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☆ Houston Police Chief Departs Amid Inquiry Into Suspended Cases
▼ + stars: | 2024-05-08 | by ( J. David Goodman | ) www.nytimes.com time to read: 1 min

The chief of the Houston Police Department retired abruptly amid an investigation into more than 260,000 incident reports since 2016 that were not investigated, including sexual assaults and other felonies, because of a “lack of personnel.”The departure of the chief, Troy Finner, was announced by Mayor John Whitmire during a City Council meeting on Wednesday. He praised the chief and called him a “friend" but said that “new information” related to the suspended cases was distracting the Police Department. After the council meeting, Mr. Whitmire told reporters that the retirement had come after he had discussions with Mr. Finner on Tuesday. “I dealt with it because it was a distraction to the mission of the men and women in H.P.D.,” the mayor said.

Persons: Troy Finner, John Whitmire, Whitmire, Finner, “ Organizations: Houston Police Department, Police Department Locations: H.P.D

No deaths or serious injuries have been reported, Harris County Judge Lina Hidalgo told CNN, adding 153 pets have also been rescued during the deluge. Forecast calls for rain Sunday into MondayMost of the weekend’s rain fell over western and central Texas, but there’s a significant chance of heavier rain in the greater Houston area Sunday. An additional 1 to 3 inches of rainfall possible by Monday morning, according to the Houston National Weather Service office. Rainfall today will continue to exacerbate existing river flooding,” warned the Houston weather service office. The weather service listed some of the rainfall totals it collected:Groveton, TX- 23.56”Huntsville, TX- 21.76”Splendora, TX- 21.01”Willis, TX- 20.75”Livingston, TX- 18.42”There is relief on the horizon, however.

Persons: Lina Hidalgo, It’s, ” Hidalgo, “ We’re, Brent Taylor, CNN’s Amara Walker, “, ” Taylor, “ There’s, ‘, I’m, ”, Willis, Hurricane Harvey, Jason Fochtman, ” Emmitt Eldridge, ” Sherri Pegoda, Walker, Greg Abbott Organizations: CNN, Houston Office, Emergency Management, Houston Police, Houston Fire, Houston Public Works Department, Houston National Weather Service, Houston, Panhandle, West Lake Houston, Houston Chronicle, Texas, Gov Locations: South Texas, Harris County , Texas, Houston, Harris, City, Texas, , TX, Huntsville , TX, TX, Willis , TX, Livingston , TX, Gulf, East Texas, Hurricane, Lake Houston, West Lake, Kingwood, Atascocita, Kingwood , Texas, San Jacinto, Walker County, Polk County, Montgomery counties

☆ Son of Dominican Republic Politician Is Fatally Shot in Houston, Police Say
▼ + stars: | 2024-04-03 | by ( Jesus Jiménez | More About Jesus Jiménez | ) www.nytimes.com time to read: +1 min

The son of a politician from the Dominican Republic was fatally shot outside a gas station in Houston on Monday night in what the police said they believed was a “targeted” drive-by shooting. The Houston Police Department on Wednesday identified the man who was killed as Luis Alfredo Pacheco Rojas, 34, son of Alfredo Pacheco, the president of the Chamber of Deputies of the Dominican Republic. Another 29-year-old man who was injured by gunfire in the attack had not yet been publicly identified. The incident began around 7 p.m. on Monday, when Mr. Pacheco and three men in a black Cadillac Escalade stopped at a gas station in southeast Houston, according to the Police Department. The four men went inside the gas station, and immediately afterward they returned to the Escalade.

Persons: Luis Alfredo Pacheco Rojas, Alfredo Pacheco, Pacheco, Escalade, Adrian Rodriguez Organizations: Houston Police Department, Police Department, Dodge, Benz Locations: Dominican Republic, Houston

OAK RIDGE NORTH, Texas (AP) — A man suspected of several robberies in southeastern Texas was fatally shot Monday night by officers with a joint task force after they saw him rob a liquor store, authorities said. The man, whose name was not immediately released, fled officers who had been monitoring him before seeing him rob the liquor store in Oak Ridge North at gunpoint, according to Montgomery County District Attorney Brett Ligon. The officers then tried to arrest the man, but he fled on foot in the strip mall where the liquor store is located. “The officers, fearing for their safety, discharged their weapons, the suspect dies.”Ligon said a report on the shooting will be submitted to a grand jury to determine whether the officers acted appropriately. None of the officers were injured and all are on paid leave pending investigations into the shooting.

Persons: Brett Ligon, “ Let's, Ligon, ” Ligon, “, — Organizations: Houston, Harris County sheriff's Locations: NORTH, Texas, Oak Ridge, Montgomery County, Houston, Harris County

☆ Videos Show Exchange of Gunfire at Houston Megachurch
▼ + stars: | 2024-02-26 | by ( J. David Goodman | ) www.nytimes.com time to read: 1 min

Just before opening fire with an assault-style rifle in the lobby of a Houston megachurch this month, Genesse Ivonne Moreno walked around the side of her sport utility vehicle and opened a rear passenger door for her 7-year-old son, who got out of the vehicle and followed her into the church. Moments later, as deafening gunfire erupted in the church, the boy stood in an alcove with his hands pressed to his ears, according to surveillance and body-camera videos released on Monday by the Houston Police Department. At one point, the boy appeared to reach up for Ms. Moreno, as if asking to be picked up.

Persons: Genesse Ivonne Moreno, Moreno Organizations: Houston Police Department

☆ Joel Osteen Lakewood Church shooting: Houston police search for motive as new details emerge about shooter
▼ + stars: | 2024-02-13 | by ( Steve Almasy | Christina Maxouris | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +8 min

One federal law enforcement source told CNN she fired around 30 bullets. “That’s why federal authorities were executing search warrants,” he said, noting they are “looking for computers, any written documents, thumb drives, social media, online. But in her 30s, she described herself on social media as the founder of a real-estate and financial services firm. By her own account on social media pages, she is involved in sales of everything from new condos to shopping malls. Attorney William Capasso said he represented Moreno in 2021-2022 and told CNN Genesse Ivone Moreno went by the name Jeffrey Moreno Carranza at the time.

Persons: Genesse Ivonne Moreno, Joel Osteen, Troy Finner, Christopher Hassig, Moreno’s, Finner, Moreno, Douglas Williams, “, ”, “ We’re, Joel Osteen's, John Miller, Hassig, Genesse Ivonne, ” Hassig, William Capasso, CNN Genesse Ivone Moreno, Jeffrey Moreno Carranza, Capasso, Miller, Osteen, ” Osteen, “ We’ve, Callaghan O'Hare, ” CNN’s Raja Razek, Andy Rose, Ashley Killough, Jamiel Lynch, Lauren Mascarenhas, Zoe Sottile Organizations: CNN —, Houston, Lakewood Church, Investigators, Houston Police, CNN, Houston Police Department, Texas Alcoholic Beverage Commission, Police, US, of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, Explosives, Houston Fire Department, CNN CNN, Houston police, Records, Texas Department of Public, Joel Osteen's Lakewood Church, Reuters Locations: Lakewood, Conroe –, Lakewood Church, Palestine, Genesse Ivonne Moreno Fort Bend County, Fort Bend County, Houston

HOUSTON (AP) — A motive for why a woman in a trenchcoat opened fire in celebrity pastor Joel Osteen's megachurch in Texas remained unclear Monday after the shooting sent worshippers rushing for safety in between busy Sunday services. Police say two off-duty officers working security at Osteen's church, one of the largest megachurches in the U.S., shot and killed the suspect. Osteen said the violence could have been worse if the shooting had happened during the earlier and larger late Sunday morning service. Houston Police Chief Troy Finner did not identify the suspect at a news conference Sunday while standing near Osteen. The woman began shooting and was confronted by two off-duty officers, a Houston police officer and an agent with the Texas Alcoholic Beverage Commission, who returned fire.

Persons: Joel Osteen's megachurch, Osteen, Troy Finner, Finner, Alan Guity, “, ’ ”, Guity, JOEL OSTEEN, John Osteen, Joel Osteen, God, Hurricane Harvey, Paul J, Weber Organizations: HOUSTON, Police, Houston Rockets, . Houston Police, Houston, Texas Alcoholic Beverage Commission, WHO, Authorities, Lakewood Church, Hartford Institute for Religion Research, Associated Press Locations: Texas, U.S, Osteen, Houston, Honduras, Lakewood

As afternoon services were beginning at Lakewood Church in Houston on Sunday, a woman arrived in a trench coat and carrying a backpack, her 7-year-old son at her side. She brought two rifles and had a piece of yellow rope resembling a detonation cord, law enforcement officials said on Monday. The woman pointed an AR-15 at an unarmed security guard, officials said, and then made her way inside the church, which is led by the televangelist Joel Osteen. The officers — a Houston police officer and an agent from the state alcoholic beverage commission — confronted the woman, exchanged fire with her and killed her. Her son was also struck in the head by gunfire, officials said.

Persons: Joel Osteen, — Organizations: Lakewood Church Locations: Houston, United States

☆ Shooting Reported at Houston Church Led by Joel Osteen
▼ + stars: | 2024-02-11 | by ( Livia Albeck-Ripka | More About Livia Albeck-Ripka | ) www.nytimes.com time to read: 1 min

The Houston Police Department was responding on Sunday afternoon to reports of a shooting at a Christian megachurch in Houston that is led by the televangelist Joel Osteen, it said on social media. The details were unclear, but Sheriff Ed Gonzalez of Harris County said on social media that a shooter was believed to have been shot by law enforcement. “We continue to assist in a methodical/thorough search of the complex,” he said. It was unclear whether anyone else had been injured. She said she ran into a smaller room where she sheltered with about 10 other people, including a child.

Persons: Joel Osteen, Ed Gonzalez, ” Organizations: Houston Police Department Locations: Houston, Harris County

HOUSTON (AP) — Police in Texas said Sunday that they were responding to a possible shooting at the Houston megachurch run by prominent pastor Joel Osteen. In a tweet on X, formerly known as Twitter, Lakewood Church said there was “an active situation involving shots fired” at the church. “That is all the information we have at this time. Please pray for Lakewood and our community,” the church said. Jodi Silva, a Houston police spokeswoman, said officers were responding to the church but she did not have any additional information.

Persons: Joel Osteen, ”, Jodi Silva, Harris County Sheriff Ed Gonzalez, “ Organizations: HOUSTON, — Police, Houston, Twitter, Lakewood, Harris County Sheriff Locations: Texas, Lakewood, Harris County

☆ Texas man sues Macy’s and Sunglass Hut parent over wrongful arrest linked to facial recognition
▼ + stars: | 2024-01-23 | by ( Brian Fung | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +6 min

CNN —A Texas man is suing Macy’s and the parent company of Sunglass Hut after the two companies allegedly relied on error-prone facial recognition technology to falsely accuse him of armed robbery. “They were misled by Sunglass Hut and Macy’s and the reason why Murphy was jailed is because of the actions of these companies. In 2020, the American Civil Liberties Union challenged Detroit’s police department over what the group described as the first known wrongful arrest involving facial recognition. Facial recognition concernsFor years, civil liberties and privacy experts have warned of the risks of overly casual facial recognition use or an overreliance on the technology, and the possibility that algorithmic bias could lead to misidentification, racial discrimination or other unintended consequences. The FTC has similarly moved to restrict Instagram-parent Meta from using facial recognition technology, which Meta has challenged in court.

Persons: CNN —, Macy’s, Harvey Murphy Jr, Murphy’s, Murphy, ”, Daniel Dutko, “, EssilorLuxottica didn’t, EssilorLuxottica, Dutko, ” Dutko, Sunglass, “ We’re, they’re, ‘ We’ve, Meta Organizations: CNN, The Washington Post, Houston police, Department of Motor Vehicles, Houston, American Civil Liberties Union, Office, Federal Trade Commission, Aid, FTC Locations: Texas, Sunglass, Harris County, Houston, Sacramento , California, Harris, EssilorLuxottica, Michigan, Detroit

☆ A woman raised $42,000 on GoFundMe saying she was a victim of a brick attack. Police allege she lied.
▼ + stars: | 2024-01-21 | by ( Matthew Loh | Grace Eliza Goodwin | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +9 min

A woman in Houston raised $42,000 off her claim that a man attacked her with a brick. Police said they have video evidence, but Osman told Business Insider the officers are lying. Osman told BI that she believes the police filed charges against her in retaliation for her reporting one of the officers who handled her case. Osman told BI that her friend made it for her because she wanted to help. Advertisement"There's no such thing as a perfect victim," Osman told BI.

Persons: Roda Osman, she's, Osman, —, — Osman, Roda, GoFundMe, Douglas Organizations: Police, Service, Business, The Houston Police Department, BI, Houston Police Locations: Houston, Minneapolis

HOUSTON (AP) — A crash at a red light killed six people including former NFL cornerback D.J. The two-vehicle crash occurred about 2 a.m. when a Chrysler 300, apparently “going very fast, high velocity," ran the red light and collided with an SUV, Houston Police Assistant Chief Megan Howard said. Five men and one woman died, including Hayden, the Houston Chronicle reported. Investigators were working to identify the driver of the SUV, Howard said. Hayden, 33, was born in Houston and starred at the University of Houston, according to his profile page on ESPN.com.

Persons: D.J, Megan Howard, Hayden, Howard, “, ” Organizations: HOUSTON, NFL, Houston, Chrysler, Houston Police, Houston Chronicle, Police, University of Houston, Oakland Raiders, Detroit Lions, Jacksonville Jaguars, Raiders, Raider Locations: Hayden, Houston, Las Vegas

HOUSTON (AP) — The challenges facing Houston’s next mayor are familiar to many big cities: crime, crumbling infrastructure, budget shortfalls and a lack of affordable housing. “This (new) mayor comes along at a time when the city is doing well, though the city faces issues,” said Bob Harvey, president and CEO of the Greater Houston Partnership, a local business group. They highlight what they see as Houston’s failings while touting it as an international city teeming with diversity. Others in contention are former head of Houston’s public transit system Gilbert Garcia, attorney Lee Kaplan, Houston City Councilman Robert Gallegos and former council members Jack Christie and M.J. Khan. The city’s challenges are due in part to its explosive growth over the past decade.

Persons: Houston’s, Sheila Jackson Lee, Sen, John Whitmire, ”, Bob Harvey, Houston, Sylvester Turner, Gilbert Garcia, Lee Kaplan, Robert Gallegos, Jack Christie, M.J, Khan, ” Garcia, Garcia, Greg Abbott, Troy Finner, Patrick Jankowski, Bill King, Brandon Rottinghaus, Jackson Lee, Johnny Mata, “, ” Mata, Jankowski, Harvey, ” Harvey, Juan, Lozano Organizations: HOUSTON, U.S . Rep, Texas Legislature, Texas Democrats, Greater Houston Partnership, Houston, Republican Gov, Houston Police, pothole, University, Greater Houston Coalition for Justice Locations: November’s, U.S, Houston, Texas, Houston City, Harris County, America

Rudolph “Rudy” Farias IV, 25, returned home March 8, 2015, one day after he was reported missing, Lt. Christopher Zamora said in a news conference. While Houston officers had interacted since then with Farias and his mother, both provided fake names and dates of birth, misleading officers, he said. His mother “continued to deceive police by remaining adamant that Rudy was still missing,” he said. A billboard put up in the search for Rudy Farias is seen in this file photo. At times, other people saw Farias, Zamora indicated.

Persons: CNN —, Rudolph “ Rudy ” Farias, Christopher Zamora, Farias, “, Rudy, ”, ” Zamora, We’ll, Rudy Farias, KTRK “, Janie Santana, Zamora, Santana “ Organizations: CNN, Houston, Houston Police, Texas Center, KHOU, Police, Protective Services, Victim’s Services, FBI, National Center for Locations: Texas, Houston

“In this instance, the grand jury of the 228th District Court of Harris County found that no crime did occur, that no single individual was criminally responsible,” Ogg said. But a tragedy isn’t always a crime, and not every death is a homicide,” Ogg also said. He’s looking forward to getting back home after being cleared by the grand jury,” Schaffer told CNN. The grand jury met for six hours and homicide detectives testified, according to Schaffer. It was unclear at the time what Scott saw from the stage and whether he was aware of the conditions in the crowd.

Persons: Travis Scott –, Kim Ogg, John Junnell, Brett Silberstein, ” Ogg, isn’t, “, Scott, Travis Scott, ”, Ted Anastasiou, Kent Schaffer, Schaffer, ” Schaffer, Troy Finner, Mike Barrow Organizations: CNN, Harris County Institute of Forensic Sciences, District, Schaffer . Houston Police Department, Houston Fire Department, Houston Police Locations: Harris County, Harris

CNN —A Texas man who was allegedly scammed of $40 in parking fees while on a date shot and killed the man who posed as the lot’s attendant – and then “nonchalantly” walked away to proceed with his dinner plans, court records show. Before the couple walked into a restaurant, they were informed by a restaurant employee that they had been scammed, the affidavit says. Aguirre allegedly shot Nix in the torso, and he died later at the hospital from his wounds, according to court records. The woman on the date later told police she did not see or know about the shooting at that point, the affidavit states. Before being seated at the restaurant, “Erick started to look uncomfortable and suggested they go eat somewhere else,” the woman told police.

☆ Taylor Swift fans show support for fan killed after Houston concert
▼ + stars: | 2023-04-26 | by ( Sara Smart | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +2 min

CNN —Taylor Swift fans have rallied in support of a fellow fan who was killed early Saturday after leaving Swift’s Houston concert. Jacob Lewis, 20, was hit and killed by a drunken driver after The Eras Tour show at NRG Stadium in Houston on Friday night. Karyn and Steve Lewis, Jacob’s parents, told CNN that the money donated will go toward a scholarship for theater students in the Katy, Texas, area. “If we could have him back that would be our choice but that’s not an option so we need to move forward and do what we can do to support others,” Steve told CNN. “We’ve gotten support from people who don’t even know us and now we’re able to honor him in a special way,” Steve said.

☆ Texas executes former officer who hired hitmen to kill his wife
▼ + stars: | 2023-01-11 | by ( The Associated Press | ) www.nbcnews.com time to read: +4 min

HUNTSVILLE, Texas — A former suburban Houston police officer was executed Tuesday for hiring two people to kill his estranged wife nearly 30 years ago amid a contentious divorce and custody battle. Prosecutors say Robert Fratta organized the murder-for-hire plot in which a middleman, Joseph Prystash, hired the shooter, Howard Guidry. The execution was carried out after Texas’ top criminal appeals court overturned the injunction and the state’s supreme court rejected an appeal. Mauzy’s order conflicted with last week’s edict from the Texas Court of Criminal Appeals that barred her from issuing any orders in the lawsuit that would halt any execution. The Texas Board of Pardons and Paroles last week unanimously declined to commute Fratta’s death sentence to a lesser penalty or to grant a 60-day reprieve.

☆ Texas taqueria customer fatally shoots masked robber and returns money to patrons, police say
▼ + stars: | 2023-01-09 | by ( Marlene Lenthang | Marlene Lenthang Is A Breaking News Reporter For Nbc News Digital. | ) www.nbcnews.com time to read: +2 min

An armed masked robber who stormed a Texas taqueria demanding money was stopped by a patron who brandished his own gun, fatally shot the suspect, and handed the cash back to shaken diners, police said. Houston police are seeking to speak with that patron who foiled the robbery on Thursday. Texas police want to speak to the man who fatally shot a masked robbery suspect at the Houston taqueria. Houston Police DepartmentWitnesses told officers that the suspect had barged into the restaurant and pointed a pistol at diners demanding their money. The patron then collected the stolen money from the suspect, and returned it to the other diners, police said.

Police arrested two people in connection with the slaying of renowned Migos rapper Takeoff, who was "an innocent bystander" when he was fatally shot last month, Houston authorities said Friday. News of the arrests came one month after Kirshnik Khari Ball, known professionally as Takeoff, was killed on Nov. 1 outside a downtown Houston bowling alley. Officials said Takeoff and Quavo, 31, another member of Migos, were at a private party at 810 Billiards & Bowling. Police would not discuss if Clark and Joshua knew Takeoff, or if they were invited to the private party. The group had four Top 10 hits on the Billboard Hot 100, although Takeoff was not on its multiweek No.

☆ Suspect Arrested in Killing of Migos Rapper Takeoff
▼ + stars: | 2022-12-02 | by ( Jennifer Calfas | ) www.wsj.com time to read: 1 min

Takeoff, whose real name was Kirsnick Khari Ball, was 28 years old when he was killed. Police arrested a 33-year-old man in the shooting death of Takeoff, a member of the popular hip-hop trio Migos who was killed outside of a bowling alley in Houston last month. Houston Police Chief Troy Finner said officers arrested Patrick Xavier Clark on a murder charge Thursday evening. They also arrested Cameron Joshua , a 22-year-old at the scene, in November on a charge of unlawful carrying of a weapon, Chief Finner said.

☆ Suspect in murder of Migos rapper Takeoff arrested in Houston
▼ + stars: | 2022-12-02 | by ( Dan Whitcomb | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

Dec 2 (Reuters) - A suspect has been arrested and charged in the shooting death of rapper Takeoff last month, Houston police and city officials said on Friday, in what the mayor called the latest tragic example of "a young man taking the life of another young man." Patrick Xavier Clark, 33, was taken into custody on Thursday evening and charged with murder, Houston Police Chief Troy Finner told a news conference alongside Mayor Sylvester Turner. Two other people were wounded in the shooting, which police said erupted during an argument over a "lucrative" dice game. He was an innocent bystander," Houston Police Sergeant Michael Burrow told the news conference." Ball is the latest rapper to be slain by gunfire in recent years, following Nipsey Hussle, Pop Smoke and King Von.

☆ Man dancing on top of 18-wheeler knocked off and killed when truck drives under bridge
▼ + stars: | 2022-11-17 | by ( Marlene Lenthang | Marlene Lenthang Is A Breaking News Reporter For Nbc News Digital. | ) www.nbcnews.com time to read: +1 min

A 25-year-old man who jumped on top of an 18-wheeler and started dancing died after the truck passed under a bridge and he was knocked off, police said. The incident unfolded on Nov. 10 at about 11:35 a.m. at 200 Eastex Freeway, the Houston Police Department said in a Monday news release. The driver of the red Kenworth tractor-trailer truck was traveling southbound and didn’t realize when the man “jumped or climbed onto the top of the trailer portion of the vehicle,” police said. The man then “began dancing” and was possibly recording himself. When the truck passed underneath the Tuam Street bridge, the man “was struck and knocked off the trailer onto the freeway main lanes.”Paramedics responded to the scene and the man was transported to Memorial Hermann-Texas Medical Center, where he was pronounced dead.

☆ Chompers the python sent would-be thief running in botched robbery attempt, police say
▼ + stars: | 2022-11-11 | by ( Tim Stelloh | Tim Stelloh Is A Breaking News Reporter For Nbc News Digital. | ) www.nbcnews.com time to read: +1 min

A Texas teenager accused of trying to steal a ball python named "Chompers" at gunpoint was charged with aggravated robbery, court documents obtained Thursday show. Chompers, a ball python. The woman, Ariel Giron, told KPRC that she agreed to sell the ball python for $200. A girl arrived at the parking lot with a few dollars and said her brother would send her the rest later, Giron told the station. “I’m guessing he was scared of the snake,” Giron told KPRC.

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