January 1, Armed Man Causes Panic at Missouri Wal-Mart

Hello Middle Americans,

Imagine shopping at Wal-Mart, just days after a violent rampage that resulted in 22 dead, and a heavily armed gunman walks in in tactical gear. What would you do? Fortunately, this incident ended without violence, thanks to a retired fire fighter.  Meanwhile, the NRA is trying to convince President Trump to pump the breaks on new gun background check legislation. And a man has been arrested after witnesses say he stabbed his wife at a nail salon and then held her as she died.  Read all about it. 

– Fraser Dixon

Fire Fighter Stops Heavily Armed Man at Wal-Mart

(NBC News) – Springfield Missouri Police Lieutenant Mike Lucas told NBC affiliate KY3,  “it was clear the man’s intent was to cause chaos, saying in part, “His intent was not to cause peace or comfort…He’s lucky he’s alive still, to be honest.”

Police say the man then made his way out an emergency exit where a former firefighter held the man at gunpoint. At that moment Springfield Police arrived on scene and detained the man.

NBC News has more here. 

NRA Warned Trump About Support for Background Checks

(CNN) – Trump has spoken to NRA chief executive Wayne LaPierre multiple times over the last two days, a person familiar with the conversations tells CNN. In those conversations, LaPierre made clear the NRA’s stance on renewed calls for expanded background checks — something the President has privately and publicly supported in recent days.

See the full report from CNN. 

Man Stabs Wife to Death at Nail Salon

The 39-year-old stabbing suspect walked into Tu S’tilo Salon Spa on 37th Avenue in Jackson Heights Wednesday night and attacked 35-year-old Carmen Iris Santiago from behind, witnesses and police told NBC 4 News in New York. 

After the stabbing, witnesses said the man embraced the body of his dying victim. Rodriguez was transported to a local hospital where she was pronounced dead.

Find out more from NBC New York.