Fallen Hero: Mississippi Church Honors Security Guard Killed At Easter Event
Eddie Shed tried to stop a domestic dispute when one of the parties pulled out a gun.
A Mississippi church is honoring one of its beloved members and security guards who died protecting others after a shooting broke out at its event.
Eddie Shed, who also served as a deacon at Gulfport’s Empowerment Ministries Christian Center, died on April 12 during the shootout. The 39-year-old man became caught in the crossfire of a domestic dispute that became deadly when one party pulled out a gun. According to the SunHerald, the incident occurred during the church’s Family Easter egg hunt at a local sports complex.
Now, his church is celebrating the life of the man who died while trying to keep others safe. The center’s senior pastor, Dr. Gregg S. Magee Sr., released a statement on Shed’s heroism during the “senseless act.”
“Our beloved Deacon Eddie Shed was taken from us in a senseless act of gun violence,” wrote the faith leader. “Deacon Shed epitomized the virtues of a hero, displaying selfless courage and bravery that ultimately saved others from harm. He paid the ultimate price for his valor, and we are deeply saddened by this loss.”
The news outlet confirmed that two others were shot and injured when police arrived at the scene. Shed died at the scene from multiple gunshot wounds.
Dr. Magee also referred to Shed as a “pillar of strength” for their community. Shed leaves behind multiple loved ones as fellow church members reel from the tragedy.
He added, “Our faith gives us hope and strength, and we draw comfort from the assurance that we will one day be reunited with Deacon Shed. We continue to lift in prayer those affected by this tragedy and stand together as a community, united in love and resilience.”
The shooting suspect was taken to a local hospital. Gulfport Police Lt. Jason Ducre also detailed that three people remain in custody over the fatal incident.
Chess, Not Checkers! Chinese Manufacturers Exposing Brands As ‘Not Made in America’ Amid Trade War
The gloves have come off ever since President Donald Trump threatened to impose up to 125% tariffs on all Chinese imports. Now, manufacturers in China are exposing American brands for what they are calling “hypocrisy” amid the trade war.
Calling what’s happening online a “firestorm” doesn’t even begin to explain what’s happening amid a trade war between the United States and China. The gloves have come off ever since President Donald Trump threatened to impose up to 125% tariffs on all Chinese imports. Now, manufacturers in China are exposing American brands for what they are calling “hypocrisy” amid the trade war.
In exposing American brands, some of the biggest manufacturers in China say that while American companies claim to be “Made in the USA,” they are quietly mass-producing goods in Chinese factories. According to videos posted on TikTok, some of these alleged big names include Michael Kors, Coach purses, Levi’s Jeans, and Lululemon.
According to one content creator, brands get away with marking things as “Made in America” or “Made in Italy. ” For example, the majority of the bag is made in China before it gets shipped to the designer or brand. The designer will add some finishing touches or a logo, allowing brands to characterize items as “Made In” said country.
“I’m surprised more people don’t know that. The quality for China products are just as good,” a TikTok creator said. “We’ve always had this assumption that China goods are not good, but it’s all propaganda.”
In another video, posted by China Yiwu Factor, he says Birkenstocks are only $10 to make and asks people to contact him if they want to work with him directly.
Consumers Responding To Chinese Manufacturers Exposing American Brands
One person posted on China Yiwu Factor, “Chinese manufacturers outing luxury brands is my new favorite TikTok.”
Other people are praising Chinese manufacturers for “playing Chess” while Trump is “playing GO Fish,” and encourages these manufacturers to directly sell to consumers.
The escalating trade war between the United States and China comes after Trump said there is a trade imbalance between the two nations. He said America has purchased a lot from China over the years, but it hasn’t been reciprocated, The New York Times reported. Trump said American companies go above and beyond to comply with Communist Party rules, but Chinese companies don’t face the same barriers.
His second argument concerns national security. America relies on China for electronic chips, pharmaceutical ingredients, and rare earth metals. However, China recently suspended critical rare earth exports, and U.S. companies do not have an alternative supplier.
The tariffs are an effort to make China negotiate friendlier trade rules with the United States. If that doesn’t work, then the Trump administration hopes it forces companies to find other places, mainly in the United States, to source and make their products.
While China is a major exporter to the U.S., it is no longer number one. The United States sent a record $199 billion in exports to China in 2024. China, on the other hand, exported $463 billion in goods and services to the United States, third behind Mexico and Canada, the Associated Pressreported.
The top U.S. exports to China in 2024 included soybeans, aircraft, pharmaceuticals, and semiconductors. Last year, major exports from China included mobile phones, computers, toys, and clothing.
NYPD Looking For Suspect Who Allegedly Sexually Abused Corpse On New York City Subway
Police are also looking for a woman who “removed unknown property” from the victim
The New York Police Department (NYPD) is looking for an individual who has been accused of sexually abusing the corpse of a man on a subway train in Manhattan.
According to The Gothamist, NYPD is looking for two individuals in relation to an incident with a corpse being discovered at the Whitehall Street subway station. The two people are wanted after one is wanted for “sexual misconduct” and the other suspect is wanted for “grand larceny.” The victim, believed to have died of natural causes, was on a southbound R train April 9. As he lay dead on the train, one of the suspects, a woman, rifled through his pockets and stole property from the corpse. Meanwhile, the second suspect sexually assaulted the man’s body at a different time.
The first suspect allegedly committed her crime around 10:48 p.m. that evening. Police officials say that she approached the unresponsive man and “removed unknown property” from him before fleeing the scene. She was caught on surveillance footage, and photographs of her were released to the public. She was seen wearing a yellow hooded sweatshirt, black pants, and a black baseball cap, which was pulled down over her eyes.
The male suspect, who was also seen going through the victim’s pockets, was also seen on surveillance video. After checking the man’s pockets, he allegedly sexaully asaulted him by penetrating his mouth and anus before leaving. The suspect was seen wearing a blue baseball cap, black hooded jacket, yellow hooded sweatshirt, blue jeans, and red-and-white sneakers. He also had on a black backpack, according to authorities.
NYPD Crime Stoppers posted a photo and video of the man leaving the corpse on the subway car.
People reported that a press release from the NYPD said, “The unidentified individual had sexual contact with an unconscious and unresponsive adult male” and then fled on foot.
The New York Post reported that police had identified the suspect as a heroin addict. The media outlet was able to track down the suspect’s brother, who lives in the Bronx. He did tell the media outlet that his brother was recently released from prison a few months ago after being locked up for a while. However, he stated he hadn’t seen him for a “few days.”
“I haven’t seen him in a few days. He started staying out late. He has never done anything like this in his life — not what they said he did. I don’t think that he did that. He’s not that type of person,” he said.
Police are also looking to speak with a woman who reportedly gave the deceased victim a cigarette of some kind before he died.
Megan Thee Stallion Brings ‘U-N-I-T-Y’ To Coachella With Special Guests Ciara, Victoria Monet And Queen Latifah
The "Savage" rapper brought out Ciara, Victoria Monét, and Queen Latifah to join her on stage.
Megan Thee Stallion brought the U-N-I-T-Y to Coachella with some very special guests during her set on April 13.
The Grammy winner took the stage to perform on the last night of the festival’s first weekend. Alongside some of her hits, such as “Savage” and “Body,” Megan shared the spotlight with some Black women artists across generations. The Neighborhood Talk shared clips of the star-studded performance.
First, Megan brought out an OG “femcee,” with Queen Latifah joining her onstage. While performing her hit “Plan B,” Megan let the Queen spit her verse from her hit song “U.N.I.T.Y.”
Then, Victoria Monét made her surprise appearance to perform her and Megan’s duet “Spin.” Monét then glided to her hit track “On My Mama.”
However, the last special guest was an R&B songstress who returned to perform her timeless hit. As Megan began to perform “Roc Steady,” a track that samples Ciara’s “Goodies,” Mrs. Wilson popped out to sing the classic.
Megan included some heavy hitters in the music scene during her featured set. Keeping true to her roots, the “Bigger In Texas” rapper also appeared in some country chic with bouncy red curls underneath a cowboy hat to begin the show.
The “Hot Girl” herself even teased the memorable performance on her Instagram days before. Calling it the “Return Of Thee Stallion,” the 30-year-old promised a show that would delight fans.
Coachella has become a global stage for artists to show off their greatest hits and tricks. Missy Elliot performed on Saturday and captivated fans with her transformational entrance. The rapper appeared on stage as a car before referencing “Transformers” and revealing herself as the vehicle.
Fans continued to praise the Black excellence given by Coachella’s diverse roster of performers throughout the weekend. Megan, Missy, and others will return on weekend two to raise the stakes for the musical festival.
Jamaicans Warned Not To Consume Chicken Found Washed Ashore In Hellshire, They Did Not Care
The Ministry of Agriculture advises people to get rid of the found chicken to avoid potential health risks
The Ministry of Agriculture has warned Jamaicans that a shipping container containing raw chicken from a Brazilian company that washed ashore along the Hellshire coastline in St. Catherine has not passed proper inspection for human consumption.
According to The Jamaica Observer, the frozen chicken, which was shipped under the Perdix brand, was not supposed to go to Jamaica but was intended to go to the Cayman Islands. The Ministry of Agriculture stated the chickens were never approved to be accepted into Jamaica. The product did not meet the food safety standards for any poultry that enters the Jamaican market, as stipulated in The Animal (Diseases and Importation) Act.
It was also reported that the Veterinary Services Division said that the shipment did not have the necessary import permits and veterinary inspections, potentially posing significant health risks to anyone who consumes the chickens.
The shipment was discovered on April 3.
Although the warning was issued, residents who were able to retrieve the chicken have stated that it was the best they’ve tasted.
Officials tried to encourage people not to eat the chicken and to contact them to give them an effective way to get rid of the potentially contaminated chicken. Even if the chickens were frozen, they may be unsafe to consume because they did not pass the necessary protocols. Officials say several factors may contribute to the chicken’s safety issues.
Since the container was separated from the vessel it was being carried on, the meat may not have been kept at the correct temperature, causing the possibility of the chicken not being kept at a safe setting. There was a possibility of the chicken being contaminated by seawater and environmental hazards. When meat starts to thaw, the risk of bacterial proliferation increases, leading to officials warning people to avoid the chicken. With these factors, along with others, the advice was for the benefit of anyone who may have come in contact with the chicken.
Do These 2 things To Develop An Exquisite Personal Brand
Curating an exquisite personal brand is not about you.
Written By L. Michelle Smith, MS, ACC, CPEC
After wrapping up up my session at the BLACK ENTERPRISE Women of Power Summit in Las Vegas, Nevada, in March, I shared a little something with the hundreds of women who attended the Branding Boot Camp. This reinforced my hourlong talk about the mechanics and strategies behind creating a memorable experience for the people they want to impact.
Some people call that intentional experience personal branding, but there is far more to it than that for leaders who want to establish trust, loyalty, and advocacy in the people they work with and beyond–-especially for those who experience life and work in the margins. These leaders want to create lasting connections beyond first, second, or third impressions. They want to be humanized and personalized, and that makes any grand gesture they make all the more authentic. This is the way to create rabid fans.
Before the attacks on affirmative action or even the more recent ones on diversity, equity, and inclusion, Black women leaders, often the “onlies” in the halls and boardrooms of corporate America, struggled with being seen or heard and so curating a personal brand that attracts the right opportunities inside an organization or externally can feel incredibly daunting.
A one-size-fits-all approach to personal branding typically leaves Black women leaders, who are already stretched beyond capacity, struggling to post more on social media, attempting to stay up on the algorithm shifts on business networking sites or other more tactical approaches. Some of these leaders–admitted introverts–squirm at the idea of mounting anyone’s stage to speak or might even question their ability or desire to do so.
But what if the way to stand out in a space that typically others Black women leaders or feels otherwise minimizing requires less effort to be seen or heard online or off and more effort focusing on one-to-one connections a leader can make each day with small gestures? This can be something that feels personal and far more meaningful than any speaking engagement or humble-brag post ever could. After all, the goal is brand loyalty, not simply brand awareness.
It’s a relief to many of the leaders I work with to hear that an extraordinary brand really only takes two things:
Emotional intelligence quotient (EQ)
The ability to identify, articulate, and deliver your value excellently.
To put it plainly, you need to be self-aware, able to read a room, empathize, and give the people what they need consistently, unselfishly, and outstandingly.
In consumer branding, you may hear marketing professionals call this “surprise and delight,” but this is why the best and most beloved consumer brands have dedicated teams that think about, dissect, and tweak their customer experiences each day. It takes that kind of thought, even for individual leaders.
Interrogating two thoughts should be at the heart of your efforts:
How do I want people to feel with each interaction they have with me?
What’s in it for them?
Emotional literacy, the ability to recognize and name one’s own feelings as well as those of others, is essential in this process and is a key component of EQ.
Author and psychologist Daniel Goleman has said, “The most effective leaders are all alike in one crucial way: They all have a high degree of what has come to be known as emotional intelligence. It’s not that IQ and technical skills are irrelevant. They do matter, but…they are the entry-level requirements for executive positions.”
So, not only is integrating emotional intelligence into your personal branding strategy important for loyalty and trust, but it’s also a boss move that can catapult you to the executive ranks and sustain your time there.
So, what small gesture did I extend to the hundreds of women in the room at the Branding Boot Camp at BEWPS? How did I surprise and delight them? How did I “put them in their feelings” to establish connection? I demonstrated thoughtfulness by seeking out a sponsor for my books for the book signing after the session so they wouldn’t have to pay for them. That sponsor was a beloved brand with which most of the women connected. They let out an audible gasp when I shared that former Dallas Mavericks CEO Cynt Marshall of Marshalling Resources paid for the books. This freed us up to simply focus on connecting with each other one-on-one as they stood in line for more than an hour. For some, that was a handshake and a few kind words. For others, it was a hug and sharing a learning or a breakthrough from the session. Still, for others, it was a huge smile and a photo together.
Neuroscience says our brains and beings crave this kind of connection. It instantly demolishes feelings of isolation. It fires up the neurotransmitter oxytocin, “the love hormone,” which causes humans to bond. It’s the kind of bond that motivates and pushes you forward in life and leadership. Emotions help create memories, and that day, we each made a memory together over strategies, books, and tools that will impact their leadership journeys for the foreseeable future.
Curating an exquisite personal brand is not about you. It’s about the type of intentional personal experiences you create for colleagues, bosses, and stakeholders. It’s time we got out of our heads about personal branding and into our feelings to put the people who matter to our leadership trajectory in theirs.
L. Michelle Smith is the premier voice in leadership at the apex of science and culture. She is a neuroscience- and positive psychology-informed certified executive and personal coach and the author of Yes Please! 7 Ways to Say I’m Entitled to the C-Suite, the upcoming Call & Response: 10 Leadership Lessons from the Black Church (Amistad-HarperCollins/JVL Media, 2026), and other award-winning leadership books.
Teen Had Plans To Assassinate President Donald Trump After Allegedly Killing His Own Parents
FBI agents found a three-page document calling for Trump’s assassination in order to “save the white race.”
An unsealed affidavit from the FBI revealed Wisconsin teenager Nikita Casap, who was charged with killing his parents, was also accused of having plans to assassinate President Donald Trump, NBC News reported.
While searching for a device used by Casap, from Waukesha, officials found a “manifesto” calling for the president’s assassination in efforts to instigate a race war and sow chaos. Agents claim Casap partially paid for “a drone with a dropping mechanism” in order to inflict harm by descending “an explosive, Molotov cocktail, or very strong topical poison” on a target. “The killing of his parents appeared to be an effort to obtain the financial means and autonomy necessary to carrying out his plan,” the affidavit read.
FBI agents found a three-page document calling for Trump’s assassination in order to “save the white race.” “As to why, specifically Trump, I think it’s pretty obvious. By getting rid of the president and perhaps the vice president, that is guaranteed to bring in some chaos,” the document read, according to CNN. There were also images of Adolf Hitler along with the text: “HAIL HITLER HAIL THE WHITE RACE HAIL VICTORY.”
The minor allegedly wasn’t shy about his plans, as officials said Casap mentioned his plans on TikTok and Telegram while identifying himself as a Order of the Nine Angles follower. The group is known to the FBI as a neo-Nazi cult promoting “the use of violence and terrorism to overthrow governments and destroy modern civilization.”
In a message found on Telegram, Casap asked, “So while in Ukraine, I’ll be able to live a normal life? Even when it’s found out I did it?”
He also mentioned plans to a classmate who warned law enforcement. The classmate told the sheriff’s office in March 2025 that Casap boasted about plans to kill his parents but did not have access to a gun. Casap later told the classmate that he would find someone who had a gun, become their friend, and steal it, before revealing he was in contact with someone in Russia, claiming they were planning on overthrowing the U.S. government and assassinating Trump.
Casap faces nine felony charges including two counts of first-degree murder and two counts of hiding a corpse. However, federal investigators are hoping to add three charges of presidential assassination, conspiracy, and use of weapons of mass destruction.
Police suspect Casap’s victims, his mother Tatiana and stepfather, Donald Mayer, were killed on February 11. Agents believe the suspect was living with the corpses for two weeks after they were found February 28 after Waukesha County Sheriff’s deputies performed a welfare check at the family’s home. When the teen appeared in court March 27, it was revealed that his mother was found in a hallway covered with blankets and a towel and his stepfather found in a first-floor office under a pile of clothing.
The new manifesto is added to a list of known assassination attempts on the President’s life. During the 2024 presidential campaign trail, Trump suffered a wound to the ear after gun shots erupted at a rally in Pennsylvania. Another alleged attempt happened at the Trump International Golf Club in West Palm Beach, Florida in September 2024.
