Today is
Thursday June 11, 2026
CHEROKEE COUNTY — A shooting the morning of November 7 led to capital murder charges for two men from Rusk. According to our news partner KETK, Sheriff James Campbell said Trevor Lawson, 18, was found shot to death at County Road 2117, in the Maydelle Community. Campbell said the specifics as to what led to the murder are under investigation and have not been determined. Cody Ray Roberts, 17, and Jontae Jamaile Johnson, 20, both from Rusk, have been charged with capital murder. They are being held in the Cherokee County Jail on $1 million bond each.
SMITH COUNTY — The Smith County murder trial for a Whitehouse man, which had been scheduled for Monday, has been reset for February 4. According to our news partner KETK, Martin Wesley Reynolds, 21, was charged with murder last November in the shooting death of Andrew Carpenter, 19, of Tyler. Carpenter was found shot inside a home on Deerwood Drive and was later pronounced dead. Nathan Garcia, 20, of Whitehouse, was arrested on one count of murder. Colton Wade Tate, 21, was charged with murder and tampering with physical evidence. James Hunter Ansley, 26, was charged with tampering with physical evidence. Daniel Cole Perry, 23, was charged with tampering with physical evidence. Ansley and Perry had their charges dismissed. Tate’s trial is slated for December 17.
TYLER — A two vehicle wreck on Toll 49 left a 9-year-old Arp girl dead, 5 others injured. It happened around 1:00 Sunday afternoon at Toll 49 and FM 2493. According to the DPS report, the driver of a 2017 GM Denali, Valerie Miller, 34, Arp, was traveling west on the toll road when she crossed the center line and hit a Ford Escape head-on. The driver of the Escape, William Pritchard, 29, Tyler, was transported to a Tyler hospital in serious condition. Miller was also transported to a Tyler hospital in serious condition. 9-year-old Leah Miller, who was in Valerie Miller’s vehicle, was pronounced dead at the scene. Three other girls, ages 10, 8, and 4, were taken to the hospital in serious condition. All occupants were restrained.
VAN ZANDT COUNTY — A teen that was passing vehicles in a no-passing zone that killed three people in a crash has now been charged with three counts of manslaughter. According to our news partner, KETK, on October 30, troopers were called Highway 19, just south of Highway 80, in response to a two vehicle wreck. The driver of a truck, Jessie Michael Brown, 19, of Fruitvale, was said to be passing vehicles in a non-passing zone and hit another truck head-on. The driver of the other truck, Connie Wells, 61, of Wills Point, and two young male passengers were pronounced dead at the scene. The juveniles were identified as 14-year-old Adam Thomas Tuma and 11-year-old Elijah William Gabriel Tuma, both of Wills Point. Read the rest of this entry »
CHEROKEE COUNTY — The Cherokee County Sheriff’s office is investigating after a shooting at a location between Maydelle and Rusk. According to our news partner KETK, a teenager was shot and killed at a house on CR 2117. Officials confirm two people have been taken in for questioning. Another person of interest is still wanted.
GLADEWATER — Details are limited following a reported officer involved shooting Sunday in Gladewater. According to our news partner KETK, one man is recovering after he was allegedly shot by a police officer. The father of the man shot told KETK his son was suicidal and the situation escalated quickly. Gladewater police are expected to release more information shortly.
GLADEWATER — Two Gladewater ISD staff members have been fired after a 4-year-old student was left on a bus for 7 hours last week, Superintendent Sedric Clark said Tuesday. According to the Longview News Journal and our news partner KETK, a pair of employees, the driver and bus monitor, failed to follow “the practices in place†on October 22, resulting in the Head Start student’s neglect, Clark said. He added, the most important thing, he said, is that the student “is fine.†Clark said the district, along with Head Start administrators at the Region 7 Education Service Center, are investigating. Child Protective Services and Gladewater police also are investigating.
EAST TEXAS — A woman wanted by the Smith County Sheriff’s Office is now in custody. April Nicole Moore, 24, was booked into the Shelby County Jail Wednesday. She was wanted on multiple felony charges, including burglary and interference with emergency request for assistance. She’s also been charged with fugitive from justice.
UPSHUR COUNTY — A Gilmer ISD bus headed home from a volleyball game in Emory Tuesday night was involved in an accident. According to the DPS report, a car headed west on State Highway 154 crossed the center line and struck the bus on the left front side. The driver did not stop. 15 students were on the bus. No injuries were reported. The bus driver was unable to provide and details regarding the vehicle that hit the bus. Officials are searching for that hit and run driver.
TYLER — A Tyler teen has been indicted for impersonating a public servant. According to our news partner KETK, back in February of this year, Tyler police arrested a man who they say impersonated an officer and tried to pull a victim over at gunpoint at the intersection of Highway 64 Loop 323. The victim told police the driver had activated red and blue lights on the dash. They were able to record the suspect’s license plate as he left the area. Later, an officer located the suspect vehicle at the intersection of South Broadway and Loop 323. Officers stopped the vehicle and discovered a red and blue strobe light. Khristian Welch, 18, of Tyler, admitted to pulling the victims over after he says they ran a red light. Welch was arrested and booked into the Smith County Jail on one count of impersonating a public servant. He released the same day on a $20,000 surety bond.
TYLER — A Tyler man has been indicted after stabbing a man at a local American Legion. According to our news partner KETK, on February 4, around 11:50 p.m., Tyler officers responded to an aggravated assault call at the American Legion on North Gaston. Police found a man stabbed in the abdomen. Witnesses said Richard Lamont Evaige, 67, of Tyler, pulled a knife and stabbing the victim following an altercation. The victim was taken to a local hospital and treated for non-life threatening injuries. Evaige was later found at his residence and arrested. A Smith County grand jury indicted Evaige on one count of aggravated assault with a deadly weapon.
RUSK COUNTY — Rusk County Sheriff’s office officials have arrested James Paul Calvert. Calvert, 47, was on the run for two counts of child sexual assault, burglary of habitation and escape. According to our news partner KETK, several agencies were searching for the suspect. He was brought into custody around 9 p.m. Sunday.
EAST TEXAS — Incumbent Senator Ted Cruz holds a slight advantage of the congressmen from El Paso, Beto O’Rourke. Both made stops in East Texas Thursday. According to our news partner KETK, Cruz attributes his current lead over O’Rourke to Texans standing strong with Texas values. “If you want higher wages, more jobs, a secure border and safety in schools then you have to get out and vote,” said Cruz. Cruz refers to his contender as a far left radical agenda that can’t compromise the truth behind the Lone Star state.
O’Rourke is the closest candidate to trump a Republican for a senate seat in decades. “I’m ready to win, the people of Texas are ready to win,” said Beto O’Rourke. “We want to be able to begin the work that we have described over the last 22 months of this campaign.” Thursday’s stops will be O’Rourke’s last in the area before the November 6th elections.
NACOGDOCHES – One man has been killed and one arrested following a Nacogdoches shooting death. It happened around 7:00 Wednesday night at the University Club Apartments, on Pearl Street. Dead from a gunshot wound to the head was Michael Brucks, 19, of Nacogdoches. Charged with manslaughter is Paul Ivan Gutierrez, 20, of Nacogdoches. He was found walking down the road a short time after the shooting. Witnesses told investigators the two men were horsing around with a high powered rifle when it fired.
NACOGDOCHES COUNTY — A search is underway by Nacogdoches County law enforcement officials for an escaped inmate. Robin Copeland, 56, was transported to a local hospital after making a medical complaint. That’s when she made a break for it just after midnight this morning. Copeland was last seen wearing a blue county issued jump suit. She was arrested in September on warrants for tampering with a government record, theft of service and failure to appear, all felonies. A new warrant has been issued for her arrest for the offense of escape, a 3rd degree felony. Anyone with information on Copeland’s whereabouts is asked to immediately contact law enforcement. Read the rest of this entry »