American Scene: Lawsuit claims man fired for doubting safety, health at 9/11 memorial

NEW YORK

NEW YORK — A former manager at the Sept. 11 Memorial was fired for raising health and security concerns at one of the most security-conscious places in the world, he said in a lawsuit filed last week.

As facilities director, Thomas Cancelliere alerted his bosses that the water in the memorial’s signature fountains carried illness-causing bacteria, the exit gates were too narrow and could hinder an evacuation, and there were no security checks at a public parking garage directly below the off-site room where the memorial’s millions of visitors are screened, the lawsuit said.

“Unfortunately, Mr. Cancelliere’s concern for the safety of visitors was not shared by his supervisors,” who told him the issues weren’t his responsibility or were being addressed, even though they weren’t, the lawsuit said.

The National Sept. 11 Memorial and Museum said his claims are baseless and Mr. Cancelliere was fired because he failed to meet job requirements.

NEW JERSEY

Gunman in attack on parked car still free after killing two

CAMDEN — A masked man carrying a gun and a machete entered a parked car and opened fire on five young adults inside, killing the driver and a passenger and wounding the others, then pushed aside the driver’s body and drove off with four of the victims inside, authorities said.

The attack was a startling burst of violence even for a city consistently ranked as one of the nation’s most dangerous. It was not clear whether the gunman knew anyone in the car or what sparked the shooting late Saturday, Camden County prosecutor’s spokesman Jason Laughlin said.

The gunman eventually fled and remained at large Sunday, authorities said. He was described as Hispanic and about 6 feet tall. He wore a black mask over the lower part of his face and yellow latex gloves.

All three wounded victims remained in the hospital Sunday, two in critical condition.

CALIFORNIA

Three hurt as commuter train hits truck stalled on track

SANTA CLARITA — A commuter train carrying more than 200 passengers struck a semi that was stalled on the tracks in northern Los Angeles County, leaving three people with minor injuries, authorities said.

The crash involving Metrolink Train No. 271 and the truck hauling automobiles occurred at about 9:30 p.m. Saturday in the Newhall district of Santa Clarita, according to Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Deputy Joshua Dubin.

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