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Assata Shakur, a prominent figure in the Black Liberation Army who spent over four decades in exile in Cuba, has passed away in Havana at the age of 78. Known also as Joanne Chesimard, Shakur died on Thursday due to unspecified health issues compounded by her advanced age, as confirmed by Cuba’s foreign affairs ministry in a statement released on Friday. Shakur had been a fugitive since her 1979 escape from a New Jersey women’s prison, where she was serving a life sentence for her alleged involvement in a 1973 shootout that resulted in the death of a New Jersey state trooper and a fellow activist. Despite her conviction, Shakur consistently maintained her innocence. She resurfaced in Cuba in 1984, where she was granted political asylum by then-President Fidel Castro. Born JoAnne Deborah Byron in New York City in July 1947, Shakur grew up between the city and Wilmington, North Carolina. She was the step-aunt and godmother of the late rapper Tupac Shakur. Her activism began during her college years, initially with the Black Panther Party, which advocated for radical resistance against racial injustice and provided social services for Black communities. Later, she joined the more militant Black Liberation Army, composed largely of former Black Panthers. The FBI, which viewed these groups as threats, heavily surveilled them. The 1973 incident that led to her imprisonment occurred when her car was stopped by New Jersey police, resulting in a shootout that claimed the lives of state trooper Werner Foerster and activist Zayd Malik Shakur. Shakur was injured and subsequently arrested. She argued that her trial, conducted before an all-white jury, was unjust. In a 1998 interview with NBC News, Shakur stated that she fled the U.S. fearing for her life and believing she would never receive fair treatment. Her asylum in Cuba remained a contentious issue in U.S.-Cuba relations. Shakur was the first woman to be placed on the FBI’s Most Wanted Terrorists list, with both the FBI and New Jersey offering $1 million rewards for her capture. Her legacy has been immortalized in music, with references in songs like Public Enemy’s ‘Rebel Without a Pause’ and Common’s ‘A Song for Assata.’ She is survived by her daughter, Kakuya Shakur, who expressed profound grief over her mother’s passing on Facebook.

Newly released documents by Congressional Democrats have named billionaire Elon Musk and Prince Andrew in connection with the late financier Jeffrey Epstein, who was convicted of sex trafficking. The files, handed over by the Jeffrey Epstein Estate to the House Oversight and Government Reform Committee, suggest Musk was invited to Epstein’s private island in December 2014. Separately, a flight manifest from May 2000 lists Prince Andrew as a passenger on a trip from New Jersey to Florida alongside Epstein and his associate Ghislaine Maxwell, who was convicted in 2021 for her role in Epstein’s crimes. Both Musk and Prince Andrew have been approached for comment, with Prince Andrew previously denying any wrongdoing and Musk stating he declined Epstein’s invitation. The documents, part of the third batch released by the Epstein Estate, include phone logs, flight manifests, financial records, and Epstein’s daily schedules. Other prominent figures mentioned include internet entrepreneur Peter Thiel and former Trump advisor Steve Bannon. While the records do not imply awareness of Epstein’s criminal activities, they shed light on his extensive network of influential connections. Epstein died by suicide in August 2019 while awaiting trial. Sara Guerrero, a spokesperson for the Democrats, emphasized the importance of releasing more files to ensure justice for Epstein’s victims.

In a tragic incident that shocked New York City, Shane Tamura, a 27-year-old gunman, opened fire in a Manhattan office building, killing four people before taking his own life. The New York City medical examiner’s office has since revealed that Tamura suffered from chronic traumatic encephalopathy (CTE), a degenerative brain disease often associated with high-contact sports like American football. The autopsy confirmed that Tamura had ‘low-stage CTE,’ a condition caused by repeated head trauma, which can lead to symptoms such as memory loss, depression, and progressive dementia. CTE can only be diagnosed post-mortem, and the medical examiner described the diagnosis as ‘unambiguous.’

Tamura, a former high school football player, drove from Las Vegas to New York City in July with an assault-style rifle. Police believe he intended to target the offices of the National Football League (NFL), located in the Park Avenue skyscraper. However, he took the wrong elevator and ended up in a different part of the building. In a suicide note left at the scene, Tamura reportedly blamed the NFL for concealing the effects of CTE and requested that his brain be studied. ‘Study my brain please,’ he wrote, according to a senior official who spoke to ABC News. He also expressed remorse, writing, ‘I’m sorry.’

Among the victims were NYPD officer Didarul Islam; Wesley LePatner, an employee of finance giant Blackstone; Julia Hyman, an employee at Rudin Management; and NFL employee Craig Clementi, who was seriously injured. Police noted that Tamura had a history of mental health issues, which may have contributed to the tragedy.

The incident has reignited discussions about the long-term effects of high-contact sports and the responsibility of organizations like the NFL in addressing the risks associated with CTE. As science continues to evolve, the physical and mental manifestations of CTE remain under study, highlighting the need for further research and awareness.