Nation briefs 10/21/02

Fan at Nelly concert fatally stabbed, police say

CHULA VISTA, Calif. -- A fan stabbed at a concert featuring rap artist Nelly has died, while another remained hospitalized, police said.

Faitamai Taunuu, 30, died Saturday of multiple stab wounds he suffered in an attack during a rap concert Friday night, said Lt. Richard Coleson. Another fan, Sean Bower, 27, also was stabbed in the violence.

Police charged Hank Carl Banegas, 26, and Steven Francis Tesam, 42, with investigation of murder and attempted murder, Coleson said. An unidentified 16-year-old boy, who has been detained in a juvenile facility, was charged with conspiracy, he said.

Boy found dead in Washington motel

MARYSVILLE, Wash.-- A boy was found dead in a motel room and his mother was treated at a hospital after an incident police described as a possible homicide and suicide attempt.

Police were called to the City Center Motel around 2 p.m. Saturday after the manager discovered the body of the boy, and found the mother unconscious.

"Speculation suggests that it was possibly homicide and an attempted suicide," Marysville Police Commander Rob Lamoreaux told KING-TV.

The woman was being treated at a local hospital. KING-TV reported she had self-inflicted wounds to the neck and wrist.

Investigators did not immediately release the names or ages of the woman and child.

Inmate mistakenly released from prison

MILWAUKEE -- A man convicted of violating a restraining order was released from prison a year early after his file was mixed up with those of other inmates slated to be freed, officials said.

Five sheriff's officials were suspended and a deputy inspector was stripped of his command over the blunder Saturday that led to the release of Dennis Lee Eaton.

Deputies failed to notice that Eaton's file said he was scheduled to get out on Oct. 19, 2003, and let him go exactly one year early, said Deputy Inspector Sherry Warichak.

Sheriff's detectives took Eaton, 39, back into custody Saturday evening, officials said.

Eaton, of Milwaukee, is serving two nine-month misdemeanor sentences for violating a restraining order and related offenses.

Calif. man seeks order of protection from judge

LOS ANGELES -- A man is asking for an order of protection against his girlfriend's father -- a judge who threatened to kill the man during a custody hearing involving the judge's grandchildren.

Superior Court Judge James A. Kaddo, 68, made the threat in April because he didn't want Fadi Nora near his three grandchildren -- a remark Kaddo says he regrets.

"It was a stupid thing to say, but I was a grandfather in tears," Kaddo told the Los Angeles Times for its Sunday editions.

During the hearing, Kaddo urged Commissioner Ann Dobbs to deny his daughter's bid for custody of the children, who range in age from 8 to 13. He wanted her to return to her husband and leave Nora.

Streetcars running in Tampa after 50 years

TAMPA, Fla. -- Streetcars are running again in Tampa more than 50 years after the original ones were scrapped.

Seven canary-yellow cars powered by 600 volts of electricity clanged along from the Ybor City entertainment district to downtown after being unveiled Saturday morning.

The $53 million TECO Line Streetcar System is modeled after the one dismantled in 1946, which went into service in the late 19th century.

"I've been waiting 18 years," said Harris Mullen, co-founder of the Tampa and Ybor City Street Railway Society. "It's pretty much like we envisioned."

Organizers expect 950 passengers daily. Another mile of track will extend further downtown later.

The project is funded by grants and other city sources.

"It's a blast to see it done," said Michael English, president of Tampa Historic Streetcar Inc., the nonprofit group that will operate the system.

Fares are $1.25 for a one-way, 22-minute ride.

-- From wire reports