-Kyle continued, “This may be a little bit controversial, but we’re still waiting for the use case that says AI is good for everyone. We just haven’t seen the scenario where this is, in and of itself, just excellent for Black people. What we have seen is companies making very blatant shifts away from human labor into AI, under the guise of efficiency. In many ways, lower-wage Black workers and workers of color are canaries in the coal mine.”
This of course, dovetails with a report from Capital B News about America’s newfound demand for artificial intelligence, driven by technology companies like Meta, Alphabet, and XAI, which intersects with the Trump Administration’s rush to defang the Environmental Protection Agency, which clears the way for data centers that choke out Black people underneath the pollution those centers belch out in Black and impoverished rural communities.
As Shelby Green, a researcher at the Energy and Policy Institute noted, “Most Black households, especially rural ones in the South, are not using AI or as much computing power, but they are having to pay for that demand in both money and dirty air.”
Green continued, “It’s kind of like if you go out and your employer is paying for your dinner, and you order the fanciest stuff on the menu,” Green noted, concerning her research into how rising utility bills, some driven by data centers, are pushing Southern Black communities into poverty. “You don’t really have to worry about how expensive it is because it’s not coming out of your pocket. That’s how these companies are operating; they’re not holding the risk associated with increasing electricity costs and these new power plants — you are.”
Kevin Durant’s Bitcoin Skyrockets Despite Being Locked Out Of Account
Durant's success story is, sadly, an anomaly.
Basketball star Kevin Durant is in a curious predicament, he has lost the password to his Coinbase account, which holds all of the bitcoin he began purchasing when he played for the Golden State Warriors in 2016.
But there is good news. Durant’s agent, Rich Kleiman, addressed the situation on Sept. 16 at CNBC’s Game Plan conference in Los Angeles.
“We’ve yet to be able to track down his Coinbase account info, so we’ve never sold anything, and this bitcoin is just through the roof. It’s just a process we haven’t been able to figure out, but Bitcoin keeps going up…so, I mean, it’s only benefited us.”
Durant has never sold any of the holdings and bitcoin’s value has skyrocketed. The Houston Rocket star’s inability to unlock the account is due to a “user error,” Kleinman said.
According to Kleiman, the genesis of Durant’s foray into cryptocurrency, particularly Bitcoin, was a team dinner hosted by his then-Golden State Warriors teammates who mentioned bitcoin repeatedly.
The next day, Durant and his agent started investing in Bitcoin. At the time, it traded at a price between $360 and $1,000, but presently, it’s trading at $116,000, which represents a staggering 11,000% increase.
According to a 2021 op-ed in The New York Times by Cornell University Professor and senior fellow at the Brookings Institution, Eswar Prasad, Durant seems to have gotten lucky, given cryptocurrency’s relatively volatile nature.
Also, according to a 2022 article by The Atlantic, which profiled Black investors who lost substantial investments, the success story of Durant is an anomaly. As staff writer Annie Lowrey noted, these investors were driven by the failures of more traditional financial holdings as it regards the fortunes of Black Americans.
“As of 2021, Black Americans were more likely than their white counterparts to own crypto. They were also more likely to own crypto than stocks or mutual funds, according to one study from the Federal Reserve Bank of Kansas City. Then the crypto market fell apart,” Lowrey noted.
7-Foot Ex-Basketball Player Forgoes Hoop Dreams To Protect And Serve
Jordan Wilmore did something unexpected as a professional basketball player. He left his pro career behind to pursue policing.
When most 7-foot-3 athletes chase basketball court dreams, Jordan Wilmore did something unexpected. The basketball player left his pro career behind to pursue policing. The 24-year-old said making that shift felt right.
“I’ve always liked to help other people. That’s just who I am,” Wilmore told CBS News. “There is nothing really else I want to do.”
Wilmore, a Memphis native, played college basketball at Missouri, Northwestern State, and Austin Peay State before taking his skills overseas, most recently in the Philippines. But early on, he kept a quieter ambition: to serve his community.
“It was hard for me to share, like, my dreams…because it was, ‘Well, you just got to focus on basketball because it can make you millions,’” he said.
Now he’s near the finish line. Once he completes police academy training, he’ll join the force in Kemah, near Houston. Kemah’s Police Chief, Raymond Garivey, acknowledged there are logistical challenges with hiring Wilmore. His size presents a bit of a conundrum as tactical gear and transportation are made for the average-sized man.
“Knees are touching the dash…It’s very, very tight,” Garivey said. “He wants to serve…I’m proud that he chose the thin, blue line.”
Wilmore is prepared to turn down reminders from the basketball world. In a post on Instagram, he wrote about the stress associated with the profession.
“I would’ve never thought basketball would’ve blessed me this far. Who would’ve known i was going to feel burnt out and there’s nothing more to give. Basketball is not just fun and games all the time. Hard work + dedication and the mental stress it has caused me,” he wrote.
Wilmore said growing up, he was confronted with typical expectations for a seven-foot man. However, he had a different calling. He hopes his example will show others that passion and purpose can guide one’s path, even if it goes in a direction people don’t expect.
As he moves forward with police training, Wilmore faces both practical and symbolic hurdles. At the same time, his journey stands as an affirmation that identity and ambition aren’t fixed by size, your height doesn’t have to dictate your life story.
Congressional Black Caucus And Democrats Oppose Charlie Kirk Resolution
Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez (D-NY), one of the Democrats who voted no, noted who Kirk actually versus the figure that the Republican Party aimed to lionize.
House Republicans, led by House Speaker Mike Johnson (R-LA, put forth a five-page resolution co-sponsored by 165 of his colleagues, praising white nationalist Charlie Kirk as a “courageous American patriot” who wanted to “elevate truth, foster understanding, and strengthen the Republic.”
According to The Guardian, the House minority leader, Hakeem Jeffries (D-NY), informed Democrats in a closed-door meeting that leadership would vote in favor of the resolution, but the vote as it regards other members, was left up to individual members.
In the vote, 95 Democrats, including Rep. Jeffries, ultimately voted along with the Republicans.
Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez (D-NY), one of the Democrats who voted no, noted who Kirk actually was.
“We should be clear about who Charlie Kirk was: a man who believed that the Civil Rights Act that granted Black Americans the right to vote was a ‘mistake,’ who after the violent attack on Paul Pelosi claimed that ‘some amazing patriot out there’ should bail out his assailant, and accused Jews of controlling ‘not just the colleges –it’s the nonprofits, it’s the movies, it’s Hollywood, it’s all of it.’ His rhetoric and beliefs were ignorant and sought to disenfranchise millions of Americans–far from ‘working tirelessly to promote unity’ as asserted by the majority in this resolution,” Ocasio-Cortez noted.
The Congressional Black Caucus also noted its disagreement with the vote via a Sept. 19 press release. CBC Chair Yvette D. Clarke echoed some of AOC’s concerns in her own statement.
“We strongly disagree with many of the beliefs Charlie Kirk promoted: including his belief that the Civil Rights Act of 1964, which ended racial segregation, was a mistake; his denial that systemic racism exists; his promotion of the Great Replacement theory; and his offensive claims about Justice Ketanji Brown Jackson, Michelle Obama, and Congresswoman Sheila Jackson Lee lacking adequate cognitive ability.
“The resolution introduced in the House to honor Charlie Kirk’s legacy is not about healing, lowering the temperature of our political discourse, or even ensuring the safety of members of Congress, staff, and Capitol personnel. It is, unfortunately, an attempt to legitimize Kirk’s worldview—a worldview that includes ideas many Americans find racist, harmful, and fundamentally un-American,” Clarke said.
She concluded, “In the wake of this tragedy, President Trump has senselessly threatened to go after the political left. The American people are tired of this kind of cynical politics. It’s disheartening to see a tragedy used to further divide the country and suppress honest debate. As the conscience of the Congress, the CBC has a responsibility to speak out against this on behalf of our communities, and we are calling on each of our colleagues who share our values to follow suit. Enough is enough.”
Today, I voted against the Charlie Kirk Resolution.
While I condemn his violent murder, this resolution sought to elevate Charlie Kirk as a role model.
Like the Congressional Democrats, Mississippi Rep. Bennie Thompson released his own statement noting that although he disagrees with the violent murder of Kirk, he could not, in good conscience, support the resolution.
“The fact is Charlie Kirk’s rhetoric was divisive, disparaging, and too often rooted in grievance,” Thompson said in a part. “The beliefs he evangelized normalized fringe views on race, sex, and immigration. Unfortunately, his rhetoric resurrected dangerous prejudices of a dark past.”
