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Arkansas man charged with first-degree murder in death of his father

8Nov

By Houston StringerNo Comments

U.S.

Arkansas man charged with first-degree murder in death of his father

SHIRLEY, AR – A 31-year-old Van Buren County man has been charged with first-degree murder following the death of his 68-year-old father. According to the Arkansas State Police, the Van Buren County Sheriff’s Office requested assistance after Russell B. Branscum, 68, was found deceased inside his home at 14114 Highway 110 near Shirley on November 6, 2025. Special agents with the Arkansas State Police Criminal Investigation Division identified the victim’s son, Brian J. Branscum, as the suspect. He was located at a hotel in Hot Springs and taken into custody on November 8, 2025. The victim’s body was transported to the Arkansas State Crime Laboratory, where the cause and manner of death will be determined. The arrest was the result of a coordinated investigation by ASP CID Comp...

Teen on motorized scooter struck, killed by vehicle in Rancho Cucamonga

8Nov

By Houston StringerNo Comments

California

Teen on motorized scooter struck, killed by vehicle in Rancho Cucamonga

RANCHO CUCAMONGA, CA – A 16-year-old boy from Rancho Cucamonga was struck and killed by a vehicle while riding a motorized scooter near Central Park early Saturday morning. The collision occurred around 1:36 a.m. in the area of Milliken Avenue and Central Park. According to the Rancho Cucamonga Police Department, a Volkswagen driven by 56-year-old Lystra Wilson of Fontana was traveling north on Milliken Avenue when her vehicle hit the juvenile as he crossed the roadway on a scooter. Deputies and emergency crews from American Medical Response and the Rancho Cucamonga Fire District performed lifesaving measures before the teen was transported to Pomona Valley Hospital, where he was pronounced deceased. Deputies J. Cadogan and J. Olamendi from the department’s Major Accident Inve...

Two suspects are now charged in the fatal shooting of Jaylon Ward at a Houston area hotel

8Nov

By Houston StringerNo Comments

Houston

Two suspects are now charged in the fatal shooting of Jaylon Ward at a Houston area hotel

HOUSTON, TX – Two suspects have been charged in connection with the fatal shooting of 25-year-old Jaylon Ward at the Ramada by Wyndham Houston Westchase, located at 2451 Hayes Road, around 3:15 a.m. on November 2. https://youtu.be/WfCl0ZAZDXo According to the Houston Police Department, officers responded to the hotel and found Ward deceased inside a room with at least one gunshot wound. Investigators determined that Ward was shot following an argument with another person inside the room. Further investigation identified Gabriel Isaiah Menefee, 23, as the suspect. Menefee was arrested on November 6 and charged with murder in the 263rd Criminal District Court. A second suspect, Kaleb Bates, 17, was also taken into custody and charged with theft in connection with a stolen vehic...

Suspects in homeless pepper-spray attack released on $100 bond after viral video

8Nov

By Houston StringerNo Comments

Texas

Suspects in homeless pepper-spray attack released on $100 bond after viral video

HARRIS COUNTY, TX – Two men accused of assaulting a homeless man behind a business along State Highway 249 have been released on $100 bond each following their arrests. Courtesy of HCSO According to Sheriff Ed Gonzalez, the assault occurred around 11:30 p.m. on November 4, when the 35-year-old victim was retrieving clothing from a dumpster. Investigators say Xavier Martinez, born January 4, 2005, pepper-sprayed the victim while Jace Fields, born September 25, 1998, recorded the attack and urged him on before the two fled the scene. Fields later uploaded the footage to his Instagram account. The video was then shared by Grizzy’s Hood News to help identify the suspects, drawing widespread attention after it went viral. Both men were charged with Class A assault and apprehend...

Pedestrian killed in hit-and-run crash on FM 1960

8Nov

By Houston StringerNo Comments

Houston

Pedestrian killed in hit-and-run crash on FM 1960

HOUSTON, TX – A pedestrian was killed after being struck by a vehicle that fled the scene in the 7900 block of West FM 1960 around 9:38 p.m. According to the Houston Police Department, a Hispanic male, believed to be between 40 and 50 years old, was walking across FM 1960 when he was hit by a single vehicle. The driver did not stop to render aid and left the area following the crash. Investigators said they have a possible lead on the suspect vehicle, described as a gray truck, and may know its location. It is not known at this time whether intoxication played a role in the crash. If you have any information, you are urged to contact the Houston Police Department’s Vehicular Crimes Division or Crime Stoppers at 713-222-TIPS.

Two men killed in shooting near apartment complex on Windswept

8Nov

By Houston StringerNo Comments

Houston

Two men killed in shooting near apartment complex on Windswept

HOUSTON, TX – Two men were killed in a shooting outside an apartment complex in the 6300 block of Windswept around 7:30 p.m. https://youtu.be/-_Y1UqMB3Z8 According to the Houston Police Department, officers with the Midwest Patrol Division were dispatched after receiving a report of a male who had been assaulted and was injured. When officers arrived, they found an adult male in front of the apartment complex suffering from at least one gunshot wound. Officers performed CPR until Houston Fire Department personnel arrived and transported the man to a local hospital, where he was pronounced deceased. While officers were working the scene, they received another report of a second male found along a walking path near the bayou west of the complex. Responding officers located the ...

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...

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 ...

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 ...

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 ...