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California gunman was prohibited from owning guns due to restraining order

Phil Johnston, the assistant sheriff for Tehama County, briefs reporters on the shootings near the Rancho Tehama Elementary School. Photo: Rich Pedroncelli / AP

The AP reports that the California gunman, Kevin Janson Neal, who killed five yesterday and injured 10, including two children, wasn't supposed to have access to firearms as part of a restraining order.

The backdrop: The Sutherland Springs shooter also wasn't supposed to have access to guns after being convicted of domestic abuse.

The latest on the California shooting, per the AP:

  • Neal's wife was found dead inside their home. Tehama County Assistant Sheriff Phil Johnston said they believe "her slaying was the start of the rampage." CNN reports she was killed the night before the shooting, and was "concealed...under a floor in his home."
  • He grew marijuana, according to his mother, and "was in a long-running dispute with neighbors he believed were cooking methamphetamine."
  • He was out on bail after stabbing a neighbor in January, and had a restraining order against him from the neighbor.
  • Neighbors repeatedly complained to the sheriff about hearing "constant gunfire" from Neal's home. The sheriff's department referred them to the homeowners' association.
  • He "had struggled with mental illness...and at times had a violent temper," according to his sister Sheridan Orr.
  • He was unsuccessful in entering Rancho Tehama Elementary, but shot inside the building for around six minutes.

Go deeper: People who can't buy guns.

Go deeper

Jonathan Swan
2 hours ago - Politics & Policy

Scoop: Gina Haspel threatened to resign over plan to install Kash Patel as CIA deputy

CIA Director Gina Haspel. Photo: Win McNamee/Getty Images

CIA Director Gina Haspel threatened to resign in early December after President Trump cooked up a hasty plan to install loyalist Kash Patel, a former aide to Rep. Devin Nunes (R-Calif.), as her deputy, according to three senior administration officials with direct knowledge of the matter.

Why it matters: The revelation stunned national security officials and almost blew up the leadership of the world's most powerful spy agency. Only a series of coincidences — and last minute interventions from Vice President Mike Pence and White House counsel Pat Cipollone — stopped it.

Go deeper (3 min. read)Arrow
Axios
Updated 3 hours ago - Politics & Policy

Coronavirus dashboard

Illustration: Sarah Grillo/Axios

  1. Health: Coronavirus deaths reach 4,000 per day as hospitals remain in crisis mode — CDC warns highly transmissible coronavirus variant could become dominant in U.S. in March.
  2. Politics: Biden says, "We will manage the hell out of" vaccine distribution — Biden taps ex-FDA chief to lead Operation Warp Speed amid rollout of COVID plan — Widow of GOP congressman-elect who died of COVID-19 will run to fill his seat.
  3. Vaccine: Battling Black mistrust of the vaccines — "Pharmacy deserts" could become vaccine deserts — Instacart to give $25 to shoppers who get vaccine.
  4. Economy: Unemployment filings explode again — Fed chair: No interest rate hike coming any time soon —  Inflation rose more than expected in December.
  5. World: WHO team arrives in China to investigate pandemic origins.
Go deeper (1 min. read)Arrow
Lachlan Markay
3 hours ago - Politics & Policy

John Weaver, Lincoln Project co-founder, acknowledges “inappropriate” messages

John Weaver aboard John McCain's campaign plane in February 2000. Photo: Robert Schmidt/AFP via Getty Images)

John Weaver, a veteran Republican operative who co-founded the Lincoln Project, declared in a statement to Axios on Friday that he sent “inappropriate,” sexually charged messages to multiple men.

  • “To the men I made uncomfortable through my messages that I viewed as consensual mutual conversations at the time: I am truly sorry. They were inappropriate and it was because of my failings that this discomfort was brought on you,” Weaver said.
  • “The truth is that I'm gay,” he added. “And that I have a wife and two kids who I love. My inability to reconcile those two truths has led to this agonizing place.”
Go deeper (1 min. read)Arrow

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