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NYPD: Police mistakenly kill man in confrontation

By WTOP Staff

TOM HAYS
Associated Press

NEW YORK (AP) — The facts of a chaotic and violent domestic dispute are still being sorted out, but this much is certain: The two men who went to Kathy Russo’s apartment on Monday night ended up dying in a hail of police gunfire.

The New York Police Department was still investigating the fatal shootings on Thursday after the medical examiner determined that Rafael Laureano, an unarmed man who intervened in the dispute, died from a gunshot wound to the back following initial suspicions that he may have been stabbed.

“Laureano was inadvertently shot by a police bullet during a close-quarters attack on him,” NYPD spokesman Stephen Davis said.

According to an initial police report, the trouble began at about 7 p.m. Monday when Francisco Carvajal showed up at the Brooklyn apartment. He left after Russo, his ex-girlfriend, wouldn’t let him in. Police said she then called Laureano for help.

Laureano was in the apartment when Carvajal returned armed with a knife and pushed his way inside, police said. As the two men struggled, Russo locked herself inside a bathroom with her 7-year-old son and 6-year-old daughter, they said.

A sergeant and three police officers responding to a 911 call encountered Laureano in the hallway outside the apartment. Inside, Carvajal was using a knife to try to break into the bathroom as Russo screamed loud enough that officers could hear her from the hallway, police said.

Carvajal cut through the door, police said. Russo fought him off by cutting him with his own knife, they said.

When officers broke down the front door, Laureano “bolted into the apartment despite efforts by the sergeant to stop him,” Davis said. He ran into a back room, where Carvajal tried to assault him with the knife, he said.

Officers ordered Carvajal to drop the knife several times, police said. He instead turned and went at them, and they responded by firing at least 10 times, killing both men, police said.

An autopsy found that of the nine rounds that hit Carvajal, five stayed in his body and four exited, while another grazed him. It was unclear whether the bullet that killed Laureano was a direct shot or one that also hit Carvajal, police said.

Copyright 2014 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.

Don’t Settle for Student Loans to Pay for Online Education

By WTOP Staff
Online college programs are becoming a more popular choice for prospective students, with one study finding that more than 6 million students enrolled in at least one online course in fall 2015. The popularity of these courses can be attributed in part to their flexibility with working adults' schedules, students' ability to progress more quickly through online programs and, oftentimes, cheaper tuition. [See 10 low-cost online bachelor's programs for out-of-state students.]Online degrees can be beneficial to many college students, but some studies have shown online learners complete their programs at lower rates than students at traditional brick-and-mortar campuses. Individuals with student loans but no degree comprise two-thirds of defaulted borrowers. Though these numbers are not encouraging, just like for traditional programs, there are ways to reduce how much you'll need to borrow for an online program to ensure you won't become one of these statistics. Don't just settle on borrowing student loans to cover the whole cost of your program and living expenses. Instead, start thinking about how to cut costs and cover your balance in different ways, such as the following. -- Grants and scholarships: Even though you are taking an online course, you can still apply and receive grants and scholarships. But your first step should be to complete the Free Application for Federal Student Aid, commonly referred to as the FAFSA, which will allow you to receive a Pell Grant if your expected family contribution is low enough. The EFC criteria and award amounts are adjusted annually, but the 2017-2018 academic year awards range from $606 to $5,920, which could significantly lower the amount you borrow annually. Your next step is to apply for scholarships. You can start by checking online scholarship search engines, such as the Salt Scholarship Search, College Board's BigFuture and Peterson's. But don't forget to take advantage of local organizations and your school's financial aid office. Both may offer scholarships that you can't find with a national scholarship search. [Review these 10 sites to kick off your scholarship search.]For instance, organizations like the Elks Club, Knights of Columbus or the Rotary Club typically offer scholarships annually to local students. Just because you're going to school online doesn't mean you're ineligible. Visit your local library for scholarship listings, and ask around town. You might be surprised how many local organizations offer scholarships. While these scholarships typically aren't large, every little bit counts. Each dollar you receive in a scholarship is a dollar you don't have to borrow and pay interest on. -- Work-study: Another option for online students may be work-study awards. Not all students enrolled in online programs are eligible, but students at some schools -- including, for example, SUNY Empire State College and Liberty University -- are. Work-study awards are not given upfront like scholarships and grants. In most cases, they are an offer to earn up to the awarded amount if you secure an eligible work-study job. While there is a misconception that all work-study jobs must be on campus, students can work for off-campus, nonprofit or public employers as long as the work is in the public's interest. You may be able to work for a for-profit employer if the job is relevant to your course of study. No matter who the outside employer is, it will need to have an established agreement with your college for you to receive work-study funds. Remember, to be eligible for federal financial aid, you must be enrolled and pursuing a degree or certificate. If you're not working toward a credential, Pell Grants and work-study won't be option, but you may still be able to take advantage of private scholarships -- just be sure to read the eligibility criteria carefully. [Explore what to know about financial aid in online programs.]-- Pay as you go: One of the great benefits to enrolling online is the flexible schedule, which can allow you to complete your college coursework around your responsibilities. But prospective students often overlook using their part- or full-time job earnings as an option for paying for college. Almost 80 percent of college students in 2015 worked at least part time while attending classes, according to the National Center for Education Statistics. By budgeting and thinking strategically about your college costs, you can likely reduce your dependence on student loans by paying a portion out of pocket. Many -- but not all -- online programs are less expensive than traditional programs and often have shorter payment periods. Six, eight or 10 weeks are common course durations. Because of the frequency of payments in an online setting, you may be well-placed to pay as you go and possibly avoid borrowing altogether. Attending college online and avoiding student loans may be challenging, but if you are willing to put in the effort, you can limit the amount you need to borrow. More from U.S. News Q&A: Understanding Student Loan Discharge Eligibility Student Loan Refinancing Isn't Right for All Borrowers
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