LAKE COUNTY, Ohio (WOIO/Gray News) - A family in Ohio is grieving and desperate for answers after a 21-year-old soldier died while stationed at a military base in New York.

U.S. Army Specialist Jacob Ashton was found dead at Fort Drum on Aug. 5.

Ashton’s sister said they want answers as to what happened.

“Jacob was my first best friend in this world, and he was taken from me, taken from my family,” Alaina Ustupski, the soldier’s sister, said. “We just want answers, and we want justice for Jacob.”

Ashton’s family members say he wanted to join the military since he was a little kid.

“Jacob just always wanted to help people,” Ustupski said. “There wasn’t a mean bone in his body.”

Ashton went to high school in Perry Township. He played football and baseball.

His sister says he was looking forward to coming home at the end of the year and becoming a police officer or a firefighter in Lake County, but he never got the chance.

“Every single day is a nightmare,” Ustupski said. “You know, all I do is cry. I’m trying to take it day by day but it’s hard for my family, it’s hard for everyone.”

According to Ustupski, her heart sank when uniformed soldiers came to the family’s house to tell them the news about her brother.

“I was just hoping it was something else, you know, you see it in the movies, and you know what it means,” she said. “We are just in shock. It has been a nightmare. You know, when they told me, I felt like I was dying.”

Ashton was stationed at Fort Drum in New York. Shortly after his murder, another soldier was arrested in connection with his death.

Authorities reported that fellow U.S. Army Specialist Riley Birbilas, 22, has been charged with premeditated murder and obstruction of justice.

“He didn’t even talk bad about this person,” Ustupski said. “No one knew anything about him.”

The soldier’s family said Ashton and Birbilas deployed to Iraq together in 2023 for nine months. They became roommates in April when they returned to New York.

Ustupski said Ashton was found dead in his car on the military base’s parking lot and that investigators told them he died from blunt force trauma.

“He went to Iraq, didn’t have a scratch on him, and then comes home … thinks he is safe and apparently he wasn’t,” Ustupski said

Birbilas is scheduled to face a court martial. If he is found guilty of murder, he could do life in prison or get the death penalty which is what Ashton’s family is hoping for.

“They said the trial might take up to a year so we’re just trying to take it day by day. We feel like this person shouldn’t even be out in the world. He doesn’t deserve it,” Ustupski said.

Army officials said Ashton enlisted in 2021 and attended Basic Combat Training at Fort Moore, Georgia. He deployed with the 2nd Brigade Combat Team to Iraq in 2023.

His awards and decorations included medals such as the Army Commendation Medal, the National Defense Service Medal and the Global War of Terrorism Service Medal.

“Our entire Commando family feels profound sorrow for the loss of Jacob. While words do little to ease the pain of Jacob’s passing, we are a family, and we will wrap our arms around his family as well as support each other,” Col. Anthony Gore said. “Let us live in a manner worthy of honoring Jacob’s life and service. As we mourn, I ask each of us to keep his family in our thoughts and prayers.”

Ashton’s family is waiting to get his body back to Ohio before they start planning his funeral services.

MARYLAND HEIGHTS, Mo. (CNN) – Nelly was arrested at a St. Louis-area casino last week.

Police dash camera footage shows the Grammy winner, whose legal name is Cornell Haynes, being led away in handcuffs.

The arrest happened at the Hollywood Casino in Maryland Heights.

It stems from an alleged failure to appear on a previous traffic charge and possession of a controlled substance.

Court records indicate that the traffic charge is related to a 2018 warrant for no proof of insurance.

Officers say they found ecstasy pills in Nelly’s possession when he was arrested.

He was briefly held and later released.

Nelly’s attorney said he’s confident that “this case will go nowhere.”

LAREDO, Tex. (KGNS) - A warehouse fire in west Laredo Wednesday morning, August 14, sent thick black smoke into the sky. The Laredo Police Department started directing traffic near the 1800 block of Chicago Street around 9 a.m. and closed off Santa Maria Avenue because of the fire.

The Laredo Fire Department said the fire was under control shortly after 9 a.m. and did not affect the nearby industrial chemicals business. The business was closed at the time, so no injuries were reported.

Gilberto Mora, who manages the warehouse, said about $40,000 worth of plastic materials were lost. “When I was coming to work, I saw the big pile of black smoke and as soon as I came close to the warehouse, I noticed it was coming from the area. I got close enough to find out it was here in the warehouse, unfortunately,” Mora said. He was relieved that the fire stayed in the parking lot and did not spread inside the warehouse.

The fire department also said that Farías Elementary, which is nearby, was not in danger and did not need to evacuate. The cause of the fire is still under investigation.

Below is the original story:

Shortly before 9 a.m. on Wednesday morning, large clouds of smoke were seen billowing along I-35 near Chicago Street in west Laredo. The Laredo Fire Department confirmed that they were responding to a fire in the 1800 block of Chicago Street.

An employee informed KGNS that plastic materials, which could have fueled the blaze, were removed from the building. Fire officials have confirmed that the fire is now under control, and the business was closed at the time of the incident.

The cause of the fire is currently under investigation.

LAREDO, Tex. (KGNS) - Who doesn’t love a happy ending? 13-year-old Emily was safely reunited with her family thanks to Laredo police officers.

The Laredo Police Department said Emily went missing on Tuesday evening, August 13, after being separated near a Laredo supermarket. Luckily, officers kept her safe until they found her family. The reunion happened just moments later.

Before leaving, Emily took one last photo with the officers, showing her big, bright smile.

LAREDO, Tex. (KGNS) - The Laredo Police Department is asking for the community’s help in identifying a man for an Aggravated Robbery case that occurred by the 200 block of N. Stone Ave. on Sunday, August 4.

If you have any information regarding the identity of the individual, please call Laredo Crime Stoppers at (956) 727-TIPS.

You may also submit a tip via the Crime Stoppers P3 App under “Subject ID” and please reference #24-0888 when submitting your tips.

Anyone with information may be eligible for a cash reward.

LAREDO, Tex. (KGNS) - Laredo has introduced a new and heartwarming feature: the Love Lock Bridge, where couples can declare their commitment to each other. The tradition of attaching locks to bridges to symbolize lasting love began with a Serbian couple during World War I and has since spread across Europe and beyond. Now, it has arrived in Laredo.

The initiative was brought to life through an “Adopt a Spot” application submitted by 4Life Center to the city’s Parks and Recreation Department. The bridge is nestled in North Central Park, offering a whimsical new attraction for the community.

Noraida Negron, a spokesperson for the City of Laredo, welcomed the new addition and encouraged community participation. “What we’re truly asking is for people not to throw away the key onto the water that’s under that bridge. There are turtles and plenty of life in that little creek, so we want to respect that,” Negron said. To address this, the city has installed a key box where parkgoers can deposit their keys to protect the creek’s ecosystem.

Nancy Leija, a frequent park visitor, expressed her excitement about the new feature. “I think it’s a wonderful idea. I think it’s a nice touch for a new date night. You don’t have to go to Paris anymore—now you can just come to your local park and put a lock on the bridge,” Leija said.

The City of Laredo invites everyone to visit the Love Lock Bridge at North Central Park and participate in this charming tradition. They ask that only small locks be used to ensure the bridge remains accessible and enjoyable for all.

LAREDO, Tex. (KGNS) - LBJ High School was evacuated Thursday morning after a fire alarm triggered a school-wide alert.

The Laredo Police Department reported that LBJ High School was being evacuated due to a fire alarm on Thursday, August 15, around 9:30 a.m.

According to officials with the Laredo Fire Department, the alarm was set off due to a malfunctioning sensor.

After the issue was resolved, students and staff were safely allowed back into the building, and classes resumed normally.

LAREDO, Tex. (KGNS) - Don’t be alarmed if you see police vehicles at the old Clark Elementary School on Thursday, August 15—law enforcement is conducting a training session at the closed site.

The Laredo Police Department will hold the training from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. at 500 W. Hillside.

You will see law enforcement vehicles in front of the closed part of the school, but the current campus will not be affected. The police department shared this notice to prevent any concerns from parents and staff. This training is for law enforcement only.

LAREDO, Tex. (KGNS) - The 2024-2025 school year is officially underway for United ISD (UISD), with approximately 40,000 students returning to the classroom. It was a big day for the district, marked by excitement, a few jitters, and the presence of the newly selected Superintendent, Dr. Gerardo Cruz, who was on hand to welcome students.

At Judith Zaffirini Elementary, students experienced a mix of emotions as they walked into another year of learning. One student expressed her feelings, saying, “Good, excited but scared at the same time.”

Scarlett Baez shared her goals for the new school year by sharing, “Listening to my teacher, helping other people and helping my coaches, helping anyone else that needs help.”

While some students were eager to start fresh, others were still feeling the effects of summertime sadness. Jose Pomar, a parent, mentioned, “They are used to getting up a little bit later than usual, but the new year starts the habits again, so we’re getting used to it, trying to beat the traffic so hopefully everything turns out good today.”

Dr. Gerardo Cruz, the newly selected Superintendent for UISD, also felt the first-day jitters. “I wanted to continue the momentum, very, very happy with all the support I’m getting from the community, and I’m just happy to be here,” he said.

Dr. Cruz joins UISD after a roughly seven-month search, bringing over 25 years of educational experience. His priorities include student safety and engagement, aiming to ensure students remain focused in the classroom and achieve success.

“We want to be sure that our students remain engaged in the classroom, so they can learn as much as they can to be successful. Yes, we are in the state of Texas, and it is all about accountability, we do have that STAAR exam, but it’s not necessarily all about STAAR; it’s about lifelong learning and making sure that we have graduates who are going to college and have a successful career,” Dr. Cruz emphasized.

Teachers and staff, like Principal Claudia Benavides, are excited about the new changes Dr. Cruz brings to the table. “We are excited about that, we’re going to be meeting with him tomorrow, so we are excited to hear what his goals are and what his expectations are for us administrators,” Benavides shared.

As the new academic year begins, Dr. Cruz expressed a positive outlook: “I’m going to give it my best and just watch me because you’re going to see my best.”

Before joining UISD, Dr. Cruz served as the Assistant Superintendent for Curriculum and Instruction for Laredo ISD.