How Did Anna Young, Of The House Of Prayer, Try To Explain The Disappearance Of Young Emon Harper?
Emon Harper arrived at the ultra-religious Florida community known as the House of Prayer as a baby in 1986, but several years later, the young boy died after enduring horrific abuse. Anna Young Photo: Alachua County Jail
Emon Harper was taken to live at the House of Prayer as a baby in 1986 after his young mother was unable to care for him, but several years later, Harper vanished from the rural Florida property.
Those who lived at the Micanopy, Florida religious community which investigators and former members have dubbed a cult would later tell authorities that Harper had suffered horrific abuse while living at the home.
1 killed after opening fire at deputies in Gainesville, authorities say
Staff, News4Jax
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Alachua County Sheriff s Office sign (Photo: Alachua County Sheriff/Facebook)
A man was shot and killed Friday in Gainesville during an exchange of gunfire with deputies, according to a news release from the Alachua County Sheriff’s Office.
Deputies answering a call about shots fired at a home on Southeast 46th Terrace off Hawthorne Road were met by gunfire, the Sheriff’s Office said in a Facebook post. The agency said deputies returned fire and wounded the man, who died of his injuries at the scene.
Following the crash, the toddler was rushed to UF Health Shands Hospital in critical condition, according to a Gainesville Police Department press release. He died as a result of his injuries shortly after arriving there.
The Gainesville Police Department for a few years now has concentrated on trying to quell gun violence, but the bullets are still being fired.
Now the department has boosted staffing at times on West University Avenue to enforce traffic laws following the recent deaths of two pedestrians.
But with all that work to do, the department is still hurting for officers to do it.
The department has 27 officer vacancies. The gap has closed from the 42 vacancies in mid-2019 but Chief Tony Jones said more are needed.
“We’re still looking for more people, but we are looking for the right people. We will continue our efforts,” Jones said. “I look for a diverse staff because I want a force that is representative of this community. We try to specifically look for a diverse population.”
In a 20-minute speech, Poe shared the city’s accomplishments and failures, with occasional cameos from city commissioners and local leaders. He discussed topics from homelessness to social justice.
WUFT News fact checked and added context to some of the statements the city included in the address:
(Mayor Lauren Poe:) In the aftermath of the killing of George Floyd, organizers worked cooperatively to work with city community members, including the Gainesville Police Department, to hold peaceful and powerful demonstrations, continuing Gainesville’s long-standing commitment to protecting our neighbors’ right to peacefully protest.
Fact check: Gainesville was one of about 30 U.S. cities that held a “March for Our Freedom” protest in May following Floyd’s death. Organizers urged the community to stay peaceful and use the event as an opportunity to spark awareness of police brutality. After the event, William John Connelly drove his car into protesters, according to police.