CLEVELAND (AP) â A man accused of killing five neighbors in Texas after some of them complained that gunfire was keeping a baby awake has been indicted for capital murder of multiple persons. The Friday charge allows prosecutors to seek the death penalty. Prosecutors said Wednesday they do not know whether they will seek it against 38-year-old Francisco Oropeza. He was charged with five counts of murder in May. Police say Oropeza stormed into his neighborâs house on April 28 and shot and killed five people. Oropeza evaded capture for days as a manhunt grew to more than 200 officers outside Houston. He was eventually arrested about 20 miles from the home where the shooting took place.
The $1 million project will provide a more comfortable, private and quiet space to care for patients, according to the release. âWeâre really proud of the fact that where we are and that weâre basically what that means is weâre equipped to take care of just about anything that may come in through our doors. We are acute stroke ready, which means we can take care of strokes. We are also E.R. pediatric ready, which means we have the people, the talent, the technology to take care of even the smallest of patients,â said Administrator Barry Loftquist. The newly expanded ER renovation started about a year ago and is now open for all emergency needs.
TYLER – Severe thunderstorms came through East Texas Tuesday bringing severe thunderstorm warning across East Texas. According to our news partner KETK, A total of 10,199 outages were reported by Oncor, SWEPCO, Upshur County Rural Electric and Wood County Rural Electric. Some counties experienced flood advisories and many saw large hail. KETKâs Chief Meteorologist Carson Vickroy said historically, June is a month East Texas will see hail storms. âAll of that potential energy from those warm temperatures results in large hail stones from strong updrafts, as we know can create a lot of damage,â said Vickroy. After the storm left Tyler, people and businesses checked every vehicle and rooftop for damage. Vickroy said to stay weather aware and get you and your cars to safety ahead of the storm. âWe have all modes of severe weather pretty much year-round in East Texas and the best thing to do when there is a big hail threat in the forecast is asking âHow am I going to protect first my life? and if the storm is going to be a threat to my property?,’â said Vickroy.
TYLER â Severe thunderstorms came through East Texas Tuesday bringing severe thunderstorm warning across East Texas. According to our news partner KETK, A total of 10,199 outages were reported by Oncor, SWEPCO, Upshur County Rural Electric and Wood County Rural Electric. Some counties experienced flood advisories and many saw large hail. KETKâs Chief Meteorologist Carson Vickroy said historically, June is a month East Texas will see hail storms. âAll of that potential energy from those warm temperatures results in large hail stones from strong updrafts, as we know can create a lot of damage,â said Vickroy. After the storm left Tyler, people and businesses checked every vehicle and rooftop for damage. Vickroy said to stay weather aware and get you and your cars to safety ahead of the storm. âWe have all modes of severe weather pretty much year-round in East Texas and the best thing to do when there is a big hail threat in the forecast is asking âHow am I going to protect first my life? and if the storm is going to be a threat to my property?,’â said Vickroy.
ATHENS â A 17-year-old pedestrian died after being hit by a car in a crash on FM 317 around 2:37 a.m. on Sunday, according to our news partner KETK. Haylie Grimes, 17 of Gun Barrel City, was speaking to the driver of a vehicle stopped partly in the westbound lane of FM 317 when a 2008 Dodge Charger drove into the eastbound lane, disregarding a no passing zone and stopped , officials said. According to a Texas DPS report, Grimes was crossing the westbound lane to be picked up by the Dodge when a 2021 Kia Rio failed to control its speed and hit the Dodge and Grimes. Grimes was declared dead at the scene by Justice of the Peace Tonya Norris, DPS reported. The driver of the Dodge was treated for injuries at the scene and released. Officials said the driver of the Kia, Chance Tyler Barnhart, 19 of Athens, was arrested and had his blood voluntarily drawn. Barnhart was charged with intoxication manslaughter with a vehicle and booked into Henderson County Jail.
LONGVIEW â Longview police are investigating a homicide after finding a body while working a structure fire early Wednesday morning. According to our news partner KETK, Longview Fire Department responded to the scene in the 100 block of East Avalon Avenue around 1:15 a.m. Firefighters extinguished the fire and found a body. âUpon initial investigation foul play is suspected, and Longview Police Department is currently investigating this as a homicide,â officials said. Anyone with information is asked to contact the Longview Police Department at 903-237-1110 or Gregg County Crime Stoppers at 903-236-7867.
HENDERSON COUNTY â The Henderson County Fire Department and the Emergency Management team said they are now stepping up enforcement. Our news partner KETK spoke with Henderson County Fire Marshal Shane Renberg who said he believes his county is growing exponentially. He said with more people living in the county, itâs limiting space for concerned folks and junk just builds up on their property. âBasically keeping out trash, debris, junk, tires, old appliances, couches furniture,â said Renberg. âIf it doesnât belong outside in your yard, it needs to be inside or in your property.â Read the rest of this entry »
TYLER â A portion of the South Tyler Trail system will be closed for almost two weeks later this month. The trail segment between Rieck Road and South Donnybrook Avenue will be closed for tree maintenance and cleanup starting next Monday June 12 through June 23. Out of concern for public safety, that part of the trail will not be accessible to the public during that time. The South Tyler Trail is four miles of looped concrete trail. All city trails are open daily from 5 a.m. until 10 p.m. For more information on Tyler trails you can visit their website.
SMITH COUNTY â One person is dead and three were injured after a crash in Smith County on I-20 on Tuesday evening. According to our news partner KETK, the crash happened around 8 p.m. near mile marker 549 going westbound toward Lindale. Sgt. Adam Albritton with the Texas Department of Public Safety said a semi-truck tractor with a trailer was traveling westbound in the right lane while a pickup truck was traveling at a âhigh rate of speedâ behind the trailer. The pickup truck reportedly struck the left side of the trailer, went into the center median and rolled across the lanes of traffic. All four occupants were ejected from the pickup truck, Albritton said. Three persons are hospitalized in critical condition. DPS continues with their investigation.
TYLER â A Tatum man was arrested for murder on Monday after the missing person case of a 51-year-old Tyler woman was reclassified as a homicide. According to our news partner KETK, Paula Belonga was last seen on April 7 leaving her apartment complex, her Chevrolet Impalla was found on April 12 in Zavalla. Tyler police said after obtaining evidence, the case was classified from a missing person to a homicide, and an arrest warrant was issued for Jesse Williams, 40 of Tatum, for murder. Williams was arrested on Monday by the U.S. Marshalâs Joint East Texas Fugitive Task Force and was booked into the Smith County Jail. His bond was set at $750,000.
TYLER â The East Texas Food Bank introduced its sixth Chief Executive Officer, David Emerson. According to our news partner KETK, Emerson has more than 20 years of leadership in Arkansas where he served as the Executive Director at the Midwest Food Bank. With financial struggles and high inflation making it harder for people to afford the prices at the grocery store, he plans to utilize his experience to address food insecurity in rural areas. David Emerson said he wants to try and find a solution to the higher costs. A Federal Reserve report showed that only 63% of adults can cover an unexpected $400 expense. Read the rest of this entry »
HENDERSON COUNTY â A woman was arrested on Sunday in Henderson County after officials found she had an outstanding felony arrest warrant and suspected drugs in her backpack. According to our news partner KETK, she was at the jail visiting an inmate when they made the discovery. Tiffany Karavites, 35 of Colorad, Colo., was arrested on the outstanding warrant and while searching a backpack she had with her at the jail, officials said they found suspected meth. Karavites was booked for one charge of possession of a controlled substance in addition to the outstanding warrant.
MARSHALL â 43 kilograms of cocaine were seized on Sunday by Marshall police after a traffic stop. According to our news partner KETK, a semi-truck was stopped around 3:30 p.m. in the 1500 block of South East End Boulevard. A search of the truck found 39 plastic-wrapped bundles of cocaine that police said is estimated to have a street value of $4 million. The driver, identified as Ariel Martinez, 34 of Elgin, Ill., was arrested and booked into the Harrison County Jail before being released on a $100,000 bond. The investigation is ongoing.
SMITH COUNTY â The Smith County Sheriffâs Office is asking for the publicâs help in locating a woman who was reported missing. Courtney Taylor Martin, 34, was reported missing by her family on May 24. Martin was last seen near County Road 42 and FM 724 on May 18. She is described as a white female, about 5â5âł and 250 pounds with brown hair and brown eyes. Officials said Martin is reported to have a mental illness and is not taking her medication for the illness. According to the sheriffâs office, she has been known to hang out in the area of âtent cityâ near the Super 1 Foods store on East Gentry Parkway. Anyone with information on Martinâs whereabouts is asked to call the Smith County Sheriffâs Office at 903-566-6600.
LONGVIEW â Two people are dead and nine others are injured after a five-car crash in Longview on Monday afternoon. According to our news partner KETK, a white Chevrolet Sonic with one passenger was traveling at a high rate of speed southbound on South Eastman Road when the car âfailed to stop and struck another vehicle.â Longview police responded around 5 p.m. to the scene in the 3100 block of North Eastman Road and Fourth Street. The driver of the Chevrolet Sonic, identified as Callie Bearden, 19 of Longview, was taken to a local hospital where she later died of her injuries. Shelby Partain, 32, a passenger of a separate car, was taken to a local hospital where she died of her injuries. Nine other people were taken to a local hospital for treatment, and police said they are continuing to investigate the crash.