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D4VD CHARGED IN TEEN'S BUTCHERING DEATH | Crime Alert Recap Saturday 05.02.26
00:19:26
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- [00:01]
Crime Alert Host
Crime Alert Hourly update. Breaking crime news now.
- [00:04]
Sydney Silvani
I'm Sydney Silvani. A Wednesday court appearance has resulted in the delay of a preliminary hearing for singer David, accused of murdering 14 year old Celeste Rivas Hernandez. The defense is asking for more time to review all of the evidence. Stepping back from their initial proposed date of Friday, May 1 for Tuesday, May 26. Defense attorneys express concern the extreme amount of media attention the case is receiving may taint the jury pool. Attorneys asked to seal a briefing from the prosecution, but Judge Charlaine Olmedo denied the request, saying the case is no different from countless others in Los Angeles county involving celebrities.
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Reporter
Prosecutors say David killed 14 year old
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Sydney Silvani
Celeste Rivas Hernandez by stabbing her multiple times, then dismembered her body using chainsaws in his garage.
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Reporter
Her body was discovered last year dismembered and decaying in the trunk of a Tesla registered to Burke. Los Angeles County District Attorney Nathan Hodgman
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Sydney Silvani
laid out the severity of the state's case.
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District Attorney Nathan Hodgman
Today I am announcing the charges against David Anthony Burke, the musician known as David spelled D4V. D in connection with the brutal and horrific murder of Celeste, a 14 year old at that time. These charges include the most serious charges that a DA's office can bring, that is first degree murder with special circumstances. The special circumstances being lying in wait, committing this crime for financial gain or murdering a witness in an investigation.
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Reporter
Burke has pleaded not guilty to all charges. He's currently being held without bail. But the details emerging from the LAPD's Robbery Homicide Division paint a chilling timeline that began over a year ago. Celeste Rivas Hernandez was first reported missing in April 2024 from her home in Lake Elsin. For months, her family searched for answers
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Sydney Silvani
while she was classified as a runaway.
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Reporter
It wasn't until September 8, 2025 that the search ended in a North Hollywood impound lot. A Tesla, which had been abandoned on a Hollywood Hills street for weeks, was towed after neighbors complained of a foul odor. When investigators opened the frunk the front trunk of the electric vehicle, they found two plastic bags inside. The first was a decomposed head and torso. The second contained further dismembered remains. Forensics later confirmed the nightmare.
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Sydney Silvani
It was Celeste.
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Reporter
District Attorney Hochman alleges that Burke's motive was cold and calculated, a desperate attempt
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Sydney Silvani
to protect his lucrative career at Interscope
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Reporter
Records from the fallout of his illegal
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Sydney Silvani
relationship with the miner.
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District Attorney Nathan Hodgman
This murder was committed for financial gain. As the evidence will show in court. The financial gain was for Mr. Burke to maintain his very lucrative musical career that Celeste was threatening. In addition to lying in weight and for financial gain is murdering a witness to an investigation. In this particular case, as the evidence will come out in court, the witness to the investigation was Celeste, and the investigation was into the lewd and lascivious sexual acts.
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Reporter
LAPD Chief Jim McDonnell addressed the public's frustration with the timeline.
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LAPD Chief Jim McDonnell
The condition of her remains delayed the medical examiner's ability to be able to determine cause of death. The substantial amount of time that passed between her death and the discovery meant that crucial evidence had degraded or disappeared. And as detectives worked to uncover the truth, they also had to sift through and debunk a great deal of false information circulating publicly. These challenges were real, and they required patience, precision, and an unwavering commitment to the facts.
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Reporter
Burke was finally taken into custody at a home in the Hollywood Hills. His defense team, however, isn't backing down. In a formal statement, his attorneys claimed they would vigorously defend Burke's innocence, explicitly stating that the evidence will prove Burke was not the cause of celeste's death. Chief McDonnell, however, says the timeline of her disappearance aligns perfectly with her arrival at Burke's residence.
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LAPD Chief Jim McDonnell
Ms. Reavis was a reported runaway from Riverside county. During the course of our investigation, detectives learned that she had been involved in a sexual relationship with Mr. Burke when she was a minor and he was an adult. On April 23, 2025, Ms. Reavis arrived at Mr. Burke's home in the Hollywood hills. That's the last time she was known to be alive. On September 8, 2025, Ms. Reavis dismembered and badly decomposed body was discovered in the front trunk of Mr. Burke's impounded Tesla.
- [04:51]
Reporter
As the case moves forward, the district attorney's office is weighing a heavy decision Whether or not to pursue the death penalty. If they decline, Burke still faces life in prison without the possibility of parole. While the legal battle is just beginning for Celeste's family, the focus remains on the girl behind the headlines. Their legal representative stated they are committing to ensuring Celeste's voice is heard. In his closing remarks at the press conference, DA Hotchman reiterated his promise to the Rivas Hernandez family that the person responsible for this brutal and horrific act would be held accountable.
- [05:25]
District Attorney Nathan Hodgman
What they have demanded, what we have assured them that the district attorney's office working with LAPD would give them, is the proof beyond a reasonable doubt on who killed their daughter and bring that killer to justice. That killer that we have now charged is David Anthony Burke.
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Sydney Silvani
More crime and justice news after this.
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- [06:49]
Sydney Silvani
A community in Tampa is reeling after the disappearance of two University of South Florida Florida doctoral students took a devastating turn. Authorities confirmed Friday that one of the students has been found dead and a suspect who was a roommate of one of the victims is now behind bars. The Hillsborough County Sheriff's Office says the investigation reached a critical point Friday afternoon when SWAT teams were called to a neighborhood near the university. Sheriff Chad Kronister held a somber press conference to deliver the news that no family ever wants to hear.
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Sheriff Chad Kronister
We are here today as our community has been shaken by the disappearance of two USF grad students, Nahida and Zamil. I am heartbroken to announce the discovery of human remains discovered on the Howard Franklin Bridge earlier this morning. Just now, those remains were positively identified to Zamil.
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Sydney Silvani
Zamil Lehman, 27, was an international student from Bangladesh pursuing a degree in Geography and Environment Environmental Science. He was last seen on the morning of April 16th. His friend and fellow doctoral student, 27 year old Nahida Bristie, also vanished that same day. While Limon has been found, the search for Bristi continues with increasing urgency. The breakthrough in the case came Friday morning when deputies responded to a domestic violence call at a home in the Lake Forest community. The suspect inside was identified as 26 year old Hisham Abu Gharbiyeh, who lived at the residence with Lehman. When deputies arrived, Abu Gharbier barricaded himself inside, leading to a tense standoff.
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Sheriff Chad Kronister
Commands were continued to give to the suspect. He did not respond nor did he come out at that time. SWAT was activated. SWAT responded and at approximately 10:36am SWAT arrived on scene. SWAT then mobilized and commanded the suspect to come out of the residence.
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Sydney Silvani
After nearly 20 minutes of refusing to cooperate, Abu Gharbier surrendered peacefully. He now faces a laundry list of charges, including domestic violence, simple battery, false imprisonment, tampering with evidence and the unlawful movement of a human body. Sheriff Kronister clarified the relationship between the three individuals, noting that while Abu Gharbier and Lehman were roommates, Bristie lived on the USF campus.
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Sheriff Chad Kronister
So the suspect, Hisham was a roommate of Zamil. So that is where the connection lies. Nahida did not live on that property. Nahida lived on USF campus. So the connection is that the suspect, Hisham and Zamil were roommates.
- [09:33]
Sydney Silvani
The motive for Lehman's death remains unclear as an autopsy is performed, but investigators believe Abu Gharbier acted alone. Meanwhile, the clock is ticking for Nahida Bristi. Her brother says the family was in contact with her daily and the silence since April 16th has been agonizing.
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Sheriff Chad Kronister
We are still actively searching for Nahida and again I implore the community, if you have any tips of where you've seen her or she's just recently seen, please report it to the Hillsborough County Sheriff's Office immediately so we can recover her to safety.
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Sydney Silvani
Anyone with information is urged to call the Hillsborough County Sheriff's office at 813-247-8200. Cole Thomas Allen, the man authorities say attempted to storm the D.C. hilton Ballroom with a literal arsenal appearance, appeared in federal court yesterday. He's now officially charged with the attempted assassination of President Donald Trump. The scene in the courtroom Monday was a stark contrast to the mayhem on Saturday night. Allen, dressed in a blue jumpsuit and flanked by four U.S. marshals, was described as soft spoken, even nodding along as the judge explained the proceedings. But over the weekend, Allen's attempts to enter the ballroom with a shotgun sent guests ducking under tables and Secret Service agents rushing the president and first lady offstage as shots rang. While Allen's defense highlights he has no prior criminal record and remains presumed innocent, the prosecution is laying out a terrifying inventory of what he brought with him to the Hilton.
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Crime Alert Host
These are the weapons that the defendant had on his person. You can see that's a 12 gauge pump action Mossberg shotgun. It's a.38 semiautomatic. He had at least three knives and all kinds of paraphernalia.
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Sydney Silvani
Beyond those firearms, investigators are now piecing together a methodical cross country journey that led to that ball room. Acting Attorney General Todd Blanche is pushing back against any narrative of a security lapse, insisting that the layers of protection worked exactly as intended.
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Acting Attorney General Todd Blanche
Law enforcement did not fail. They did exactly what they are trained to do. This was not an accident. It was the result, as we know now, of preparation. But the men and women who protected us that night were trained, professional and had an enduring commitment to the rule of law.
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Sydney Silvani
Blanche also detailed a timeline that suggests this wasn't a heat of the moment decision, but a calculated strike involving a train trip halfway across the country.
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Acting Attorney General Todd Blanche
The defendant, Allen, made a hotel reservation at the Washington Hilton for April 24 through April 26. On April 21, he traveled by train from Los Angeles to Chicago and then from Chicago to Washington D.C. on April 24. He arrived in Washington D.C. at approximately 1:00 clock in the afternoon and checked into the Washington Hilton.
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Sydney Silvani
Perhaps the most chilling detail released involves a message Allen sent to his family just 10 minutes before the shooting. He reportedly described himself as a friendly federal assassin and listed administration officials as his targets. His family says they actually tried to alert police after reading his radical writings and but by then the clock had run out. One law enforcement officer was shot in the vest during the scramble. Thankfully, that officer is expected to recover. On paper, Allen doesn't fit the profile of a typical high risk suspect.
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Reporter
He's a highly educated tutor and an
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Sydney Silvani
amateur video game developer who spent years helping students with college prep. Now he faces the possibility of life in prison. New York City police have released body cam video that captures the terrifying moment a routine domestic violence call turned into a life threatening explosion. It happened early Thursday morning at a residence in Queens. Officers were responding to a 911 call involving a man with a knife, but as they approached the front door to intervene, the entire front of the building was obliterated in a ball of fire. In the video, you can see an officer attempting to use a key to enter the home when the blast literally knocks the responding units off their feet. Here is that initial moment of chaos.
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Sheriff Chad Kronister
The guy just lit the house on fire.
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Sydney Silvani
Despite being thrown to the ground and suffering burns and lacerations, those officers didn't retreat. Commissioner Jessica Tisch says that in that moment of total uncertainty, officers chose to move forward into the fire. The footage shows them rushing toward the mangled remains of the apartment to pull residents to safety, including several young children who were caught in the middle of this nightmare. In total, seven officers were injured. Thankfully, Commissioner Tisch confirmed they have all been treated and released from the hospital. NYPD Assistant Chief Christopher McIntosh held a press briefing explaining that the suspect, a 50 year old man allegedly arrived at the home intoxicated and armed with a knife. Family members reported a strong smell of gas before the police even arrived.
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NYPD Assistant Chief Christopher McIntosh
At approximately 2:42am the officers from the 106 Precinct respond to a 911 call of a domestic dispute with a knife. The call was placed by family member of the victim who stated that her male relative arrived at their residence intoxicated and armed with a knife and there were there was a smell of gas in the residence.
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Sydney Silvani
Security footage from the scene shows the suspect arriving with two garbage bags filled with unknown canisters.
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Reporter
Police say he forced his way in
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Sydney Silvani
through an air conditioning unit.
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NYPD Assistant Chief Christopher McIntosh
Mr. Param forced his way into the apartment by pushing the air conditioning unit. Once in apartment, the daughter and his two grandchildren of the victim managed to flee to safety while Mr. Parsaram began menacing and threatening the remaining victim with a knife. The victim was able to safely get
- [15:46]
Sydney Silvani
out of the apartment while some family members managed to escape early on, the suspect allegedly continued to menace his wife with a knife until she too was able to get out and hand her keys to the arriving officers. As of right now, the suspect remains unaccounted for. Investigators are currently combing through the rubble to determine if he perished in the blast. Records show the suspect had three prior protection orders filed against him by a relative in the home, the most recent of which expired just this year. Mayor Zoran Mandani has praised the heroic actions of the first responders who prevented this horrific situation from claiming even more lives. New harrowing body camera footage has been released by the Antioch Police Department documenting a chaotic sequence of events that began with a routine robbery call and ended with a police officer being kidnapped and forced to discharge his weapon inside a speeding getaway car. The incident started in the pre dawn hours of February 20, right around 5:16am Antioch officers were dispatched to a Food Max grocery store on Lone Tree Way after reports came in of an armed robbery in progress involving multiple suspects. Surveillance video from the scene shows a stolen Infiniti SUV literally smashing through the front glass doors of the store. Two men jumped out and allegedly threatened a clerk with a handgun. When Officer Travis Donaldson arrived on the scene, he attempted to intervene. He approached the passenger side of the suspect's vehicle. But as you're about to hear, the situation escalated from a detention to a life threatening struggle in a matter of seconds. As Donaldson was shouting those commands, the suspect, identified later as 23 year old Dominic D', Souza, didn't surrender. Instead he slammed the car into gear and accelerated because the officer was partially inside the vehicle attempting to make the arrest, he was pulled into the passenger seat and trapped as the car tore out of the parking lot at a high rate of speed.
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Officer Travis Donaldson
Stop the car. Stop the car. Hey. Stop the car. Stop.
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Sydney Silvani
D' Souza ignores Donaldson's instructions to stop, telling the officer to just jump out of a moving car, an act that would likely have been fatal at that speed. Get out the car.
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Officer Travis Donaldson
We're all. Stop the car.
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Sydney Silvani
Get out.
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Officer Travis Donaldson
Stop the car.
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Sydney Silvani
Get out.
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Officer Travis Donaldson
Stop the car.
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Sydney Silvani
D' Souza began repeatedly threatening to crash the vehicle, essentially holding both of their lives hostage. Officer Donaldson remarkably tries to de escalate, telling him it's not worth it.
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Officer Travis Donaldson
All right. Stop the car. Stop the car.
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Reporter
I'm gonna crash.
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Officer Travis Donaldson
All right. Stop. Stop the car. Get out the car, bro. Hey, stop. Stop. I'm gonna crash, bro. No, don't. It's not worth it. It is worth it, bro. I got family, bro. All right, Talk. Talk to me.
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Sydney Silvani
When the pleading didn't work, Donaldson realized he had to take control of the vehicle before a high speed collision killed them both or an innocent bystander. He gave d' Souza one final ultimatum. Pull over or get shot.
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Officer Travis Donaldson
Stop the car. I warn you. I will shoot your leg.
- [19:16]
Sydney Silvani
With the suspect still refusing to break, Donaldson fired a single calculated shot into d' Souza's leg.
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Officer Travis Donaldson
Stop the car. Stop the. Stop. I will shoot you. I will shoot you.
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Sydney Silvani
According to the Antioch Police Department, the choice to shoot the suspect in the leg was a deliberate tactical decision to incapacitate the driver and reduce the likelihood of a fatal fatality for everyone involved. Even after being shot, d' Souza didn't stop immediately. He eventually crashed into a parked car in a nearby residential neighborhood and tried to flee on foot. But officers caught up to him minutes later. D' Souza was treated for non life threatening injuries and is now facing a list of charges including kidnapping, robbery, burglary, and assault on an officer. Officer Donaldson walked away with only minor injuries. A terrifying morning, but a testament to the scene split second decisions law enforcement is forced to make for the latest crime and justice breaking news. Be sure to tune in tomorrow on your favorite podcast app with this crime alert. I'm Sydney Silvani.
- [20:21]
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- [20:50]
Crime Alert Host
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