Shooting suspect tries to commit suicide in jail

Shooting suspect tries to commit suicide in jail

OWOSSO, Mich. — A jailed Michigan trucker charged with gunning down two people, including an anti-abortion activist, cut his arm in an apparent suicide attempt, prosecutors said Saturday as they disclosed that the man’s mother once worked with another intended victim.

Harlan James Drake, 33, was taken to a hospital with a self-inflicted wound near his wrist, Shiawassee County Prosecutor Randy Colbry said. He didn’t know exactly when Drake was transported or what he used to cut himself.

“He attempted suicide. It sounds like he’s going to make it, but it’s a serious gash, a very serious wound to his arm,” Colbry said.

Drake, 33, was charged with two counts of first-degree murder Friday. Hours earlier, well-known local abortion protester James Pouillon, 63, was killed in a drive-by shooting near Owosso High School, and the owner of a gravel company, Mike Fuoss, 61, was fatally shot at work.

Blagojevich adviser dies

CHICAGO — A former chief fundraiser for ousted Illinois Gov. Rod Blagojevich died Saturday, just days before he was to report to prison to begin a three-year sentence for tax offenses that included using his company’s money to pay gambling debts and claiming it as a business expense.

Christopher Kelly, 51, also pleaded guilty earlier this week to an $8.5 million fraud involving hangar roofing contracts at O’Hare International Airport. He faced more than five years in prison at that sentencing, but was ordered to report next Friday to begin his three-year term.

Kelly was taken to Cook County’s Stroger hospital by ambulance at 5:15 a.m. Saturday and pronounced dead at 10:46 a.m., said spokesman Marcel Bright. Bright did not know whether Kelly was conscious when he arrived in the emergency room or where he was transported from.

Israeli president faints

JERUSALEM — Israeli President Shimon Peres was rushed to the hospital Saturday night after he fainted on stage while speaking at an event in Tel Aviv. He regained consciousness shortly afterward but is being held overnight for observation.

Peres was answering questions from the crowd after a talk on young leadership when he passed out, paramedics told Israeli media.

The 86-year-old regained consciousness on his own a few seconds later, they added.

Initially, Peres refused to be taken to the hospital but eventually agreed to go to Tel Hashomer hospital in Tel Aviv for a checkup.

Associated Press