Today is
Sunday November 24, 2024
DALLAS (AP) — Victims’ attorneys asked jurors Friday to hold accountable the parents of a student accused of killing 10 people in a 2018 school shooting near Houston, saying they failed to provide necessary support for his mental health and didn’t do enough to prevent him from accessing their guns.
The victims’ lawsuit seeks to hold Dimitrios Pagourtzis and his parents, Antonios Pagourtzis and Rose Marie Kosmetatos, financially liable for the shooting at Santa Fe High School on May 18, 2018. They are pursuing at least $1 million in damages.
Authorities say Pagourtzis fatally shot eight students and two teachers. He was 17 years old at the time.
“It was their son, under their roof, with their guns who went and committed this mass shooting,†Clint McGuire, representing some of the victims, told jurors during closing statements in the Galveston courtroom.
Attorneys representing the victims’ families talked of the anguish of their loved one’s deaths, including the family of Sabika Aziz Sheikh, a 17-year-old Pakistani exchange student who wanted to be a diplomat.
Attorneys representing some of those who survived talked about the trauma they still endure, including Chase Yarbrough, who has fragments of bullets embedded in his body.
Pagourtzis, now 23, has been charged with capital murder but the criminal case has been on hold since November 2019, when he was declared incompetent to stand trial. He is being held at a state mental health facility.
The lawsuit was filed by relatives of seven of the people killed and four of the 13 who were wounded in the Santa Fe attack.
The attorney representing Pagourtzis told jurors during the trial that while his client planned the shooting, he was never in control of his actions because of his severe mental illness.
But McGuire in closing statements asked jurors to hold Pagourtzis accountable, saying there is ample evidence that he intended to do what he did. McGuire said Pagourtzis decided to open fire in the art room so that students would be trapped and it would be hard for police to reach him. He said Pagourtzis wrote in his journal that he found “exhilarating†the idea of shooting his classmates and watching them “writhe on the ground in agony.â€
“He knew when he went to the school that what he was doing was wrong,†McGuire said.
McGuire said during closing statements that before the shooting, Pagourtzis recorded over 50 absences from school, rarely showered, became quieter and stayed in his room — all indicators of mental illness that his parents should have recognized.
But Lori Laird, an attorney for Pagourtzis’ parents, told jurors during the trial that the couple hadn’t seen any red flags, knew nothing of his online purchases and didn’t know any of their weapons were missing.
Lucky Gunner, a Tennessee-based online retailer that sold Dimitrios Pagourtzis more than 100 rounds of ammunition without verifying his age, was a defendant in the lawsuit until last year, when it reached a settlement with the families.
Kosmetatos told jurors that while her son became more introverted as he grew older, he was a bright and normal child with no significant issues. She acknowledged that he “wasn’t himself†in the months leading up to the shooting but she had hoped it would pass.
Antonios Pagourtzis testified that he wasn’t aware that his son was feeling rejected and ostracized at school, or that he might have been depressed.
The family stored firearms in a gun safe in the garage and a display cabinet in the living room. Dimitrios Pagourtzis used his mother’s .38 caliber handgun and one of his father’s shotguns during the shooting. Whether he got the weapons from the safe or cabinet, and where he found the keys, were among points debated during the trial.
“You can’t secure anything 100%,†Antonios Pagourtzis said.
Similar lawsuits have been filed following other mass shootings.
In 2022, a jury awarded over $200 million to the mother of one of four people killed in a shooting at a Waffle House in Nashville, Tennessee. The lawsuit was filed against the shooter and his father, who was accused of returning a rifle to his son before the shooting despite the son’s mental health issues.
In April, Jennifer and James Crumbley were sentenced to at least 10 years in prison by a Michigan judge after becoming the first parents convicted in a U.S. mass school shooting. Pagourtzis’ parents are not accused of any crime.
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UPSHUR COUNTY – An Upshur County man was sentenced to nearly 100 years in prison on Wednesday for drug and gun violations. According to our news partner KETK, 51-year-old Jimmy Wayne Skinner received the sentence for possession of a controlled substance and unlawful possession of a firearm.
Upshur County District Attorney in a release said in February 2024, a search warrant was executed at a shop building on Bob-O-Link Road in Gladewater. A yearlong investigation revealed a room in the building with methamphetamine, marijuana, cutting agents, loaded syringes and multiple firearms.
The district attorney’s office said six other people were arrested at the location and they are currently awaiting trial.
LUBBOCK, Texas (AP) — Once a month, for the last two decades, Lubbock’s First Friday Art Trail has transformed the few downtown blocks it spans into a bustling scene filled with people enjoying live music, food from local businesses and admiring art.
It has become a cornerstone for the city’s creative community and a mecca for art lovers and tourists alike.
And before the free event became the latest political flashpoint in a statewide debate over LGBTQ+ expression, it was one of the few opportunities artists have to showcase their work to the public and to experience diversity in Lubbock, a conservative city of 240,000 on Texas’ South Plains, said Dametria Williams, a local artist.
Williams’ collection of work largely consists of bold and colorful semi-realistic portraits, with careful attention to detail on hair, lighting and texture. Her paintings often depict the beauty and uniqueness of Black people because they aren’t represented as much, she said.
“It’s hard in Lubbock, it’s a struggle to try and make a sale,†Williams said. “That’s why the art trail is such a big deal.â€
So when a local reporter shared on social media that the City Council last month stripped $25,600 from the Louise Hopkins Underwood Center for the Arts, the nonprofit that puts on the art walk, it sent shockwaves through the city. The news was plastered all over social media, acting as a distress signal.
The council’s majority — made up of several newly elected members — was motivated by what others have called misinformation. David Glasheen, a first-time council member, accused the art center of using the money to promote drag shows and other LGBTQ+ programs as family-friendly. Mayor Mark McBrayer agreed with Glasheen’s sentiments, saying they couldn’t spend taxpayer money on “sexualized performances.â€
The art center was not responsible for the drag show and it was not held on its property, nonprofit officials said.
Since the council’s surprise decision, the arts community mobilized. Leaders have written letters informing the public and to the council, and organized fundraising events to make up for the loss ahead of the 20th anniversary celebration in September. Earlier this week, dozens of residents packed the council chambers and pleaded — for hours — with the seven-member board to reverse its decision.
It didn’t.
Art, diversity on display in Lubbock
The City Council’s July decision is an example of ongoing efforts by Texas elected officials seeking to limit the role of LGBTQ+ people in their communities. Local and state conservative leaders have sought to ban certain books, shut down public drag performances, and limit access to public restrooms.
Ten days after the first vote, thousands of supporters endured sweltering heat at the art walk. People wrote why they love the art trail in chalk on brick walls, and the art studios were full. Many attendees wore shirts that said “I support LHUCA and the First Friday Art Trail†while they laughed with friends or listened to live music.
“That felt like one of our largest crowds, especially with the hot weather,†said Lindsey Maestri, executive director for the art center.
Since its creation 20 years ago, the art trail has rarely — if ever — been a source of tension or disagreement in Lubbock.
Jane Underwood Henry, daughter of the art center’s founder and namesake, Louise Hopkins Underwood, said her mother envisioned a place to bring people together from each corner of the city to see art in all forms.
“When I go to First Fridays, I see hundreds of people from all over town,†said Henry. “All ages, kids, and dogs, not so many of them that I know.â€
The art trail has made that a reality. It’s one of the few free events in the city, highlights local and regional artists, and adds culture to Lubbock, which is mostly known for the city’s music scene and Texas Tech University.
“The art trail shows the true melting pot Lubbock actually is,†said Simone See, a Lubbock resident. “Even though people don’t think it is.â€
See is the owner of Taste Buds Food Co., a food truck that frequents the art trail. While the funding doesn’t directly affect the vendors, See said it is the biggest event for small businesses every month. According to representatives with the Charles Adams Studio Project, another venue that’s next to the art center, there are 24 food trucks every month. There’s also more than 30 vendors displaying arts and crafts.
Three hours of public comment
The council’s first vote to defund the art center was a surprise. The city’s creative community would not let that happen again.
In fact, Tuesday’s council meeting only added to tensions between residents and the council members who voted to take away the funds, which comes from the Hotel Occupancy Tax.
Council member Christy Martinez-Garcia, whose district includes downtown where the art walk is held, placed a potential compromise on this week’s agenda.
The proposal restored funding on certain conditions. These include not using the grant fund for various art trail programming, whether it’s for or against a political party, position or candidate, or promoting events with exclusive audiences that do not allow participation of the general public, so programming geared toward youth or 21 and older audiences. Another term prohibited the promotion of activity depicting “sexual acts†or activities of a sexual nature that could be interpreted as sexual conduct.
At the council meeting, the room was almost as crowded as the art trail itself — every seat was filled, while some chose to stand or sit on the floor. Charles Adams, CASP’s founder, recalled how, in the past, the city was excited to invest in an “unsellable†area. It’s since become a popular attraction and an economic driver.
“We get more people on a First Friday than anything besides football and the county fair,†Adams told the council.
The council sat through three hours of public comments, the majority of which were people expressing their displeasure over the vote and love for Lubbock’s arts scene. Tempers flared throughout — one speaker wished the ghost of Louise Hopkins Underwood would haunt disapproving members until they made “the right decision.†The council’s chambers erupted, and Mayor McBrayer reminded everyone that cheering and applauding was not allowed. From then on, the audience snapped their fingers to show approval.
Another resident, Andy Seger, described a double standard for city-sponsored venues — the Lubbock Memorial Civic Center regularly has a knife and gun show on the property. Seger said he has seen memorabilia from hate groups on display, as well as books linked to domestic terrorism. The Civic Center, he argued, operates the same way as the art center, by providing a space for vendors.
“If we’re going to talk about regulating the content of individual exhibitors for a planned event with city dollars, we’re going to have to ban the civic center too,†Seger said, wishing the council good luck.
“You’ve all won a pie eating contest where the prize is more pie.â€
More than 60 people spoke at the meeting, less than a handful of them voiced support for the council’s initial decision to end funding for the art center, saying there needed to be accountability for taxpayer money.
Martinez-Garcia, the council member, said the art center was held to a different set of standards. And while she had pitched the compromise, she later said that she wanted the money returned without any conditions, citing the misinformation leading to the vote. Martinez-Garcia was one of the two votes against cutting the money in the July vote.
“We made a mistake, and we need to correct it,†said Martinez-Garcia. “How we’re going to correct it is by granting these folks their money. If we can’t do that, it sends a wrong message.â€
Glasheen held his stance from the last meeting, saying that awarding the grant money without restrictions is worse than the first time it was proposed to the council.
“It’s more than an LGBT issue,†Glasheen said. “It’s a broader question on what are the common sense restrictions on the type of expression that should be promoted or supported by tax dollars.â€
McBrayer agreed, saying it’s still their responsibility to oversee the tax money, and it’s not a censorship issue. Without the money, McBrayer said the art center would be able to do what they want.
“Artists are free to express themselves however they want,†McBrayer said. “They do not have a right to expect taxpayer money to do that.â€
McBrayer emphasized the council is not “anti-art.†He referenced the late musician Buddy Holly — a beloved icon in Lubbock where he was born and raised — who many audience members brought up in their comments to the council. McBrayer said he’s sure Holly didn’t get all the support he wanted but “it didn’t keep him from being one of the greatest artists ever.â€
McBrayer offered a compromise — provide $5K for security at the art trail. Glasheen was also against this. The resolution eventually passed 4-3.
In a statement, the art center said they were disappointed the funding wasn’t fully reinstated but grateful that security will be funded.
Maestri, the art center’s executive director, told the Tribune before the meeting that the art trail has grown so much, she hadn’t stopped to reflect on how much the event does for the community.
“Sometimes it’s hard to, until there’s moments where you feel like something might be taken away or in jeopardy,†Maestri said.
TYLER – Smith County officials held a groundbreaking ceremony for the new Smith County Courthouse on Thursday. The current Commissioners Court, as well as past members, posed for pictures after breaking ground on the future site of the new courthouse. The new courthouse is expected to be completed in the fall of 2026.
Congressman Nathaniel Moran, who served as Smith County judge when the courthouse bond was passed by voters, spoke to the crowd of more than 100 people, as well as current County Judge Neal Franklin.
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TYLER – SWEPCO released a consumer fraud alert on Tuesday, warning customers of solar panel salespeople claiming to be official partners with SWEPCO. According to our news partner KETK, the electric utility has reported an uptick in reports of door-to-door solar panel salespeople claiming to be officially partnered with SWEPCO.
William Bradford Jr., SWEPCO vice president of external affairs, said, “It’s important for our customers to know SWEPCO does not sell solar panels and is not partnered with any companies that do.â€
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UVALDE (AP) — Not all officer videos from the the Uvalde school shooting in 2022 was given to news organizations following a court order, police said Wednesday as they announced an internal investigation into why the material was not discovered until after a large trove of footage was released over the weekend.
A large collection of audio and video recordings from the hesitant police response at Robb Elementary School, where a gunman killed 19 children and two teachers inside a fourth-grade classroom, was released by city officials on Saturday following a prolonged legal fight with The Associated Press and other news organizations.
It was not immediately clear what the unreleased video shows. The department discovered “several additional videos†after a Uvalde officer said a portion of his body camera footage from the May 24, 2022, shooting was not included in the original release of material, the city said in a statement.
The statement said an internal investigation will determine “how this oversight occurred,” who was responsible and whether any disciplinary action is needed.
“The Uvalde community and the public deserve nothing less,†Uvalde Police Chief Homer Delgado said in the statement.
The unreleased video was turned over to the office of Uvalde District Attorney Christina Mitchell for review.
Jesse Rizo lost his niece, Jacklyn Cazares, in the shooting and said the news of the omitted video was disappointing and tears at a frail system of trust. But, he said he was pleased to know the police chief was forthcoming and hopes the investigation produces consequences.
“Anybody that was at fault, you’ve got to send a strong message that these mistakes are not tolerable,†Rizo said.
The Associated Press and other news organizations brought a lawsuit after the officials initially refused to publicly release the information. The massacre was one of the worst school shootings in U.S. history.
The delayed law enforcement response to the shooting has been widely condemned as a massive failure: Nearly 400 officers waited more than 70 minutes before confronting the gunman in a classroom filled with dead and wounded children and teachers. Families of the victims have long sought accountability for the slow police response in the South Texas city of about 15,000 people 80 miles (130 kilometers) west of San Antonio.
Nearly 150 U.S. Border Patrol agents and 91 state police officials, as well as school and city police, responded to the shooting. While terrified students and teachers called 911 from inside classrooms, dozens of officers stood in the hallway trying to figure out what to do. Desperate parents who had gathered outside the building pleaded with them to go in.
Some of the 911 calls released over the weekend were from terrified instructors. One described “a lot, a whole lot of gunshots,†while another sobbed into the phone as a dispatcher urged her to stay quiet. “Hurry, hurry, hurry, hurry!†the first teacher cried before hanging up.
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LOS ANGELES (AP) — The long-unsolved 1986 killing of a young Southern California woman has been linked to a convicted serial killer who admitted the crime, authorities said Tuesday.
DNA from the killing of Cathy Small, 19, matched William Suff, who was sentenced to death after being convicted in 1995 of 12 murders that occurred in Riverside County from 1989 to 1991, said Los Angeles County sheriff’s Lt. Patricia Thomas.
Suff was known as the Riverside prostitute killer or the Lake Elsinore killer, Thomas told a news conference. He was also convicted in 1974 in the death of his 2-month-old daughter in Tarrant County, Texas, and despite being sentenced to 70 years in prison he was paroled to California in 1984.
Small’s body was found on a street in South Pasadena, a small Los Angeles suburb, at 7 a.m. on Feb. 22, 1986. Clad in a nightgown, Small was found to have been stabbed and strangled.
She was a Jane Doe until a resident of Lake Elsinore, about 70 miles (110 kilometers) southeast of South Pasadena, called detectives and said that after reading a news story about the killing he was concerned that it could a local prostitute who lived with him for several months.
The resident identified Small and told investigators that the night before she was found dead she had told him a man named Bill was picking her up and giving her $50 to drive with him to Los Angeles, Thomas said.
The case nonetheless remained unsolved for years.
In 2019, an LA county medical examiner’s investigator contacted homicide detectives after responding to the natural death of a 63-year-old man found on a couch in a South Pasadena house across the street from where Small’s body was left.
“The coroner’s investigator observed several disturbing items in the house, numerous photos of women who appeared to have been assaulted and held against their will, possibly by the decedent,†Thomas said.
In his bedroom there was a newspaper article about the identification of Small as the victim of the 1986 killing, she said.
Detectives went through the Small killing file and discovered that the evidence was never subjected to DNA testing. Subsequent testing matched Suff and another unknown man, but not the man found on the couch, who was not linked to any crimes, Thomas said.
In 2022, detectives interviewed Suff over two days at a Los Angeles County jail.
“He confessed and discussed in detail the murder of Cathy Small,†Thomas said. “He also discussed and admitted to some of the previous murders in Riverside County.”
Investigators are not expected to seek to try Suff in the Small killing because of his prior convictions and pending death sentence. There has been a moratorium on the death penalty in California since 2019.
Small had two small children and a younger sister, authorities said. Thomas read a letter from the sister, who was not able to travel to the news conference.
“My sister, Cathy Small, was not a statistic,†the letter said. “She was a protective big sister, a loving mother, and a good daughter. Kathy was funny, smart, and caring. She had a big heart and would do anything for anyone.â€
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LONGVIEW — A Longview woman is dead after a verbal argument led to a driver ‘intentionally’ hitting her. According to our news partner KETK, Longview PD were called in an “accident†with injuries on 3100 Letourneau Drive. When officers arrived, they found 40-year-old Teleka Levy-Williams of Longview, with significant injuries. She was taken to a hospital where she later died.
Police found out in the their investigation that Levy-Williams death wasn’t an accident. They learned she had been intentionally struck by a vehicle after an argument. Law enforcement identified the driver of the vehicle as 34-year-old Nadio Hughes of Longview. Hughes was charged with murder and is in the Gregg County Jail where she is being held on a $150,000 bond.
Longview Police asks anyone with additional information on the case to contact them at 903-237-1110 provide information online at greggcountycrimestoppers.org.
MURCHISON – The city of Murchison is warning its residents about an accidental domestic sewage spill into a local creek. According to our news partner KETK, city officials announced Tuesday those using private drinking water supply wells within a half mile of Little Duncan Branch Creek and FM 773 should boil their water before usage. They stressed the city of Murchison’s public water supply is still safe for personal use.
The city also said in a release, that the sewer was observed leaking from the creek crossing on Aug. 5. Officials said erosion caused the sewer main to wash out, resulting in sewage being released into the creek.
At this time, the leak has been plugged and the sewer is being rerouted until repairs can be made to the sewer main, which is expected to happen next week.