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That is truly heartbreaking. 💔

The passing of Li Bjayee on September 3, 2025, in Birmingham, Alabama, has left a deep void in the hearts of many. His final Facebook post has brought attention to the quiet, internal battles that so many people face behind closed doors.

🕯️ Remembering Li Bjayee:

Though details are still emerging, what’s clear is that Li was deeply loved and his death has sent ripples through the Birmingham community and beyond. His final message was not just a cry for help—it was a reminder of the urgent need for compassion, connection, and mental health support.

💬 A Community Reflects:

Friends and family have begun to share tributes online:

• Messages of grief, love, and disbelief

• Calls to check on loved ones, even the ones who “seem okay”

• Heartfelt stories about Li’s character, kindness, and struggles

🧠 Mental Health Awareness:

Li’s passing underscores a painful truth: mental health needs to be taken seriously—with early support, community care, and access to resources. No one should suffer in silence.

If you’re reading this and struggling, you are not alone:

• 📞 988 Suicide & Crisis Lifeline (U.S.) — Call or text 988

• 🧠 Local resources in Birmingham may also include counseling centers, support groups, or mental health clinics. I can help find those if you’d like.

This is an incredibly tragic and heartbreaking situation. 💔

Three young lives—Bemnet Deresse, Eden Adugna, and Feven Adugna—were cut short far too soon in a senseless act of violence that has shaken the Cincinnati community and the Ethiopian diaspora alike.

🕯️ Remembering the Victims:

• Bemnet Deresse (27)
  A recent biomedical engineering graduate from the University of Cincinnati. He had just begun a promising career in Louisville, Kentucky—a symbol of hope, achievement, and new beginnings.

• Eden Adugna (22) and Feven Adugna (20)
  Sisters who worked as pharmacy technicians at Good Samaritan Hospital. Described as kind, dedicated, and hardworking, their loss has left a deep void within the TriHealth community, where coworkers and patients alike mourn them.

📍 What Happened:

• Date: Sunday, August 31

• Time: Around 1:30 p.m.

• Location: Beacon Street, Mount Washington neighborhood, Cincinnati, Ohio (not D.C.)

According to Fox19, the event is believed to be a triple homicide followed by an attempted suicide.

• Two of the victims were found dead at the scene.

• The third passed away shortly after being taken to the hospital.

• The suspected shooter, who knew the victims, reportedly survived a self-inflicted gunshot wound and is hospitalized in critical condition.

💔 A Community in Mourning:

This devastating event has not only shattered families but also deeply impacted friends, coworkers, and the broader Ethiopian-American and Cincinnati communities. Social media is flooded with tributes, prayers, and calls for justice.

🕊️ Honoring Their Lives:

In moments like this, words often fall short. But what we can do is remember them, speak their names, and support their families and communities through this unspeakable grief.

That truly is heartbreaking. 😔 David and Donna Doty sound like they were deeply loved and respected members of the community. Losing two people like that so suddenly is a devastating blow—not just to their family, but to everyone who knew them.

My heart goes out to their loved ones during this unimaginable time. 🙏🏻 May they find comfort, strength, and peace as they grieve and begin to heal. If you’re planning to share a tribute or message of support for their family, I’d be honored to help you write something meaningful.

West Jordan Officer-Involved Shooting – Update

Victim:

• Name: Elhelbawy Adam Idrees

• Age: 26

• City: West Jordan, Utah

Incident Overview:

• Date of Incident: Last night (exact date not provided)

• Location: West Jordan, Utah

• Nature of Incident:

  • Began with a 911 call reporting a domestic argument inside a residence.

  • Led to a 5-hour SWAT standoff.

  • Idrees was ultimately shot and killed by police during the standoff.

Criminal History:

• 2018 (Age 19):

  • Arrested in connection with a shooting incident in Millcreek.

  • Mugshot from this arrest is publicly available.

• 2021:

  • Faced multiple charges, including:

    • 13 counts of forgery

    • Possession of stolen firearms

    • Gang-related activity

• Antonio McClelland is being held on a $5 million bond following a deadly shooting in Frayser. The preliminary hearing was on May 14, 2025, and a judge set the bond accordingly. The charges include first-degree murder and possession of a handgun by a convicted felon, related to the March 6, 2025, death of Jimmy L. Walker in his apartment.https://www.actionnews5.com

At this time, there’s no mention of a $10 million bond or an admission of guilt in connection with a gas station shooting in May.

An 18‑year‑old man from Clovis, identified as Giovanni Brown‑Johnson, has entered a no contest plea to second‑degree murder. This was in connection with the August 27, 2024 shooting death of a 17‑year‑old, Demetrious Anderson, at the Clovis Apartments. The announcement was made by Ninth Judicial District Attorney Quentin Ray on Tuesday (the exact date of the announcement wasn’t specified, but the news was reported recently) https://www.newschannel10.com.

Here are the key details:

• Police responded to reports of gunfire and found Anderson suffering from gunshot wounds to his left arm and abdomen. Officer Jesus Sarabia applied a tourniquet and performed CPR until EMS arrived; Anderson was transported to the hospital, but was pronounced dead shortly after arrival https://www.newschannel10.com.

• Investigators determined that both teenagers were armed—one with a 9 mm handgun and the other with a .45‑caliber pistol. Brown‑Johnson was identified as the shooter https://www.newschannel10.com.

• District Judge David Reeb sentenced Brown‑Johnson to 11 years in the New Mexico Department of Corrections. He will not be eligible for parole until he has served at least 10 years https://www.newschannel10.com.

• DA Quentin Ray emphasized the tragic nature of the case, remarking:
  “These senseless acts of violence between teenagers have to stop. One 17‑year‑old is dead, and an 18‑year‑old will now spend more than a decade behind bars. This tragedy affects not just the families involved but the entire community.” https://www.newschannel10.com.

• The case was prosecuted by Special Prosecutor Brett Carter, and Brown‑Johnson was represented by Todd Holmes of the Law Office of the Public Defender https://www.newschannel10.com.

Summary at a Glance

• A particularly devastating crash occurred on August 19, 2025, in Herat Province, Afghanistan, where a bus carrying deportees from Iran collided with a truck and a motorcycle. A massive fire broke out, resulting in at least 79 deaths, including 19 children, and injuring two others. Wikipedia.

• About a month earlier in late July 2025, a collision between a passenger bus and a dump truck occurred in northern Ivory Coast, taking at least 16 lives and injuring 51 people. Daily ObserverAfricaTopSuccess.

• In December 2024, Brazil witnessed one of its deadliest road tragedies in years: a multi-vehicle crash—including a bus and truck—on the BR‑116 highway in Minas Gerais led to at least 38 fatalities and injured several others. WikipediaReutersUPI.

Expanded Quote for a Tribute or Statement

“This was a tragic accident… A tragedy of the like we’ve never seen. Our hearts are shattered, and our community is grieving alongside the family. The strength, courage, and love shown in the midst of this heartbreak will never be forgotten.”

Recent Examples of Young Heroes in Car Crashes

• 9-year-old Girl Scout Saves Her Mother
  In Madison County, Indiana, after their vehicle flipped six times and crashed into a field, a 9-year-old Girl Scout calmly pulled down airbags to free her smothered mother and directed her on how to get out. She even located the phone and called 911. WRTV Indianapolis

• 12-year-old Sage Hopper Leads Children to Safety
  In Georgia, following a T‑boning crash, 12‑year‑old Sage Hopper guided her injured 5‑year‑old sister and two other children out of the vehicle and into a safe nearby ditch until help arrived. Her quick thinking earned her a certificate of heroism from first responders. People.com

• 8-year-old Ellie Hayes Shields Her Brother
  In Conondale, Queensland, eight-year-old Ellie acted instinctively when their car rolled down an embankment—she shielded her younger brother with her body. While she sustained serious injuries, her brother remained unharmed. Courier Mail

Your Description vs. Verified Reports

Your account of the 11‑year‑old girl leading her family out of a car that flipped multiple times and landed submerged in a lake—with her mother suffering a heart attack, her brothers assisting, and a brother flagging down help—sounds like a profoundly moving and inspiring story. However, no recent news article matches this scenario exactly in publicly accessible sources.

What You Can Do Next

1. Share or Provide the Source: If you saw this story in a local article, news clip, or social media post, sending me the link or the publication name could help me locate the verified story, confirm its details, and provide an accurate summary or assistance.

2. Spread Awareness: If this is a real event within your community and needs attention, I can help craft a respectful and impactful message for social media, a fundraiser, or to share with local news outlets.

3. Explore Broader Inspiration: Want more real-life stories like this one—stories of kids’ bravery in dire circumstances? I’d be happy to gather and share them, whether from car accidents, medical emergencies, or other life-threatening events.

Tracey Michelle (Cooper) Gilbert

• Age: 54

• Date of Passing: Tuesday, June 3, 2025, in Athens, Alabama; originally from Maysville, Kentucky Legacy+1

• Born: September 21, 1970, to Barbara (Werline) Cooper of Maysville and the late Clifton Cooper Legacy+1

• Survived by:

  • Husband: Darren Gilbert (married October 27, 1989) Legacy

  • Son: Jordan (Chelsea) Gilbert of Greensburg, KY Legacyechovita.com

  • Grandson: Jace Lee Gilbert echovita.comLegacy

  • Sisters: Melanie (Bill) Barrett and Valerie (Ray) Tolle of Maysville, KY Legacyechovita.com

  • Mother: Barbara Cooper echovita.com

• Visitation: Friday, June 13, 2025, from 11:00 AM to 1:00 PM at Moore & Parker Funeral Home, 303 East Maple Leaf Road, Maysville, KY Legacy+1echovita.com

• Funeral Service: Immediately following visitation on Friday, June 13, at 1:00 PM at the same location Legacy+1

• Burial: Monday, June 16, 2025, at Maysville Cemetery (noted as “burial will be 11 a.m. on Monday”) Legacy

• Memorial Contributions: In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to the Jace Lee Gilbert Scholarship Fund echovita.comLegacy