Saturday, March 21

Texas

Texas

Palladium opens 146-unit affordable housing complex in northeast Houston
Texas

Palladium opens 146-unit affordable housing complex in northeast Houston

HOUSTON, TX – Palladium USA has opened its new $35 million multifamily housing development, Palladium Houston Ella, located in northeast Houston. The development is a public-private partnership with the Harris County Housing Finance Corporation, with $4.3 million in federal ARPA funds awarded by the Harris County Housing & Community Development Department. Celebrating the grand opening of a new affordable housing community in northeast Houston, Palladium Houston at Ella! Pictured are representatives from Palladium Houston Ella, Harris County Housing Finance Corporation, Harris County Housing & Community Development Department, Harris County Precinct One, Texas Rep. Senfronia Thompson's office and residents.(Photo Courtesy of Palladium USA International, Inc.) The complex incl...
Man already in jail charged in 2021 fatal shooting, car theft outside southwest Houston apartment
Texas

Man already in jail charged in 2021 fatal shooting, car theft outside southwest Houston apartment

HOUSTON, TX – A suspect has been charged with capital murder in connection with a 2021 fatal shooting and vehicle theft outside a southwest Houston apartment complex. Shannon Washington, 46, was charged in the 232nd Criminal District Court on September 25. He is currently in custody with the Texas Department of Criminal Justice (TDCJ) on an unrelated charge. A 2022 booking photo of Washington was released with the announcement. The victim, 28-year-old Dave Stephens, was shot and killed around 3:40 a.m. on April 18, 2021, in the 2900 block of South Gessner Road. According to Houston Police, Stephens and his girlfriend had just arrived at their apartment complex. After dropping her off near the unit, Stephens went to park their white Nissan Rogue. Moments later, gunshots were heard...
Man charged with murder after fatal stabbing during fight at Broadhurst Drive home
Texas

Man charged with murder after fatal stabbing during fight at Broadhurst Drive home

HOUSTON, TX – A man has been arrested and charged with murder following a deadly stabbing at a home on Broadhurst Drive. The incident occurred around 1:10 p.m. on September 25 at a residence located at 6 Broadhurst Drive. According to Houston Police, officers responded to a report of a stabbing and found a 40-year-old male with stab wounds. He was pronounced deceased at the scene by paramedics. Detectives say the victim and another man got into a physical altercation, during which the suspect, identified as 29-year-old Jose Anthony Campos, allegedly stabbed the victim and fled the scene. Campos was located nearby, detained, and later charged with murder. He was booked into the Harris County Jail. The identity of the victim is pending verification by the Harris County Institute...
Suspect extradited from Mexico 20 years after fatal shooting in southeast Houston
Texas

Suspect extradited from Mexico 20 years after fatal shooting in southeast Houston

HOUSTON, TX – A suspect charged in the 2005 fatal shooting of a man at an apartment on Broadway Street has been arrested and returned to Houston to face prosecution. Luis Uriel Castillo, 39, is charged with capital murder in the 263rd Criminal District Court in connection with the death of 25-year-old Cornelius Ray. On January 10, 2005, Houston police responded to a welfare check at 8501 Broadway Street after friends were unable to contact Ray for several days. The apartment manager discovered Ray deceased on the bedroom floor with a gunshot wound. He was pronounced dead at the scene by Houston Fire Department personnel. HPD Homicide Division detectives identified Castillo as the suspect, and capital murder charges were filed later that month. Authorities determined that Casti...
Texas pharmacy owner and three pharmacists sentenced for selling opioids through pill mill in Houston
Texas

Texas pharmacy owner and three pharmacists sentenced for selling opioids through pill mill in Houston

HOUSTON, TX – A Missouri City pharmacy owner and three Houston pharmacists were sentenced for running a pill mill operation that illegally sold over half a million opioid pills, including hydrocodone and oxycodone, to drug traffickers and paid straw patients. According to the Department of Justice, Arthur Billings, 61, owner and pharmacist-in-charge of Health Fit Pharmacy, was sentenced to 12 years in federal prison and ordered to forfeit $2.6 million. Billings admitted to operating the Houston-based, cash-only pharmacy as part of a four-year conspiracy to unlawfully distribute controlled substances and to submitting false disability benefit claims. Court documents reveal that Health Fit Pharmacy repeatedly filled prescriptions—many fraudulent and issued under stolen physician id...
Woman arrested for murder after man found dead in Amarillo home
Texas

Woman arrested for murder after man found dead in Amarillo home

AMARILLO, TX – A 33-year-old woman has been arrested and charged with murder in connection with a man’s death in the 1100 block of Bluebell. File Photo (August 2025) According to the Amarillo Police Department, officers were dispatched around 2 p.m. on September 25, 2025, and found a deceased male who has since been identified as 57-year-old Paluku Valantin, inside a residence. Investigators noted signs of assault on the victim. Alline Ndayishimiye was taken into custody and booked into the Potter County Detention Center. The victim’s name is being withheld pending family notification. The Amarillo Police Department Homicide Unit continues to investigate. Anyone with information is urged to contact the Homicide Unit at 806-378-9468.
Judge Hidalgo calls for delay on law enforcement raises, proposes funds go toward fixing $410M flood bond deficit
Texas

Judge Hidalgo calls for delay on law enforcement raises, proposes funds go toward fixing $410M flood bond deficit

HARRIS COUNTY, TX – Judge Lina Hidalgo is calling on Commissioners Court to delay $100 million in proposed law enforcement pay raises and instead use those funds to help reduce a $410 million shortfall in the 2018 flood bond program. File Photo (August 2025) In a letter sent September 24, 2025, to County Auditor Mike Post and Budget Director Daniel Ramos, Judge Hidalgo suggested that Commissioners bring the law enforcement raises to voters in 2026 and repurpose the funds now to restart 27 flood bond projects currently on hold due to the funding gap. During the September 19 Commissioners Court session, Harris County Flood Control District Director Tina Petersen said the county cannot fulfill all of the original bond commitments unless the deficit is addressed. Over the course of...
Man charged, second suspect sought in 2019 fatal shooting at West Airport apartment
Texas

Man charged, second suspect sought in 2019 fatal shooting at West Airport apartment

HOUSTON, TX – Houston police are asking for the public's help identifying a suspect wanted in connection with the fatal shooting of 44-year-old Terry Clark at an apartment located at 6633 West Airport Boulevard. The shooting occurred around 12:30 a.m. on January 29, 2019. Witnesses told police they heard gunfire and then saw two Black male suspects fleeing Clark's apartment. The pair reportedly left the scene in a white SUV. One of the suspects, Trevon Demitri Lewis, 28, has been charged with murder in the 337th Criminal District Court. He was arrested on September 18 by HPD South Gessner Patrol Division’s Crime Suppression Team and the U.S. Marshals Service. The second suspect remains unidentified. He is described only as a Black male, approximately 5 feet 9 inches tall a...
Two teens arrested in robbery linked to fatal shooting on Unity Drive
Texas

Two teens arrested in robbery linked to fatal shooting on Unity Drive

HOUSTON, TX – Houston Police have arrested two additional suspects connected to a robbery that occurred just prior to the fatal shooting of 25-year-old Felix Caxaj Tax in southwest Houston. The incident happened around 11:05 p.m. on September 21 in the 3400 block of Unity Drive. Officers were first called to a robbery and carjacking in the 6300 block of Skyline Drive, where a man reported that three Hispanic male suspects, one armed with a rifle, had taken his vehicle by force. While officers were on scene, a citizen alerted them to a male lying on a nearby sidewalk. Police then located the victim, Caxaj Tax, with multiple gunshot wounds. He was pronounced deceased at the scene. Investigators determined that after the carjacking, the suspect with the rifle drove west and attempte...
Family members, advocates call for justice in killing of 19-year-old father Jaylon Fox in Houston’s Third Ward
Houston

Family members, advocates call for justice in killing of 19-year-old father Jaylon Fox in Houston’s Third Ward

HOUSTON, TX – A press conference was held Wednesday, September 24, 2025, at noon at Rosalie and Brailsfort to address the murder of 19-year-old father Jaylon Michael Fox, who was fatally shot earlier this year in Houston’s Third Ward. https://youtu.be/B4xgV6V2Z7U Jaylon was remembered as a son, grandson, church youth member, aviation student, and a young father to his 2-month-old baby boy. His family spoke during the press conference, calling for justice in his case and urging for improved safety in the community. The event was hosted by Natural X Nwonknu, community activist and advocate for men’s rights; the Huey P. Newton Gun Club, Houston Chapter; Lanita Hale of Shining Stars Leadership Academy; John Marsden of Houston Unsolved Murders; as well as community members and the fa...