Longview PD arrests man for fatal Melba Street shooting

Longview PD arrests man for fatal Melba Street shootingLONGVIEW – The Longview Police Department has arrested a 28-year-old man for murder in connection to a fatal shooting that happened on Melba Street on Saturday.

According to our news partner KETK, officers were sent to the 200 block of Melba Street at around 9:18 p.m. on Saturday to respond to a reported shooting. According to a Longview PD press release, officers found a man at the scene who had been shot. The victim, identified as Isaiah Ross of Longview, was taken to a local hospital where he later died. Investigators then identified a suspect and got an arrest warrant. According to Longview PD, Dominique Johnson, 28 of Longview, was then arrested in Kilgore by the Kilgore Police Department.

Johnson was booked in to the Gregg County Jail on Sunday for a charge of murder.

East Texas soldier dies while training in Hungary

East Texas soldier dies while training in HungaryFORT CAMPBELL, KY. – An East Texas infantryman assigned to the 101st Airborne Division has died following a training accident near Camp Croft in Hungary, according to military officials and our news partners at KETK.

The soldier was identified Saturday as Sgt. Aaron Cox of Mabank. He was a member of the division’s 2nd Mobile Brigade Combat Team and died Thursday in a vehicle accident while preparing for Exercise Saber Guardian 25.

Cox enlisted in the Army in 2021 and was on his second deployment, having previously served in Poland in 2022. During his service, he received several medals, including the Army Achievement Medal, Army Good Conduct Medal and National Defense Service Medal.

The incident remains under investigation, military officials said.

Hernendez wins Winona ISD election after tie

Hernendez wins Winona ISD election after tieWINONA – Luis Hernandez has won the Winona ISD Board of Trustees Place 3 seat after a runoff election held Saturday, following a tie in the May 3 election, according to unofficial Smith County results.

Hernandez received 244 votes, defeating incumbent Randy Hawkins, who received 181. The initial election ended in a rare tie, with both candidates receiving 137 votes. After a recount confirmed the tie, a second election was scheduled.

Hernandez campaigned on expanding athletic programs and implementing long-term planning for the district.

East Texas police officer charged with sexually assaulting a child

East Texas police officer charged with sexually assaulting a childTEXARKANA – An East Texas police officer was placed on administrative leave on Monday, shortly before he was charged with sexual assault of a child. According to our news partner, KETK and the Texarkana Police Department, Zackary Gilley, 32, had been employed by the department since 2018 and was arrested on Monday night.

The chief of police said both an internal and criminal investigation were started after allegations involving a 15-year-old girl came to light.

Investigators gathered facts from a forensic expert and consulted with the Bowie County District Attorney’s Office before requesting warrants be issued by a district judge.

Gilley was called to the police department Monday night and arrested for: Two counts of sexual assault of a child, one count of indecency with a child by contact, one count of indecency with a child by exposure. Continue reading East Texas police officer charged with sexually assaulting a child

48 packages of hydroponic marijuana seized during traffic stop

48 packages of hydroponic marijuana seized during traffic stopNACOGDOCHES — Two men were arrested on May 30 by Nacogdoches County Sheriff’s Office deputies for allegedly using a wrecker company to transport 48 packages of hydroponic marijuana according to our news partner KETK.

A traffic stop was conducted on a tow truck hauling a vehicle on Loop 224 near University Drive for a traffic violation. The driver, identified as Jerome Brown, 30, and the passenger, Corey Roberts, 39, told authorities conflicting information.

A K9 was brought onto the scene, where it gave a positive alert, leading to a search of the vehicle. Authorities found 48 packages of suspected hydroponic marijuana in the trunk of the vehicle. Continue reading 48 packages of hydroponic marijuana seized during traffic stop

Online predator sentenced after sexual relationship with minor

Online predator sentenced after sexual relationship with minorFRANKLIN COUNTY — According to our news partner KETK, a 28-year-old man from Mount Vernon has been sentenced to prison after pleading guilty to traveling with intent to engage in illicit sexual conduct with a minor. According to information presented in court, Zachary Arzola met the victim through social media in September 2022 when she was 14 and eventually traveled to Ohio to meet her in December 2022.

While in Ohio, Arzola provided the victim’s family with a falsified driver’s license that presented him as a 16-year-old. Arzola later returned to Ohio in 2023, where he picked up the victim from her home and took her back to Texas with him.

After returning to Texas with the victim, Mount Vernon Police discovered Arzola and the victim at his house. Arzola later admitted in court documents that he persuaded the victim to have a sexual relationship with him. Continue reading Online predator sentenced after sexual relationship with minor

Winnsboro ISD coach arrested for improper relationship with student

Winnsboro ISD coach arrested for improper relationship with studentWINNSBORO – A former Winnsboro ISD coach has been arrested after allegedly admitting to having a sexual relationship with a student, according to a report from our news partner KETK.

In arrest warrant was obtained for 30-year-old Nicholas Gabriele on Thursday after community members notified the Wood County Sheriff’s Office that he had started a sexual relationship with a senior in high school. According to the sheriff’s office, Gabriele was an assistant football coach and an economics teacher with Winnsboro ISD for the 2024/2025 school year.

“Texas Rangers, along with an investigator from the sheriff’s office, were able to locate Gabriele in Ennis, where he was arrested without incident and admitted to the improper sexual relationship,” the sheriff’s office said. Continue reading Winnsboro ISD coach arrested for improper relationship with student

Officer involved shooting under investigation

Officer involved shooting under investigationTYLER — The Texas Rangers are investigating a fatal shooting involving Tyler Police. According to a news release from the Tyler Police Department, at approximately 7:00 p.m. on June 5, officers were originally dispatched to a residence on Cascades Court regarding a suspicious person, but was changed to a disturbance with a subject inside of the home. Details are limited but officials said officers entered the residence and a shooting involving an officer occurred. The subject was transported to a local hospital where he was pronounced dead. He was identified as John Augustine Tangney O’Kelly, 38, from Tyler.

In accordance with departmental policy, the investigation has been turned over to the Department of Public Safety Texas Rangers. The investigation is ongoing. The Tyler Police Department said additional information will be released once available.

Disturbance call in Tyler leads to officer-involved shooting

Disturbance call in Tyler leads to officer-involved shootingTYLER – The Tyler Police Department said that a 38-year-old man was killed in an officer-involved shooting on Thursday night, according to our news partner KETK.

Officers responded to the 3100 block of Cascades Court at around 7 p.m. on Thursday for a report of a suspicious person and a disturbance inside of a home. When officers entered the home, Tyler PD said an officer-involved shooting injured John Augustine Tangney O’Kelly, 38 of Tyler. O’Kelly was then taken to a local hospital where he was pronounced dead.

The Texas Department of Public Safety’s Texas Rangers are currently investigating the shooting.

Wanted East Texas man arrested in Henderson

Wanted East Texas man arrested in HendersonUPDATE: Our news partner KETK is reporting that Terrance Marshawn Carter was arrested the City of Henderson around 2:20 p.m. on Thursday and charged with evading arrest after fleeing during a traffic stop on Saturday, according to Gun Barrel City Police Department Detective Adrian Ruiz. It is unconfirmed which law enforcement agency made the arrest as Gun Barrel PD was just notified of Carter’s capture, Ruiz said.

GUN BARREL CITY – The Gun Barrel City Police Department is currently searching for a man that led Henderson County law enforcement on a search to Eustace overnight. Gun Barrel City PD said officers were doing a traffic stop in the 100 block of Trailwind Street in Gun Barrel City on Saturday at around 9:36 p.m. when a man ran from the vehicle.
Photo of Terrence Marshawn Carter, courtesy of Gun Barrel City PD.

According to a post from Gun Barrel City PD, the man was identified as Terrence Marshawn Carter, a Black man from Henderson. Officials said Carter has a active patrol violation from the Texas Pardon and Parole Board. Continue reading Wanted East Texas man arrested in Henderson

Rep. Moran fights in support of military operations center

Rep. Moran fights in support of military operations centerTEXARKANA — Rep. Nathaniel Moran, R-TX released a statement on Thursday urging the Secretary of Defense, Pete Hegseth, to continue funding for the Red River Army Depot (RRAD) that maintains military operations.

According to our news partner KETK, the RRAD is an over 15,000 acre U.S. Army facility in northeast Texas that is responsible for repairing and remanufacturing military supplies. This facility supports multiple military branches by providing vehicles and other supplies to warfighters during combat. With President Donald Trump’s administration looking to minimize federal spending, the RRAD faces the risk of seeing possible budget cuts.

Moran and 11 other members of congress signed a letter that was sent to the Secretary of Defense, Pete Hegseth, expressing their wish for the administration to allow RRAD’s operations to continue as usual without cuts. Continue reading Rep. Moran fights in support of military operations center

House budget proposal cuts SNAP, Medicaid

House budget proposal cuts SNAP, MedicaidTYLER — The House has passed a budget proposal within the ‘Big Beautiful Bill’ that would cut the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) and Medicaid. According to our news partner KETK, this results in the largest rollback of food assistance in our nation’s history, according to ‘Feeding Texas’. SNAP currently feeds 3 million Texans and cutting funding for this program would result in $300 billion lost in aid.

The estimated total of Texans at risk of losing all SNAP benefits is 392,000 and 806,000 are at risk of losing partial benefits. Additionally, the bill could leave one million Texans without health insurance, specifically putting elderly and pregnant women in rural areas at risk.

“This represents a 30 percent cut to our nation’s most important and effective anti-hunger program,” Vice President of Feeding Texas Jamie Olsen said. “Texas would be required to pay 1.8 billion dollars a year starting in 2028,” Olsen said. Continue reading House budget proposal cuts SNAP, Medicaid

Man sentenced to 20 years in federal prison for child exploitation

Man sentenced to 20 years in federal prison for child exploitationTEXARKANA – According to a press release from the acting U.S. Attorney’s office, a Mount Vernon man has been sentenced to federal prison for child exploitation violations.

According to court records, Zachary Arzola, 28, met a minor victim online in September 2022 when he was 26 years old, and the minor victim was 14 years old. Arzola communicated with the victim through social media applications and eventually traveled to Ohio to meet her in December 2022. Once in Ohio, Arzola presented the victim’s family with an altered driver’s license to falsely represent that he was 16 years old. Continue reading Man sentenced to 20 years in federal prison for child exploitation