Police investigating fatal shooting near TSU campus

Police investigate a fatal shooting at an apartment complex near the campus of TSU.

  HOUSTON (KTRK) -- An intruder was fatally shot by an apartment complex resident near the Texas Southern University campus last night, say police.

It happened around 8:30pm on Wentworth and Ennis in Houston's Third Ward. Police say a man, who is a TSU student, was in an apartment complex with his girlfriend and two-year-old child when he heard a loud noise outside.

When he went to check it out, an armed man forced his way into the apartment.

"They heard a loud commotion from the back of the apartment,' said Officer Christopher Hassig with the Houston Police Department. "He wasn't entirely certain if it was a window or a door. He went to investigate and the suspect pushed his way in."

The resident shot and killed the intruder. Police say it does not appear the two knew each other.

The resident was taken downtown to be questioned. It's unclear at this time if he will be charged.

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Lawmaker may consider allowing some workers to bring weapons on campus

HOUSTON (KTRK) -- Even as stores are restricting the sales of certain guns, some state leaders are calling for laws that allow school staff to carry guns on campus.

State Rep. Debbie Riddle says she would consider legislation that would allow teachers with a concealed carry license to take that gun into school but another state leaders says this debate seems to be cast in two extremes and there can be middle ground.

While in the classroom on Tuesday, teacher Elena Saner was thinking of the victims in Connecticut.

"I just wish I could hug them all and make everything better," Saner said.

For 26 years she's been at De Zavala Elementary, but the idea of anyone besides a police officer carrying a gun inside the school makes her uneasy.

"If teachers were to wield their guns, I think they would get in the way of first responders not knowing who the gunman is," she said.

Texas Land Commissioner Jerry Patterson authored Texas' concealed handgun law in 1995 when he was a state senator. He suggests individuals who are comfortable and trained can provide defense at schools in light of the Sandy Hook shooter's actions.

"He was confronted by a principal and a counselor and he killed them. Had he been confronted by a principal who was competent with a firearm, we might have had a different outcome," Patterson said.

Patterson says that could mean more police officers, administrators or a teacher with a concealed handgun license -- but not everyone.

"You can't just go oh you are the principal, here is your gun," Patterson said.

Riddle says she will consider legislation that would allow a teacher with a concealed carry license to take the gun to school.

Saner believes there's a different way but that school security should always come first.

"Children are the backbone of our society," she said.

The topic is expected to heat up in Austin when the next legislative session begins in January.

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Suspects charged in one of recent University of Houston campus robberies

HOUSTON (KTRK) -- The University of Houston Police Department says they have made arrests in one of the recent campus robberies targeting students.

UH Police Chief Ceasar Moore announced the charges during a Friday morning news conference about the three aggravated robberies that took place on or near the campus last week.

Police say Ricardo Jamel Tangarife, the alleged gunman, and Anthony Theus, the store clerk accused of knowingly accepting a stolen credit card, were arrested Thursday in the campus robbery that took place on September 19.

According to police, within 45 minutes of the September 19th robbery, the suspects were seen using the student's stolen credit card on surveillance cameras at Memorial City Mall.

Authorities say Tangarife, 22, along with a woman identified as Sue Helen Ortiz, also known as "Roxy" and known to be a dancer at a local strip club, were both seen on surveillance using that credit card. Police say both bought several hundred dollars' worth of adult and children's shoes.

They say Theus, 21, was also in on the credit card scam.

Police are investigating to determine if these suspects could be connected to the other two robberies as well.

Police are still searching for the 19-year-old Ortiz and say charges are expected to be filed soon. They are also investigating additional persons of interest, including the getaway driver.

The announcement follows the appointment last Friday of an investigative task force focused on solving the crimes and the hiring of five new campus police supervisors, five new patrol officers and a full-time crime prevention officer.

Samica Knight will have more on this story on ABC13 Eyewitness News.

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UH student robbed at gunpoint near campus

  HOUSTON (KTRK) -- University of Houston police are searching for two men who robbed a student at gunpoint Sunday.

The incident was reported to university police around 2pm. According to officials, two men in a car drove up to a UH student while he was walking west in the 3800 block of Holman Street near Scott Street.

The driver brandished a handgun and demanded the student's cell phone and other property, police said.

Investigators said the victim did what the robbers asked and the suspects reportedly fled the scene, headed eastbound on Holman toward Cullen Boulevard.

The University of Houston student was not injured.

The suspects are described as two black men in their late 20s to 30s with light skin, medium builds and short, curly hair. They were in a dark-colored sedan and were armed with a black, semi-automatic handgun.

Anyone with information on this incident is urged to call police at 713-743-3333

Officials are also reminding students to take safety precautions. They suggest you stay alert, avoid walking alone, be cautious when approached by strangers, pay attention to details and remain as calm as possible.

The University has more than 70 emergency call boxes placed strategically around campus. Calls from those boxes go directly to the UHDPS Dispatch Center. If you aren't near a call box, report the incident immediately by calling 713-743-3333 or 911. If a vehicle is involved, try to note the vehicle's license plate number or the vehicle's manufacturer, model and color or any other identifying features.

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Friendswood student attacked while working at night on campus

  FRIENDSWOOD, TX (KTRK) -- Just days before the end of the school year, Friendswood ISD is telling parents about an attack on a high school student on campus.

The girl says she was attacked at the school's agriculture science center about 8:20pm Tuesday. Police say the girl was working in the barn with her brother, tending to some animals, when she went to throw out some trash. She says a man dragged her into some nearby woods, but she was able to get free and escape. The girl did get scratched up.

The student was unable to provide a physical description of the male or a description of a vehicle, according to police officials. The district says it is cooperating with the Friendswood police in the investigation.

A letter was sent home to parents on Wednesday.

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La Porte HS student caught with gun on campus

  LA PORTE, TX (KTRK) -- A La Porte High School student is under arrest for bringing a gun to school yesterday.

The school Crime Stoppers program received a tip that the student had drugs in his backpack yesterday afternoon. When police searched the 17-year-old, they found an unloaded gun in his backpack. He did not have any ammunition.

Parents were notified of the incident and the school posted a statement on its website.

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Police investigating homicide near TSU campus

  HOUSTON (KTRK) -- Houston police are investigating a fatal shooting near the Texas Southern University campus on the south side of Houston.

Investigators were called to Rosedale St. Tierwester St. around 1:30am Sunday where neighbors said they heard between three and seven shots fired.

There, they found a man lying at the corner from a gunshot wound. Another man was found behind a nearby house.

The men -- both in their late teens or early 20s -- were transported to an area hospital. One of them died a short time later.

The condition of the second victim was not released Sunday.

Police believe the shooting was a drive-by. No suspect or vehicle information was available.

Anyone with information about this crime is urged to call Crime Stoppers at 713-222-TIPS.

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HISD students react to elementary campus closures

  HOUSTON (KTRK) -- As Houston ISD prepares to close down four under-attended elementary schools, parents and students are trying to come to terms with the decision.

As we showed you late last night, trustees voted to close Grimes, Rhoads, McDade and Stevenson elementary schools. Students will be allowed to attend any other campus they choose. On Friday afternoon at Stevenson, we found that many parents picking up their children also attended the school when they were kids. And the young students have various concerns about the closure. "I'm gonna miss my friends and I'm scared I won't get to see them again," one student said. "I'm going to be scared because this is the only school I go to," another said. "I don't want this school to shut down, it's like my learning home," a third said. "I was hoping to graduate from all the way to middle school; it's all up in smokes," a fourth student said. The district is still deciding what to do with the campuses once they're closed. Meanwhile, students currently zoned to McDade would be redistributed among Paige, Cook and Kashmere Gardens elementary schools. Rhoads Elementary and Grimes Elementary students would attend the Woodson pre-kindergarten through 8th grade school. Stevenson Elementary would be redistributed to Memorial and Love elementary schools. (Copyright ©2011 KTRK-TV/DT. All Rights Reserved.) Get more Local »

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Students walk off campus to protest teacher layoffs

KATY, TX (KTRK) -- Out of the classroom and crying out against district budget cuts -- students at three local high schools walked out of school in protest of the cuts that will cost hundreds of teachers their jobs. Facing huge budget shortfalls, school districts across southeast Texas are slashing spending and jobs.

Students in Katy ISD are speaking out about what they consider an unfair decision by the district. Katy ISD is facing a $50 million budget shortfall, due to cuts in funding from the state. Officials say 350 teachers have been given notice their jobs will not be renewed. An additional 224 teachers have already resigned or chosen to retire early.

Students at Morton Ranch, Cinco Ranch and Mayde Creek High Schools all walked left class Thursday to protest the cuts.

One large group of Morton Ranch High School students, estimated at 100 to 200 teens, stood outside the school Thursday morning to protest the district teachers who were laid off on Wednesday, and they can't understand why. Students complained that their teachers were called out of class. Some were immediately replaced by substitute teachers, while their own teachers left crying.

The district says teachers were not forced to leave school, but were given the option to leave for the day after receiving the difficult news, and so substitute teachers were standing by. Teachers will remain in class, employed, until the end of the school year.

"They fired good teachers that work hard and have helped me get through my high school so far," said Morton Ranch High School student Jacob Bushen.

"I think it was tasteless how they went about letting the teachers go," Morton Ranch High School parent Bonnie Hoyt. "These kids shouldn't be exposed to teachers getting laid off in front of them, teachers walking out and crying, teachers leaving the classroom. I've been laid off before and I know how it feels. They should have waited until Friday and early dismissal to let the teachers get their thoughts together. These kids don't have to be exposed to such a thing."

Katy ISD spokesperson Steve Stanford explained, "They are seeing firsthand, where a budget situation in Austin is impacting the teachers that they love and they hate to see go. We understand that emotion. The superintendent understands that emotion. In fact, he shares that emotion and is going out to the campus later today."

District officials say they were surprised by the protest. Students say they organized it quickly on Facebook and other social media. There will be no disciplinary action to the students. The district considers this a learning experience.

Officials add that the teachers who were laid off had probationary contracts, meaning they were relatively new to teaching or to Katy ISD.

If you captured any video or photos of the walkouts Thursday, please email them to news@abc13.com or upload them on our iWitness Reports page.

(Copyright ©2011 KTRK-TV/DT. All Rights Reserved.)

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