Thank you for joining us for Eyewitness News at Eleven.
I'm Jennifer Moulliet.
The man in charge of training law enforcement officers in Bibb County has died, and detectives are investigating.
Bibb County Coroner Leon Jones says an officer found Lt. Mark Cotton around 5:30 this afternoon outside the Macon police training center.
Authorities won't say how Cotton died, only that an autopsy will be performed tomorrow.
Crime scene investigators, multiple police officers, and members of the SWAT team were on the scene for a couple of hours.
Police chief Mike burns and Sheriff David Davis were also on hand.
Coroner Leon Jones says he's known Cotton for many years, and he found it difficult talking about crime scene units looking into cotton's death.
Coroner Leon Jones: "they do a thorough investigation, they've always done a thorough investigation, whether it's an officer or not, but I thought it's best to get some chaplains out here, this is a bad situation, it's a tough situation for me."
Cotton was not just the director of the training academy, he was also the SWAT commander. Last summer, after the movie theater shooting in colorado, he explained how officers are trained to handle such situations, and what civilians should do when faced with an active shooter.
Lt. Mark Cotton (June 20, 2012): "you cannot wait for a large group of back ups to go stop the threat. It is your job and your partner's job to go stop the threat as quickly as possible. First thing you do is do not approach the suspect. Do not try to apprehend him, do not agitate him. You hide, then you try to escape as quickly as possible."
Mark Cotton was 49 years old. He'd been with the Macon Police department for 27 years.
The Atlanta Falcons finally lived up to their performance in the regular season.. With their first win in the playoffs under head coach Mike Smith... Courtney Lyle joins us now with highlights from the game.
Jennifer the Falcons hadn't won a playoff game in eight years but it came down to the last 34 second to decide this one.
Atlanta blew it open in the first half.. Scoring 20 points and keeping Seattle off the scoreboard.
The final 30 minutes put Falcons fans on the edge of their seats.
Russell Wilson drove the Seahawks down the field in the fourth quarter and sent Marshawn Lynch into the endzone to take the lead.
The Dirty Birds had 34 seconds to get down the field.
Two passes later.. Matt Bryant trotted onto the field to kick the game winner from 49 yards out.
The Falcons move on to the NFC Championship game.
Today was the first postseason win for Tony Gonzalez and Matt Ryan.
We'll have full highlights coming up in sports.
Union City Police found three people dead inside a parked car early this morning.
Authorities are handling the case as a homicide, and police spokeswoman Gloria Hodgson says the Georgia Bureau of Investigation is involved.
Gloria Hodgson (Police Spokesperson): "A union city police officer was patrolling the area and observed a car on the side of the roadway on the entrance ramp of flat shoals road upon checking the vehicle the officer observed two bodies in the rear of the vehicle and one body in the trunk of the vehicle."
Union City is located in Fulton County about 20 miles south of Atlanta.
Tomorrow 13WMAZ will provide team coverage from the start of the legislative session.
Katelyn Heck and Randall Savage will travel to Atlanta as things start at the statehouse.
The first day consists mostly of formalities but this year the senate could vote to set an internal rule capping lobbyist gifts to lawmakers at a hundred dollars.
Thursday Governor Nathan Deal will give his annual state of the state speech and unveil his budget plans.
A church in Forsyth is celebrating their 175th birthday. First Baptist Church off West Morse Street started the day with song and prayer and ended with good food and company.
Darrell Watson, pastor: "To be able to celebrate 175 years on a Sunday makes it a super super special occasion."
"There were probably 300-325 people here today. There were 95 in the choir and it was sa reunion choir which made this day as special as having the guest speakers come back."
Laura Newton, member: "I have been a member of this church since I came to Forsyth from Atlanta as a bride in 1971
It's a loving family of faith, truly."
J. Ray Grant, member: "I've been a member 50 years exactly. It's changed and grown, I wouldn't say for good or bad. It's smaller but it's more energized now than it has been at any time in my memory."
pastor: "We have kept the message of this church which is sacred worship, traditional music and sharing the good news of the gospel to the other most parts of the earth has allowed us preserve and weather the test of time."
Everyday you trust that the things you bring into your home are safe for you and your family but when those products don't work the way they should. The company issues a recall to protect you.
Fisher Price is recalling their Rock 'N' Play infant sleepers because mold can develop between the removable seat cushion and the hard plastic frame of the sleeper.
The company has received 600 reports of mold on the product and 16 consumers say their infant had to be treated for respiratory issues.
The sleepers were sold at mass merchandise stores nationwide and online since September 2009 for between 50 and 85 dollars.
For more information all 1-800-432-5437.
John Deere is recalling their Gator Utility Vehicles because the fuel line can separate, posing a fire hazard.
The company has received three reports of the fuel lines separating.. No injuries were reported.
The vehicles were sold at John Deere dealers nationwide from August of 20-12 to October of 20-12 for around 15-hundred dollars.
For more information call 1-800-537-8233.
And B-R-P is recalling their Can-Am side by side vehicles because the steering column was improperly assembled and can result in the loss of steering control.
The company has received three reports of steering loss. No injuries were reported.
The vehicles were sold at Can-Am dealers nationwide from April 2011 to December 20-12 for around 20-thousand dollars.
For more information call 1-888-638-5397.
That's it for this week's recall wrap for more information on recalled products visit our website... 13WMAZ dot com.
Just click on the Features drop down menu on our homepage and select recalls.
Today marks the one year anniversary of the deadly accident that killed more than 30 people on a cruise ship in Italy.
Survivors and family members of the victims went back to the scene for a day of remembrance.
RELATIVES OF VICTIMS GATHERED NEAR THE CRIPPLED COSTA CONCORDIA AND THREW FLOWERS INTO THE WATER TO HONOR THEIR LOVED ONES.
THEY WATCHED AS A PIECE OF THE ROCK THAT TORE A HOLE IN THE SHIP WAS LOWERED BACK IN THE SEA AS A PERMANENT MEMORIAL..
GIGLIO MARKED THE ONE YEAR ANNIVERSARY OF THE DEADLY ACCIDENT WITH A DAY OF REMEMBERANCE.
32 PEOPLE DIED WHEN THE LUXURY LINER HIT A REEF AND ROLLED OVER ON ITS SIDE NEAR THIS TINY ISLAND OFF THE TUSCAN COAST.
AMONG THE DEAD, MINNESOTA COUPLE JERRY AND BARBARA HEIL.
THEIR CHILDREN CAME TO GIGLIO TO REMEMBER AND TO ATTEND A MEMORIAL MASS.
STEVE BARNEBY, U.S. CONSUL TO FLORENCE: "IT WAS A CHANCE FOR THE FAMILIES TO GET TOGETHER. ALL THESE PEOPLE HAVE MADE FRIENDS WITH EACH OTHER, WHETHER THEY BE GERMAN, FRENCH, AMERICAN, WHAT HAVE YOU. THEY'VE GOT A COMMON BOND."
ANNA MATRANGA, GIGLIO: "THIS IS THE SAME CHURCH WHERE MANY SURVIVORS SPENT THE NIGHT AFTER THE SHIP WAS EVACUATED. SOME OF THEM MADE THEIR OWN WAY BACK HERE TO TAKE PART IN THE CEREMONIES."
THESE FRENCH SURVIVORS CAME TO HONOR RUSSELL REBELLO.
THE WAITER ON THE CONCORDIA HELPED THEM ESCAPE FROM THE SINKING SHIP.
SHE SAYS, I HAD TO BE HERE BECAUSE HE SAVED OUR LIVES.
RUSSELL'S BODY IS STILL MISSING. HIS BROTHER WANTS TO BURY HIM IN HIS NATIVE INDIA
KEVIN REBELLO/BROTHER KILLED IN ACCIDENT: "I'M HOPING THEY'LL FIND SOMETHING...I'M HOPING IN THE NEXT SIX MONTHS, EIGHT MONTHS, TEN MONTHS, ONE YEAR."
THE DAY CAME TO END AT 9:45 PM, WITH A MOMENT OF SILENCE TO MARK THE EXACT MOMENT THE SHIP SLAMMED INTO THE REEF
Crews are working to remove the Costa Concordia from the water.
Officials say they are aiming to have the shipwreck removed by the fall.
This week gun control is expected to be a major focus in Washington.
The White house will release recommendations to curb gun violence, but the nation's largest supporter of gun rights says a ban on assault weapons is unlikely.
Erica Ferrari has the latest from White Plains, New York.
Across the country, gun shows are seeing record crowds and sales of assault weapons are sky rocketing.
John Perme/Gun Vendor: "PEOPLE ARE SCARED WORRIED, THEY DON'T KNOW THAT'S GOING TO HAPPEN."
But, the President of the National Rifle Association claims there is not enough support in Washington to stop sales.
David Keene / President The National Rifle Association: "I WOULD SAY THAT THE LIKELIHOOD IS THAT THEY ARE NOT GOING TO BE ABLE TO GET AN ASSAULT WEAPONS BAN THROUGH THIS CONGRESS."
Tuesday, Vice President Joe Biden's gun violence task force will give President Obama a set of recommendations.
Among them ARE expected to be - universal background checks, restrictions on sales of assault weapons, and high capacity magazines .
Opponents say a ban is NOT the answer.
Sen. John McCain/(R) Arizona: "TO SOMEHOW BELIEVE THAT JUST BY TAKING GUNS AWAY FROM PEOPLE I DON'T THIS HISTORY SHOWS THAT'S THE RIGHT WAY TO DO IT."
Some members of congress say the shooting at an elementary school in Newtown, Connecticut made it clear that something needs to be done.
Sen. Joe Manchin/(D) W. VA: "THERE IS NO WAY THEY ARE GOING TO TAKE YOUR SECOND AMENDEMNT RIGHTS. // WE HAVE TO LOOK AT HOW DO WE CURE THIS CULTURE OF MASS VIOLENCE."
AND, WHILE LAWMAKERS ARE BUSY SORTING OUT THAT SOLUTION, NEW YORK SENATOR CHUCK SCHUMER IS CALLING ON THE NATION'S LARGEST GUN RETAILERS, LIKE THIS ONE, TO STOP SELLING ASSAULT WEAPONS UNTIL A DECISION IS MADE.
Sen. Chuck Schumer/(D) New York: "THE VERY PEOPLE WHO MAY BE GOING TO THE STORES TO BUY THEM ARE THE PEOPLE WHO KNOW THEY MAY BE BLOCKED."
Dick's Sporting Goods has already agreed to temporarily stop selling guns like the one used in the Sandy Hook elementary school shooting.
Walmart declined to comment on Senator Schumer's call to suspend sales.
Two long-lost siblings are reunited.
The two remaining family members had been looking for each other for years.
And all it took was a 7-year old boy and his iPad. Jenna Morton has the story.
DRESSED UP HEAD TO TOE--CLIFFORD BOYSON WAITS PATIENTLY FOR THE MOMENT HE'S BEEN WAITING HIS WHOLE LIFE....
(Nats) "I hear somebody coming."
CLIFFORD AND HIS FOUR OTHER SIBLINGS WERE PLACED IN SEPARATE FOSTER HOMES IN CHICAGO WHEN THEY WERE LITTLE.
AND THE MOMENT HE NEVER THOUGHT WOULD HAPPEN FINALLY HAPPENED.
(Nats)
AFTER BEING SEPARATED FOR 60 YEARS CLIFFORD FINALLY GOT TO BE REUNITED WITH HIS ONLY LIVING SIBLING LEFT--HIS SISTER BETTY.
"My heart was going 60 miles per hour, I never thought it would come true."
"He reminded me a lot of my brother bob who I knew and he's deceased and it was like seeing him again."
BUT HOW THEY WERE ABLE TO FIND EACH OTHER IS A WHOLE OTHER STORY...
(Nats) "Thank you very much."
CLIFFORD HAD TRIED SEVERAL TIMES TO FIND HIS SISTER AND WAS READY TO GIVE UP BUT THANKS TO HIS LANDLORD'S 7 YEAR OLD SON EDDIE--HIS DREAM CAME TRUE.
"Good that I found clifford's sister."
EDDIE GOT ON HIS IPAD AND LOOKED FOR BETTY ON FACEBOOK AND KNEW RIGHT AWAY HE FOUND HER...
"It looked like clifford a little bit."
CLIFFORD FROM DAVENPORT AND BETTY FROM ST.LOUIS---NEITHER OF THEM THOUGHT THEY HAD ANY FAMILY LEFT.
"It just felt good cause I hadn't know I had brothers."
AND ALTHOUGH THEY CAN'T GET BACK THE TIME THEY LOST THEY LOOK FORWARD TO MAKING MEMORIES IN THE FUTURE...
Clifford and Betty say they are so thankful for Eddie's help with bringing them together. In return they plan on opening a college fund for him.
That is the show for tonight.We'll see you back here at 5 for Eyewitness News Mornin
But the news is always on at 13wmaz dot com.
Law call is next. We'll see you tomorrow!