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Social media sensation Judge Frank Caprio on compassion, kindness and his cancer diagnosis
Judge Frank Caprio is renowned for his sense of humor and mercy on the bench.
His TV show “Caught in Providence,” which highlights his day-to-day life reviewing traffic cases and misdemeanors in Rhode Island, became syndicated around the country in 2018 for five years. Thanks to social media, it turned the 87-year-old into a renowned figure around the world.
What has captivated Caprio’s millions of fans over the past year is his ongoing battle with pancreatic cancer, which he completed treatment for just a few weeks ago. The octogenarian decided to go public with his diagnosis to motivate others, hoping his survival would be an inspiration. He said he is doing well so far but is relying on prayer.
“It’s not a pleasant experience to go to bed at night, say your prayers. And suddenly you have one extra thing you have to ask for. And that is, please help the treatment be successful for the pancreatic cancer. And I think we’re on the way,” said Caprio.
The kindness and compassion that Caprio showed in the courtroom are finding their way back to him in the form of letters and gifts he’s received. There are thousands of them, with heartfelt messages pouring in from some of the judge’s more famous fans, including actors Viola Davis and Sebastian Maniscalco and singer Jewel.
The Frank Caprio way
Together with CBS correspondent David Begnaud, Caprio visited the courtroom he called home for 38 years before retiring in 2023.
During their visit, Caprio recalled memorable cases, like that of Victor Colella, a 96-year-old man charged with a school zone violation while taking his handicapped son to a doctor’s appointment. Caprio dismissed the case, praising Colella for his dedication to his family.
The two reunited for the first time since 2023
“The best friend I ever had. God bless you. I hope you live to be my age and over,” said Colella, who is now 101 now. “There’s not a better man on Earth than you. You help everybody. God bless you.”
Caprio’s deep empathy for others stems from the hardships he faced in his own life – growing up in poverty in Providence without hot running water, just blocks from the courthouse now named after him. He often recalls shining shoes on the corner and the lessons his father taught him about understanding and compassion.
As a judge, Caprio strived to consider the circumstances of those who appeared before him, embodying his father’s advice to put himself in their shoes.
“I’m just a small-town municipal court judge, just trying to do good. That’s how I am, who tries to take into consideration the circumstances surrounding the people before me. And remember what my dad told me, when someone appears before you, put yourself in their shoes, imagine it’s you before them. How do you want to be treated?” said Caprio.
Through his actions and words, Judge Frank Caprio has shown that compassion and kindness can make a significant difference in people’s lives. His story continues to inspire many, reminding us that if you’re going to judge someone, do it the Frank Caprio way.
NEW YORK — Former New York Gov. David Paterson and his stepson were attacked in New York City on Friday night, authorities said.
The incident occurred just before 9 p.m. on Second Avenue near East 96th Street on the Upper East Side, according to the New York City Police Department.
Police said officers were sent to the scene after an assault was reported. When officers arrived, police say they found a 20-year-old man suffering from facial injuries and a 70-year-old man who had head pain. Both victims were taken to a local hospital in stable condition.
In a statement, a spokesperson for the former governor said the two were attacked while “taking a walk around the block near their home by some individuals that had a previous interaction with his stepson.”
The spokesperson said that they were injured “but were able to fight off their attackers.”
Both were taken to Cornell Hospital “as a precaution,” he added.
Police said no arrests have been made and the investigation is ongoing.
The 70-year-old Paterson, a Democrat, served as governor from 2008 to 2010, stepping into the post after the resignation of Eliot Spitzer following his prostitution scandal. He made history at the time as the state’s first-ever Black and legally blind governor.
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A 17-year-old boy was critically injured and a person is in custody after a gunman opened fire on a SEPTA bus in North Philadelphia Friday evening, police said.
At around 6:15 p.m., Philadelphia police were notified about a shooting on a SEPTA bus traveling on Allegheny Avenue near 3rd and 4th streets in North Philadelphia, Inspector D F Pace told CBS News Philadelphia.
There were an estimated 30 people on the bus at the time of the shooting, Pace said, but only the 17-year-old boy was believed to have been shot. Investigators said they believe it was a targeted attack on the teenager and that he was shot in the back of the bus at close range.
According to Pace, the SEPTA bus driver alerted a control center about the shooting, which then relayed the message to Philadelphia police, who responded to the scene shortly.
Officers arrived at the scene and found at least one spent shell casing and blood on the bus, but no shooting victim, Pace said. Investigators later discovered the 17-year-old had been taken to Temple University Hospital where he is said to be in critical condition, according to police.
CBS Philadelphia
Through their preliminary investigation, police learned those involved in the SEPTA shooting may have fled in a silver-colored Kia.
Authorities then found a car matching the description of the Kia speeding in the area and a pursuit began, Pace said. Police got help from a PPD helicopter as they followed the Kia, which ended up crashing at 5th and Greenwood streets in East Mount Airy. Pace said the Kia crashed into a parked car.
The driver of the crashed car ran away but police were still able to take them into custody, Pace said.
Investigators believe there was a second person involved in the shooting who ran from the car before it crashed. Police said they believe this person escaped near Allegheny Avenue and 4th Street, leaving a coat behind.
According to Pace, police also found a gun and a group of spent shell casings believed to be involved in the shooting in the same area.
“It’s very possible that there may have been a shooting inside the bus and also shots fired from outside of the bus toward the bus,” Pace said, “We’re still trying to piece all that together at this time.”
This is an active investigation and police are reviewing surveillance footage from the SEPTA bus.