This Is What We Know About YouTube Shooter Nasim Aghdam

The woman, who posted frequently on the video sharing platform about animal rights and veganism, said she believed YouTube had discriminated against her.

Via YouTube

A 39-year-old woman who alleged that YouTube "discriminated and filtered" her videos has been identified as the shooter who opened fire Tuesday at the company's California headquarters, injuring three people before turning the gun on herself.

Police identified the shooter as Nasim Najafi Aghdam of San Diego.

Multiple YouTube channels that belonged to Aghdam, where she frequently posted about animal rights and veganism, were terminated Tuesday night after she was identified as the shooter.

Google did not respond to a request for comment.

Aghdam's father, Ismail, said she had been missing for several days and was located by police in Mountain View, California, early Tuesday morning. He told the Mercury News that he informed authorities his daughter might be going to YouTube because she "hated" the company.

A spokesperson for the Mountain View Police Department confirmed that officers made contact with Aghdam.

"Officers located an adult female by the same name asleep in a vehicle in a Mountain View parking lot early this morning," Mountain View spokesperson Katie Nelson told BuzzFeed News in an email. "The woman confirmed her identity to us and answered subsequent questions."

Nelson said officers then notified Aghdam's family that she had been located.

Aghdam posted numerous videos and pictures on social media platforms, including YouTube, Facebook, Instagram, Telegram, and a personal website.

Via nasimesabz.com

Aghdam posted frequently about animal rights, vegan recipes, and alleged that YouTube was discriminating against her.

"Youtube filtered my channels to keep them from getting views!" she wrote on her website, claiming that she received 10 cents in revenue after 300,000 video views.

Via nasimesabz.com

"There is no equal growth opportunity on TouTube," she wrote on her website.

Via nasimesabz.com

Aghdam said a video featuring her doing exercises had been "age restricted" by "close-minded YouTube employees."

She said the video had "nothing bad in it — nothing sexual" and alleged YouTube restricted it because "it got famous and was getting many views, so they age-restricted that video to keep it from getting views."

YouTube has a policy that restricts videos that "may not be appropriate for all audiences" to users older than 18. This means that "age-restricted videos" are not shown unless a viewer has logged into YouTube and verified their age.

YouTube lists four reasons for deeming videos age-restricted, which include vulgar language, violence and disturbing imagery, nudity and sexually suggestive content, and portrayal of harmful or dangerous activities.

Videos that are age-restricted are not eligible for YouTube's payment system.

Via YouTube

Aghdam compared her "workout video" to videos by "Nicki Minaj, Miley [Cyrus] and many others that have sexual things so inappropriate for children to watch," but they "don't get age-restricted."

Via Facebook

On another YouTube channel that appeared to belong to Aghdam, where she mostly posted about animal rights and veganism, a large banner declared the channel had been "filtered and demonetized."

Via nasimesabz.com

And in a screenshot posted on her website, a YouTube notice said one of Aghdam's channels was "no longer eligible for monetization."

YouTube's monetization program pays video creators, who allow advertisements on their content, based on how many people watch their videos. Although the company says, "there are no guarantees under the YouTube partner agreement about how much, or whether, you will be paid."

Last year, YouTube began to face increased scrutiny over inappropriate material on the site, and the company has started to flag more content in response. YouTube also announced earlier this year that it would be demonetizing channels with less than 1,000 subscribers.

Via nasimesabz.com

Aghdam posted videos on her YouTube channels claiming the platform was censoring and filtering her work, which she said meant she was receiving fewer views and therefore less revenue.

“I’m being discriminated and filtered on YouTube,” she said in a video. “My new videos hardly get views, and my old videos that used to get many videos stopped getting views."

Via YouTube

Last year, she posted a photo on Facebook of a person holding a sign calling YouTube a "dictatorship" and alleging "suppression of truth."

Via Facebook

In another video posted on Instagram, Aghdam wore what she described as her "ninja look" and asked her audience: "When it comes to freedom of speech, do you think that Iran is better than USA or USA is better than Iran?"

Via instagram.com

A 2009 news report in the San Diego Union Tribune included a woman who appears to be Aghdam protesting with the People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals.

In a photo, Aghdam is seen wearing a wig and jeans with large blood drops painted on her clothing while holding a plastic sword to protest the US Marines' killing of pigs in a military exercise.

“For me, animal rights equal human rights,” she said.

LINK: A Woman Shot Several People At YouTube's California Headquarters Before Killing Herself

LINK: Here's A Roundup Of Misinformation About The Shooting At YouTube Headquarters

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Here's A Roundup Of Misinformation About The Shooting At YouTube Headquarters

The shooter, a woman, died of an apparent self-inflicted gunshot wound after injuring several others on the San Bruno tech campus.

Police responded to an active shooter at YouTube's headquarters in San Bruno, California, on Tuesday. Within minutes of the news, however, hoaxes and other misinformation started being shared on social media.

Reuters

Police have not yet released the identity of the suspect, but said it was a woman who died from what appeared to be a self-inflicted gunshot wound. Authorities did not immediately release identities or speculate about a possible motive, but that didn't stop the internet from unleashing a flurry of fake news.

Here's a look at what hit online:

Many Twitter accounts started sharing photos of Sam Hyde, falsely accusing him of being the shooter. Hyde is a comedian who is blamed by online trolls after almost every shooting.

Twitter

This photoshopped image claimed to be security camera footage showing the shooter. But it was just another Sam Hyde hoax.

On 4chan, some users encouraged others to "start memeing Sam Hyde" to get the hoax on TV.

4Chan

Another 4Chan user claimed this was a photo of the shooter, but it's actually a YouTube food reviewer whose image has been used in a previous hoax.

4chan

People also falsely identified other internet personalities as the shooter, including German YouTuber DragonLord.

Twitter

This is Dugan Ashley, another YouTuber falsely identified as the shooter on Twitter.

Twitter

Lucian B. Wintrich, a writer for the right-wing blog The Gateway Pundit, appeared to suggest the shooter was a Muslim woman based on a local ABC station's report that the suspect was a woman wearing a "headscarf."

Police have not released or confirmed the identity of the suspect.

Twitter

Feminist media critic Anita Sarkeesian was also falsely identified in a widely shared tweet. (The account was later deleted.)

This is a developing story. Check back for updates and follow BuzzFeed News on Twitter.

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This Town Just Banned Assault Weapons. Anyone Who Refuses To Give Theirs Up Will Be Fined $1,000 A Day

Inspired by the Parkland shooting, officials in Deerfield, Illinois said assault weapons are “not reasonably necessary to protect an individual’s right or self-defense.”

Village Board of Trustees members in Deerfield, Illinois, a suburb and village outside of Chicago, voted Monday night to ban the possession, sale, and manufacture of assault weapons and high-capacity magazines in their community.

After the February high school shooting that killed 17 students and staff in Parkland, Florida, Deerfield Mayor Harriet Rosenthal "directed staff and the Village attorney to prepare a report concerning the implementation of a ban of assault weapons," according to a press release.

"I believe the time has now come to revisit a complete ban of assault weapons,” Mayor Rosenthal said.

On Monday night, the Deerfield Village Board unanimously approved the ban of assault weapons that will be effective starting June 13.

Orlando Sierra / AFP / Getty Images

The ordinance also list specific models, including the AR-15 and AK-47, to be banned.

deerfield.il.us

A violation of the ban — i.e. any resident who does not give up their assault weapons by June 13 — will be fined up to $1,000 a day for each offense, the town said.

Anyone in violation, and fined, could also be forced to "forfeit to the Village any assault weapon," the ordinance states.

Mark Ralston / AFP / Getty Images

The Deerfield city ordinance contends assault weapons are not covered by the Second Amendment.

"The possession, manufacture, and sale of assault weapons in the Village of Deerfield is not reasonably necessary to protect an individual's right or self-defense or the preservation of efficiency of a well-regulated militia," the ordinance reads.

A spokesperson for The Brady Campaign, a nonprofit organization that advocates for gun control, told BuzzFeed News that they "applaud" the actions by Deerfield "to keep their citizens safer."

"These ordinances have clearly and correctly been ruled constitutional, and we hope that Highland Park and Deerfield serve as positive examples for other communities moving forward," the organization added.

The NRA and Illinois State Rifle Association did not immediately respond to requests for comment.

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Police Are Responding To YouTube Headquarters Where Employees Say There Was A Shooting

Police are responding to activity near YouTube’s headquarters in San Bruno, California.

City Manager Connie Jackson told BuzzFeed News that the city received multiple 911 calls of shots fired both from inside the YouTube offices as well as from the surrounding area.

Snapchat

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An Asheville Police Officer Was Caught On Video Beating A Black Man For Jaywalking

Asheville Police Department / Via coablog.ashevillenc.gov

Video footage released by the Asheville, North Carolina, police department on Monday shows an officer repeatedly punching, choking, and using a stun gun on a man after accusing him of jaywalking.

The nine body camera videos, the first of which was obtained by the Asheville Citizen-Times before the rest were released by the city, show Asheville officer Christopher Hickman approaching Johnnie Jermaine Rush on Aug. 24, 2017. Hickman tells him he's jaywalking, and then chases him on foot before punching him, using a stun gun to hit him in the face, and putting him in a choke hold while Rush yells, "I can't breathe, I can't breathe."

"These videos are disturbing, difficult to watch and may not be appropriate for all ages, as they contain violence and profanity," police chief Tammy Hooper, interim city manager Cathy Ball, and the Asheville City Council said in a joint press release on Monday.

"This incident has created a loss of trust within the community, particularly among people of color. The City of Asheville understands that there is substantial work to do to restore the public’s trust," the statement said.

Hickman was suspended the day after the incident, and resigned in January on the day the department planned to fire him, according to the City of Asheville. In March, the Buncbombe County District Attorney's office charged him with felony assault by strangulation, misdemeanor assault inflicting serious injury, and communicating threats.

All charges against Rush, including impeding traffic, trespassing, and resisting a public officer, were dropped. Charges in 27 other cases in which Hickman was the charging officer were also dropped because they "do not consider him to be a credible State's witness."

The videos begin with Hickman and a trainee officer, Verino Ruggiero, approaching Rush as he leaves a convenience store. The officers are then seen following Rush in their patrol car, where Ruggiero notes that he's still jaywalking, before getting out of the car and telling Rush he broke the law four times, each time he crossed the road.

He says he can either arrest Rush or give him a ticket.

"All I'm trying to do is go home, man, I'm tired. I just got off of work," Rush says.

The two go back and forth on whether or not Ruggiero is harassing Rush. Finally. Ruggiero says, "I asked you to use the crosswalk. Why is that so hard?"

“You’re right,” Rush says. “It’s not, sir. It’s not. I’m sorry. I’m so sorry. You’re right.”

youtube.com

Ruggiero tells Rush to look at him, which Rush says he doesn't have to do. Ruggiero says Rush is "still trying to punk me out."

"He wants to act like a punk, write him a ticket," Hickman says.

"Y'all ain't got shit better to do besides harass somebody about fucking walking," Rush says, right before Hickman comes towards him and says, "Put your arms behind your back."

Rush backs away when Hickman tries to grab him, then runs across the street before stopping.

"Motherfucker. 43 on foot. White male — black male, white tank top. Thinks it's funny," Hickman says in the video, as he chases after Rush.

"You know what's funny is you're gonna get fucked up hardcore. Get on the ground," he says as he shoves Rush's head down towards the ground. Hickman repeatedly punches him in the head as he yells, "Behind your back!"

"I can't breathe," Rush screams as Hickman continues to punch him in the head and then stuns him with a stun gun. "Help! Help!" he yells. Hickman then chokes him from behind while two other officers grab his arms.

"If you do anything stupid you're going to get hurt further," he then tells Rush after calling EMS to the scene.

"I beat the shit out of his head, not going to lie about that," Hickman later tells a supervisor, Lisa Taube, who was called to the scene, later adding, "I went hardcore with the taser."

"What would have happened if he had killed me? Then what?" Rush is seen asking Taube after she arrived.

youtube.com

Taube was disciplined for poor performance and sent to re-training because of her conduct on the scene and in its aftermath, according to the statement from the City of Asheville.

In the final body cam video released, Hickman takes Rush out of handcuffs and offers him a light for a cigarette as he leads him back to the patrol car from a hospital. Rush asks how he could have put his hands behind his back earlier while Hickman was choking him.

"I didn't start choking you until I punched you probably ten times," Hickman replies.

youtube.com

Hickman's attorney, Thomas Amburgey, said in a statement on Monday that his client "served the city of Asheville for 10 years and received numerous commendations." He didn't answer a request for comment from BuzzFeed News.

"It's unfortunate that so many individuals have rushed to judge my client. I am confident that when a fair and impartial jury hears the whole story that Mr. Hickman will be acquitted. Any notion that my client had any criminal intent to harm Mr. Rush is without basis," Amburgey said.

He did not immediately respond to a request for further comment on the videos.

The trainee officer, Ruggiero, was reassigned to another supervising officer for training, and "has given every indication that he understands that Hickman’s actions were wholly unacceptable, and not up to the standards of a modern, community-oriented police agency" according to the police department's joint statement with the city council.

An attorney representing Rush, James Ferguson II, did not immediately respond to a request for comment, but told the Citizen-Times in March he is "reasonably certain to pursue litigation" on behalf of Rush.

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I Am Obsessed With This Adorable Dog With Mouse Ears

Goma is bae.

Happy Tuesday, friends! My timeline has been blessed with this adorable dog with mouse ears, and I just had to share.

Instagram: @marupgoma_c

This pup's name is Goma (Japanese for sesame) and she is 4. Is she not the cutest little mouse/dog you've ever seen!?

Instagram: @marupgoma_c

She can also pass for a bunny, if you're into that.

Instagram: @marupgoma_c

Goma's owners document her life in Tokyo, Japan, on her Instagram page. She has more than 55,000 fans.

Instagram: @marupgoma_c

Her humans say she got her unique look from being a cross between a Maltese and Papillon.

Instagram: @marupgoma_c

She is very intrigued by, but kind of scared of, cats.

Instagram: @marupgoma_c

And it's a recurring theme on her Insta.

Instagram: @marupgoma_c

I can't stopppp.

Instagram: @marupgoma_c

😭😭😭😭😭😭😭😭

Instagram: @marupgoma_c

Goma is such a big deal now, she even has sponcon...

Instagram: @marupgoma_c

Merch...

Instagram: @marupgoma_c

And appeared at a conference called "Interpets."

Instagram: @marupgoma_c

We love you Goma!

Instagram: @marupgoma_c

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People Are Loving This Asian Dad Waving Chopsticks In The Air To Support His Wife Singing

“I cri this is the QUALITY content I am here for.”

This is Rachel Dang, a 21-year-old who lives in Dallas, Texas.

Rachel Dong

"My dad told me that my mom was singing and he wasn't paying attention, so she kept looking and him, and he realized that she needed him to be her fan while she sang," Dang told BuzzFeed News.

Twitter: @dangitrachel

"Since he was in the kitchen, he quickly grabbed a big stir fry chopstick to wave it like a flashlight while she was singing," she said.

Dang said she only posted her video because she thought it was "funny and cute" but didn't expect her tweet to go viral.

Her tweet has since been retweeted more than 123,000 times, and the video has gained more than 6.6 million views.

Twitter: @dangitrachel

Dang said her parents, Bill and Kim, have been happily married for 23 years and are generally very silly.

"My mom loves singing and sings around the house often," she said.

The song in the video is a Vietnamese song "Em Khong La Duy Nhat" by Toc Tien, which translates to "I Am Not the Only One," Dang said.

Rachel Dang

People absolutely loved it.

Twitter: @ericamkang

They thought it was so adorable.

Twitter: @AESTHETlCMAMI

Twitter: @ishaenise

Twitter: @Diana_Ly

And truly relationship goals.

Twitter: @SruthiJayadevan

Twitter: @M4lev0lent

Twitter: @emilyann_music

Dang said that her parents know that they have gone viral and think it is hilarious.

In fact, her mom even joked that each person who watched the video should pay them $1, she said.

Rachel Dang

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