Today is
Thursday June 11, 2026
MARSHALL — A Marshall resident and former state trooper accused of sexually abusing a child has been sentenced to 10 years in prison. Louis Paul Weems pleaded guilty to indecency with a child on Dec. 3. He was also ordered to pay a $10,000 fine and register as a sex offender. According to the Marshall News Messenger and our news partner KETK, Weems was stationed in both Marshall and Marion County as a DPS officer. He was originally suspended from his law enforcement position in November 2017 after allegations of misconduct surfaced and a criminal investigation was launched by the Texas Rangers. Weems was indicted in April by a Cass County grand jury for continuous sexual abuse of a child, indecency with a child by contact, and indecency with a child by exposure. Weems had been employed with the department since September 2008.
TYLER — Tyler police say several recent homicides could be drug related and connected. The first homicide happened on North Summitt Avenue. Mario Guzman, 32, was found fatally shot on his front porch early Friday morning. The second murder happened Monday afternoon on West Barrett Street, a few blocks from Guzman’s residence. Bennie Jackson, 65, was also found shot on his front porch. He was pronounced dead at the scene.
HENDERSON COUNTY — A homicide investigation is underway following a shooting in Henderson County Monday afternoon. Deputies responded to a residence on Woodridge West, near Chandler, just before 2:00. Beverly McBride, 17, was was found on a couch inside the home with a gunshot wound to the head. She was pronounced dead at the scene. Her father, Gabriel McBride, 46, was found on the living room floor. He had also been shot in the head and was airlifted to a Tyler hospital. He remains in critical condition. Texas Rangers are assisting with the investigation. Anyone with information is urged to contact the Henderson County Sheriff’s Office at 903-675-5128.
SMITH COUNTY — The Smith County Sheriff’s Department is searching for a local man wanted on several felonies. Cody Keaton Kovarik, 26, Tyler, is wanted on one count of unauthorized use of a motor vehicle, as well as numerous counts of felony evading. Anyone with information on Kovarik’s location is urged to contact the Smith County Sheriff’s Office at 903-566-6600.
TYLER — Police are still trying to learn what led to the death of Tyler man. Just before 3:00 Friday morning, officers found Mario Nicolas Guzman, 32. He was found with a gunshot wound near a door of a residence on Summit Avenue. Guzman was pronounced dead at the scene. Anyone with information about potential suspect(s) involved in this crime are urged to contact the Tyler Police Department at 903-531-1000, or Crimestoppers at 903-597-CUFF (903-597-2833).
GREGG COUNTY — Longview police arrested a woman Monday on suspicion of beating her 9-year-old son with an extension cord. According to the Longview News Journal and our news partner KETK, Alicia Denise Palmer, 25, of Longview, is free on bond after being charged with injury child/elderly/disabled person with intent to commit bodily injury. Palmer was arrested after an officer responded Monday evening to a convenience store on South Eastman Road. A naked boy said he ran away from his mother, who had beaten him. The boy sustained welts on his left arm and buttocks. The boy’s mother, Palmer, told police that she made him take off his clothes before she gave him a “lick†with an extension cord because he had gotten into trouble at school. Palmer also faces payment plans on warrants from Longview police for speeding 15 to 19 mph in a 30 mph zone and for no driver’s license.
SMITH COUNTY — The Smith County Sheriff’s Department announced the arrest and indictment of four suspects on Federal drug and firearm related charges. Suri Rivera-Zuniga, 24, Kevin Russ Ivy, 57, Angelica Jaimes-Loredo, 30, and Stephen Paul Barton, 54, (pictured) were indicted November 14th, 2018, by a Federal Grand Jury in the Eastern District of Texas. According to officials, the Smith County Sheriff’s Office Narcotics Investigators, Texas Department of Public Safety Criminal Investigation Division and the Drug Enforcement Administration launched a long term investigation into the distribution of dangerous drugs in Smith County as well as surrounding counties. The investigation lasted approximately seven months. During the course of the investigation, approximately four kilograms of Methamphetamine and two firearms were seized.
LONGVIEW — A lawsuit alleging corruption at the Texas Department of Public Safety spills over into the unsolved 2016 murder of prominent Longview businessman Ronnie Horaney. According to the Longview News Journal and our news partner KETK, the federal suit, filed Tuesday by former Longview resident Ty Clevenger on behalf of retired Mount Pleasant-based DPS investigator Darren Lubbe, raises multiple accusations of DPS cover-ups by superiors and retaliation against Lubbe in a 24-page claim. The complaint says the Texas Rangers discovered their lead investigator in the Horaney case was involved in a sexual relationship with Horaney’s widow. Lubbe and his attorney allege that the lead Ranger, Brent Davis, helped Mrs. Horaney recover proceeds from her husband’s life insurance policy, badly compromising the murder investigation. Read the rest of this entry »
PITTSBURG — The investigation continues into the death of a woman whose body was found Monday morning along a road in Pittsburg. She has been identified by Southwest Forensic Institute as Tashiana Sharday Taylor, 24, of Pittsburg. No word yet on the cause of death.
WHITEHOUSE – A missing Whitehouse woman has been found and is safe. The silver alert was issued for Mildred Hightower, 83. She was last seen Monday afternoon and was reported missing Tuesday morning. The Silver Alert was discontinued Tuesday afternoon after she was found safe in Carthage.
EAST TEXAS — It’s been just over one year since a D-P-S Trooper was killed during a traffic stop. Trooper Damon Allen was shot to death during a stop for speeding on I-45 near Fairfield on November 23rd, 2017. According to court records, the 41-year-old Allen was shot while checking a driver license in the front seat of his patrol vehicle. Dabrett Black, of Lindale, was arrested for Allen’s killing. The 33-year-old is charged with capital murder, and remains in the Limestone County Jail. A judge is expected to set Black’s trial date in January.
PALESTINE — Palestine police have arrested three people after a shooting sent two victims to the hospital on Sunday. According to our news partner KETK, just before 10:30 a.m. on Sunday, officers from the Palestine Police Department responded to a residence on Lamar Street in reference to a reported shooting. Officers arrived and found two victims with apparent gunshot wounds. The male victim was identified as Alex Afshari, 19, of Palestine. The female victim was identified as Christine Kelly, 18, of Palestine. Both victims were transported to a local hospital. Read the rest of this entry »
TYLER — Tyler Police are searching for an armed suspect after a restaurant manager said he was tied up and robbed. It happened just before 2:30 Monday morning at Razzoo’s on south Broadway. The manager told officers he was outside when he was approached by a man with a handgun. The victim said he was ordered back into the building and forced to open the safe. The manager claims he was tied up before the suspect fled on foot with an undisclosed amount of money. The victim said he was able to eventually cut himself loose and call police. The suspect was wearing all black clothing, gloves, and a ski mask. Anyone with information is asked contact the Tyler Police Dept at 903-531-1000.
TYLER — An armed suspect accused of robbing a pizza delivery driver has been arrested. Tyler police responded to the Foundry Apartments on Varsity Drive around 9:40 Sunday night following a call from a Domino’s Pizza delivery driver. The victim claims he was in the parking lot of the apartment complex when he was approached by a man with a pistol. The suspect reportedly demanded the driver’s money and pizza, then fled on foot behind a shed. Arriving officers found Brant Miller, 18, with the stolen property. He was booked into the Smith County Jail on charges of aggravated robbery and evading arrest.
SMITH COUNTY — Smith County troopers were busy Friday morning, responding to three separate crashes within a small amount of time. According to our news partner and the Department of Public Safety, the first crash occurred at on Highway 64 at FM 279 involving a semi and passenger car. No word on any injuries. The second crash occurred about a quarter mile west of the first wreck involving Tyler ISD school bus #25. No students were reported injured. A second bus arrived shortly after and transferred the students to school. DPS said the driver of the truck involved in that crash was injured, the extent was not known. The third crash happened near near FM 2661. Additional information was pending.