National forecast for Friday, July 17

ATLANTIC BEACH, Fla. - A Florida police officer needs facial reconstructive surgery after he was beaten unconscious by a suspect early Thursday morning. Atlantic Beach police received a complaint around 5 a.m. about a man in the parking lot of a Panera Bread restaurant, First Coast News reported. When an officer arrived, the pair engaged in a physical struggle and the suspect, later identified as Jaden Perkins, knocked the officer unconscious. He then allegedly stomped on the officer's head, the news outlet reported. When another officer arrived, Perkins reportedly said, "You're going to have to kill me". The officer shouted verbal commands and the suspect allegedly reached for his weapon. The officer opened fire and hit the suspect, who was reportedly still combative while on the ground. Perkins and the officer who initially responded to the scene were taken to hospitals and expected to live. The officer suffered injuries to his head and face and will undergo surgery next week, the police department said.

😭😭 #WTF

Roanoke Police are seeking more information about the shooting that took place in downtown Roanoke on July 12, 2020. We shared earlier this week that the shooting occurred in the 200 block of Market Street SE just after 2:00am. This is body camera video from an officer who was approximately one block away from the scene. This officer and several others were able to respond almost immediately. Thankfully, no one was injured. However, we are asking the community to come forward and help us understand the circumstances surrounding this incident. Anyone with information about this incident is asked to call (540)344-8500 and share what you know. You can also text us at 274637; please begin the text with "RoanokePD" to ensure it's properly sent. Both calls and texts can remain anonymous. Roanoke, we need your help to identify the people involved in this incident and hold them accountable.

A statue of Jesus Christ was decapitated and knocked off a pedestal at a Catholic church in Florida, another in a string of similar incidents nationwide. The Rev. Edivaldo da Silva, a parish priest of three years at Good Shepherd Catholic Church in Southwest Miami-Dade, discovered the desecrated depiction of Christ July 15. Police are now investigating. "This incident has saddened the parish community," Good Shepherd said in a statement. "It is too soon to arrive to any conclusion, but we have seen other churches vandalized around the country. We totally 'condemn' this action. We invite our community to pray for peace." The church has hired an overnight security guard. In a separate incident, a Catholic congregation in Ocala, several hours north of Miami, was targeted Saturday morning while preparing for Mass. Steven Anthony Shields, 24, is accused of slamming his vehicle into the church before setting it on fire. He was arrested and faces several charges, including attempted murder.

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One killed during police pursuit in Russia

Defense Secretary Mark Esper on Friday issued a directive that effectively bans displays of the Confederate flag at U.S. military bases by not specifically mentioning it among the types of flags that are allowed to be displayed. The move comes days after President Donald Trump called displays of the Confederate flag should be protected under the constitutional "freedom of speech." Esper's guidance authorizes the displays of the American flag, state and territories flags, the POW-MIA flag, the flags of other countries, unit flags, senior leader flags, unit flags, and flags flown for protocol purposes. The new guidance treads carefully around President Trump's previously stated opposition to a ban on displays of the Confederate flag by not authorizing an outright ban. Instead, displays are not allowed because it is not among the flags authorized for display and his guidance never mentions the Confederate flag.