Friday, December 26

Author: Houston Stringer

5-year-old killed, mother seriously injured by suspected intoxicated driver in wrong-way crash on East Mount Houston
8Nov By Houston StringerNo Comments
Harris County, Houston

5-year-old killed, mother seriously injured by suspected intoxicated driver in wrong-way crash on East Mount Houston

HARRIS COUNTY, TX – A 5-year-old girl, identified as Jailey Sam Smith, was killed and her mother seriously injured in a wrong-way crash caused by a suspected drunk driver in the 8300 block of East Mount Houston Road around 8:30 p.m. https://youtu.be/mwvdsJHMN9M According to Sheriff Ed Gonzalez, Smith was unrestrained in the back seat of the vehicle at the time of the crash. The intoxicated driver of the other vehicle has been identified as 20-year-old Carlos Garcia Pineda. He will be charged with intoxication manslaughter. Deputies with the Harris County Sheriff’s Office determined that a white Nissan SUV, driven by Pineda, was traveling eastbound when it failed to stay in a single lane, crossed into westbound traffic, and struck a gray Cadillac sedan nearly head-on. The Cadilla...
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One killed, another injured in shooting on Veterans Memorial Drive
7Nov By Houston StringerNo Comments
Harris County, Houston

One killed, another injured in shooting on Veterans Memorial Drive

HARRIS COUNTY, TX – One man was killed and another injured following a shooting late Thursday night on Veterans Memorial Drive in northwest Harris County. https://youtu.be/xVokDDg7VLw Deputies with the Harris County Sheriff’s Office responded around 11:13 p.m. to a disturbance call in the 10000 block of Rosbrook, where they found a vehicle with multiple bullet holes. Further investigation led deputies to the 12000 block of Veterans Memorial Drive, where evidence indicated a shooting had occurred. Multiple shell casings and other items consistent with gunfire were found in the roadway. Two males, believed to be between 18 and 22 years old, were shot during the incident. One victim was transported to a local hospital, where he was pronounced deceased. The second victim remains ...
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Texas Attorney General sues Roblox, alleging failure to protect children from predators
7Nov By Houston StringerNo Comments
U.S.

Texas Attorney General sues Roblox, alleging failure to protect children from predators

AUSTIN, TX – Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton has filed a lawsuit against Roblox Corporation, accusing the company of ignoring child safety laws and misleading parents about the risks children face on its online gaming platform. File Photo (September 2025) According to the lawsuit, Roblox—one of the largest gaming platforms for children—has allowed users in Texas to be exposed to sexually explicit content, exploitation, and grooming. Paxton’s office alleges the company prioritized profits over the safety of minors using its platform. Paxton said his office will hold corporations accountable for enabling child abuse and claimed Roblox must do more to prevent predators from targeting children online. The lawsuit is part of a broader effort by the Texas Attorney General’s Office ...
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Man charged after crash kills two teens during police chase in Little Rock
7Nov By Houston StringerNo Comments
Arkansas

Man charged after crash kills two teens during police chase in Little Rock

LITTLE ROCK, AR – Arkansas State Police have charged 20-year-old José Solano Rodríguez in connection with a high-speed crash that killed two teenagers after he fled from troopers late on October 29, 2025. According to Arkansas State Police, a trooper saw Rodríguez speeding eastbound on Interstate 30 near the 133-mile marker around 10:15 p.m. When the trooper tried to pull him over, Rodríguez exited at Geyer Springs Road and sped away, reaching more than 100 mph while running red lights and nearly hitting other vehicles. The chase continued westbound on I-30 before Rodríguez exited at McDaniel Drive. His red Infiniti struck another car, lost control, and crashed into heavy machinery at a nearby business, where it caught fire. A 17-year-old boy and a 16-year-old girl in the car ...
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Court lifts block on Texas law banning sexual performances in front of kids
7Nov By Houston StringerNo Comments
U.S.

Court lifts block on Texas law banning sexual performances in front of kids

AUSTIN, TX – A federal appeals court has sided with Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton, allowing the state to enforce a law that bans sexually explicit performances, including some drag shows, from being shown in front of minors. File Photo (September 2025) The U.S. Court of Appeals for the Fifth Circuit overturned a lower court’s decision that had blocked the law from taking effect. The judges said they had “genuine doubt” that performers have a First Amendment right to show sexual content to children. Paxton said he was pleased with the decision and vowed to keep defending the law in court, saying it helps protect families and children across the state. The law, passed by the Texas Legislature in 2023, restricts sexually oriented performances in public places and anywhere mino...
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Man found deceased after trailer fire in northeast Houston
7Nov By Houston StringerNo Comments
Houston

Man found deceased after trailer fire in northeast Houston

HOUSTON, TX – The Houston Fire Department responded to a trailer fire behind a residential property in the 6000 block of Hopper around 10:19 p.m. https://youtu.be/HoXB4cgccls After extinguishing the blaze, firefighters discovered a deceased adult male inside the trailer. The Houston Police Department’s Homicide Division and HFD’s Arson investigators are working to determine the cause of the fire.
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Man shot in leg after gun discharges inside Luxury Inn & Suites in southeast Houston
6Nov By Houston StringerNo Comments
Houston

Man shot in leg after gun discharges inside Luxury Inn & Suites in southeast Houston

HOUSTON, TX – Officers with the Houston Police Department responded to a report of a shooting inside the Luxury Inn & Suites on Easthaven where a male was found with a gunshot wound to the leg. https://youtu.be/rXt05ZzN9EQ According to HPD, a witness said she didn’t really see what happened but stated that two males were showing each other a gun when it discharged, striking one of them in the leg. The injured male told officers he did not know who shot him. One of the men left the scene and has not returned, and it remains unclear what exactly occurred. The shooting is believed to be accidental at this time, though the investigation is ongoing.
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Investigation underway after male found shot in head near Timber Lane Park in north Harris County
6Nov By Houston StringerNo Comments
Harris County

Investigation underway after male found shot in head near Timber Lane Park in north Harris County

HARRIS COUNTY, TX – Deputies with Constable Mark Herman’s Office responded to a shooting overnight in the 2600 block of Ciderwood Drive near Timber Lane Park. https://youtu.be/aNIZjjqskWQ One male was pronounced deceased at the scene from a gunshot wound to the head. The investigation is ongoing, and no other details have been released. If you have any information, you are urged to contact the Constable’s Office or Crime Stoppers at 713-222-TIPS.
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Court upholds restitution order against Colorado woman in $152,000 romance fraud and money laundering case
5Nov By Houston StringerNo Comments
U.S.

Court upholds restitution order against Colorado woman in $152,000 romance fraud and money laundering case

DENVER, CO – The U.S. Court of Appeals for the Tenth Circuit has upheld a $152,072 restitution order against a Colorado woman convicted in a multi-state romance fraud and business email compromise scheme. According to court records, Porsha Pinckey, also known by several aliases including Laura Young and Amy Maine, pleaded guilty to conspiracy to commit money laundering under 18 U.S.C. §§ 1956 and 1957. Prosecutors said Pinckey opened bank accounts and deposited checks obtained from victims of fraudulent schemes operated by her co-conspirators. Although she maintained she did not personally defraud the victims or know the full extent of the scheme, the Tenth Circuit ruled that under the Mandatory Victims Restitution Act, a defendant convicted of conspiracy can be held responsible ...
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Court rules insults not enough to justify heat of passion defense in Oklahoma murder case
5Nov By Houston StringerNo Comments
U.S.

Court rules insults not enough to justify heat of passion defense in Oklahoma murder case

DENVER, CO – The U.S. Court of Appeals for the Tenth Circuit has upheld the first-degree murder conviction of an Oklahoma man who fatally stabbed his roommate after being mocked, ruling that insults and name-calling do not constitute sufficient provocation under federal law. According to court records, Isaac Newman Sockey, a member of the Choctaw Nation, lived with relatives in Tahlequah when he stabbed and killed Thurdis Tubby in September 2023 following a night of drinking. Witnesses said Sockey’s roommates teased him by calling him “chicken legs” before the altercation turned deadly. Sockey admitted to the stabbing but argued he acted in the heat of passion, which would have reduced the charge to voluntary manslaughter. The district court instructed jurors that “words alone, n...
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