Homicide detectives probing baby's death in north Houston

  HOUSTON (KTRK) -- A Houston father is under arrest after police discovered his child dead in north Houston on Thursday.

It happened around midday at an apartment complex in the 16000 block of City View Place, and the HPD crime scene unit spent the rest of the day scouring the scene for evidence.

Police were dispatched to the complex around 1:30pm after they received a call from someone claiming there was a child in cardiac arrest.

Police say it looked as if the two-year-old boy, who's been identified as Jashaun Davis, had been badly beaten.

According to an officer on scene, the toddler's father, Tyrone Jefferson, was questioned by detectives and told he them his son became unresponsive after a spanking. According to court documents, the toddler's head was struck against a wall. He was pronounced dead shortly after arrival at a nearby hospital.

Police say the mother was at work when the incident happened. She seemed completely devastated when she spoke with us Friday.

"I was gonna tell him to leave that same day. It was too late. I love that boy more than life itself," the boy's mother, Angela Davis, said.

Jefferson, 24, was later charged with capital murder.

Meanwhile, neighbors are still trying to figure out what happened.

"He looked innocent, like he wouldn't do something like this, but you know never know what's in people's mind," neighbor Evelyn Cloud said.

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Police: Fight over dog in NW Houston turns deadly

HOUSTON (KTRK) -- A deadly fight between roommates all started over a dog, and officials say the shooting may have been self-defense. The fatal encounter happened at an apartment complex off Hollister in northwest Houston late Wednesday night.

A 21-year-old man had lived at the apartment for a while but he took in a roommate a few months back. But on Wednesday night there was a fight centered around a dog named Bear and it ended in death.

HPD Homicide Officer Brian Evans said, "When the secondary roommate was apparently attempting to choke a dog that was inside the apartment belonging to the primary lease holder, that individual then turned his attention from he dog to the lease holder and they became involved in a physical altercation."

Not long after that a gun was fired. The roommate who had choked the dog was shot. A neighbor heard the commotion.

"I looked over by the window and then I see the guy screaming and he says it hurts," recalled Ingrid. "But I didn't hear the gunshot, just the guy screaming."

The man police have identified as Brian Harper later died at a nearby hospital. Both roommates were 21 years old, and were often seen taking the dog outside. They were described as quiet and pleasant. One neighbor says one of the men was involved with an area church.

"He told me he was a youth pastor and he loved his job and he loved doing what he was doing," said neighbor Harold Davis. "He talked about the kids at the church all the time."

The roommate who shot his friend was questioned by police but he was not arrested and he is not charged. Police say it may be a case of self-defense.

"All of the evidence that we have on that scene appears that may be the case," said Officer Evans. "We don't have anything to indicate it was a struggle over than a self-defense type situation."

Because of that, police say the case will be presented to a grand jury which will decide whether charges are merited or not. The name of the tenant who shot Harper, according to police, is not being released because he has not been charged with a crime.

The dog was taken into the custody of animal control, which is seeking to return it to its owner.
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Woman found shot to death inside running SUV in SW Houston

HOUSTON (KTRK) -- Houston police may have a hard time solving a woman's murder. She was gunned down behind the wheel of her SUV, and there are few clues as to what may have happened.

The woman was found dead along Birdwood near Renwick in southwest Houston late Thursday night. She was killed just a couple of blocks away from her apartment complex, and the murder has her friends and neighbors very concerned right now.

Friends are leaving stuffed animals and balloons, building a small roadside memorial in memory of a woman who was shot and left to die.

"She was great," said Kim Ortiz, a friend of the victim. "She was funny, friendly."

Ortiz says the 29-year-old victim was her best friend. Police say the woman was driving her SUV when an unknown person shot her in the head on the 5400 block of Birdwood around 11pm Thursday. Several neighbors woke up to the commotion.

Neighbor Lew Williams said, 'Heard three shots, very loud. It sounded like it was bang... and then bang, bang."

Investigators say the victim wasn't robbed. And they're speculating road rage could have played a part in this murder. The woman's friends just want some answers.

"She was trying to get back on her feet," Ortiz said. "She was bettering herself. She was going to school."

Police believe the victim backed her SUV off the street and onto a field trying to escape the gunman. A neighbor passing by found her dead behind the wheel. Several witnesses told police they saw a black Tahoe speeding from the scene after the shooting.

"I hope that if somebody knows that person or knows what happened, they could say something. Because we're all wondering," Ortiz said. "We all just want to know something. Something needs to be done. Justice needs to happen."

Officials have not yet released the victim's name. Investigators are canvassing the neighborhood and looking for surveillance video.

Anyone with information in this case is urged to contact the HPD Homicide Division at 713-308-3600 or Crime Stoppers at 713-222-TIPS.
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Houston car thieves' wish list for December

  HOUSTON (KTRK) -- When it comes to car thieves, certain types of vehicles are at the top of their wish list.

The following is a rundown of the "Top 10" makes of vehicles stolen during the month of December: Ford Trucks 155 Chevrolet Trucks 151 Honda Cars 123 Dodge Trucks 64 Chevrolet Cars 45 GMC Trucks 44 Toyota Cars 27 Dodge Cars 26 Ford Cars 24 Buick Cars 21
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Drive-by shooting kills one, injures another in NE Houston

  HOUSTON (KTRK) -- Police are looking for anyone connected to a northwest Houston drive-by shooting that left one person dead and another injured.

The shooting happened around 6:30pm at an apartment complex on Cedar Post Lane at Westview Drive.

Police say two men were shot in a drive-by shooting outside the complex.

One of the victims was shot in the chest and died from his injuries. It wasn't immediately clear whether the other was shot, but we're told he is in stable condition.

So far, police have no motive or suspects in the shooting.

An investigation is ongoing.
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Toll road planned along Highway 249 in NW Houston as part of expansion project

HOUSTON (KTRK) -- If you live on the northwest side, plans are in motion that could ultimately make your life a lot easier. County officials are one step closer to possibly creating a new toll way along Highway 249 from Spring Cypress all the way to FM 1488.

Along Highway 249, the signs are up, even if the project to turn this stretch of Tomball Parkway into a toll road has not yet begun.

"It's whatever the government tells us to do," said local flower shop worker Cyndi Sharp. "Do we really have a choice?"

Sharp may not be sold on the toll road idea. But Commissioner Jack Cagle is a big supporter of the 249 toll road. To get it done, Harris County commissioners approved a memorandum of understanding to lend Montgomery County up to $20 million to help study the toll project.

"Without Montgomery County, we won't be able to service our constituents who live in Harris County," Cagle said.

The toll road will eventually go through Harris and Montgomery counties, so if and when expansion occurs, both counties can continue at the same pace.

"Six or eight years ago, people didn't want to hear the word toll road," said Bruce Hillegeist with the Greater Tomball Area Chamber of Commerce.

Hillegeist says his organization knows the reality is they won't get any expanded Highway 249 if there is no toll. So the first phase of the project is set to start this fall, with two more phases planned for years ahead.

"The Texas Department of Transportation really laid it on the line for us -- no toll, no road," Hillegeist said.

A commissioner with Montgomery County tells Eyewitness News he also supports the toll road project.
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Mayor Annise Parker declares Friday, Jan. 11 as 'Go Houston Texans Day'

  HOUSTON (KTRK) -- Mayor Annise Parker has declared Friday, January 11, 2013 as "Go Houston Texans Day."

Houstonians are encouraged to wear their Texans gear or something red to work that day in support for the team as it takes on the New England Patriots in Sunday's AFC Divisional playoff game.

"This season -- the best in the franchise's 11 year history -- has been mesmerizing," said Mayor Parker. "We have watched Gary Kubiak and Matt Schaub lead our team to victory more times than ever before, and our defensive powerhouse J.J. Watt has become a household name. Texans fans are steadfast and I know they will show their team spirit as our Bulls on Parade head toward a victory on Sunday!"

She also announced that City Hall will be lit Battle Red through the weekend as an additional show of the city's support for the team.

Don't forget to catch our 'Houston Texans: Road to the Ring' special Friday at 7pm on ABC13, as the Texans try to take another major step to their first Super Bowl.
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Former President George H.W. Bush remains hospitalized in Houston

  HOUSTON (KTRK) -- Former President George H.W. Bush will not leave a Houston hospital until he's made a full recovery.

A Bush spokesperson says the former president has had a few days where he hasn't had much energy, so doctors at Methodist Hospital are putting off his discharge until he's fully recovered.

Bush had been expected to go home sometime this weekend.

The 88-year-old has been in the hospital since Thanksgiving for treatment of a lingering cough related to bronchitis.

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Mother and daughter found dead inside SW Houston home

  HOUSTON (KTRK) -- We have an update on the murder of a mother and daughter in southwest Houston. The alleged gunman told his family he'd taken care of some "unfinished business."

The 35-year-old mother and her 13-year-old daughter were found shot to death yesterday in their home on Jetty near Kirkwood at around 2:45pm.

The suspect's family told police he has a violent history and they were alarmed by his comment and the fact that he had a gun on him. They immediately went to the home and discovered the bodies.

Police say the woman is the suspect's ex-girlfriend, but he is not the father of the child. The suspect is in custody.

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Residents escape burning home in NE Houston

  HOUSTON (KTRK) -- A fire burned through a small home on the northeast side of town overnight. It happened just before 1am off Finch Road near Homestead.

Fire crews say people were living at the home, but all of them made it out safely. The house was heavily damaged by the flames and may be a total loss.

Firefighters wouldn't say what started the fire, but arson investigators were called to the scene to look into it.

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Houston Hobby endures busiest travel day

  Pooja LodhiaHOUSTON (KTRK) -- The weekend before Christmas is a busy time on the roads and in the air. Thousands of passengers went through Houston today as they head to their homes for the holidays.

Nearly 2 million travelers are expected to pass through Bush Intercontinental and Hobby Airports during the holiday week, and Saturday was Hobby's busiest day.

With a bag filled with goodies, Shirley Kitchens is going to Disneyworld to see her family for the holidays.

"Oh my gosh, I couldn't sleep last night. It was very exciting," she said. "Just being with everybody -- it'll be fun."

Nearly 30,000 people were expected to travel in and out of Hobby Airport on Saturday. Friday was the busiest day at IAH with nearly 111,000 people traveling.

There were a few hang-ups at Hobby -- including delays -- and, as expected, it's not easy booking a last minute flight.

"Everything is booked. Everything is packed right now. It's hard to get in and out of here like normal. I'm going to sit around for four or five hours," Ken Ferguson said. "It'll be alright. I'll watch some TV and go eat."

But for the most part, lines were moving quickly.

"I was surprised because they had done a phenomenal job keeping up with Christmas traffic and making sure that everybody's getting to be where they need to be on time," traveler Brittiny Moore said.

Hobby was not the only busy airport Saturday. According to AAA, Texans are on the move.

The travel group projects nearly 7.7 million Texans will leave home during the holiday period. AAA expects most of them will travel by vehicle -- 7.1 million people to be exact. Texans are expected to log an average of 749 miles round-trip during the holiday period.

Check our travel guide for the latest flight tracker, gas prices and weather forecast.

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Chase ends with crash, arrests in SW Houston

  HOUSTON (KTRK) -- Two suspects were arrested Saturday after leading Texas Department of Public Safety troopers on a chase in southwest Houston.

The chase began around 8am near the Astrodome. According to officials, the driver of a Chrysler sedan was spotted committing a traffic violation and then refused to stop for a DPS trooper.

The pursuit went down the westbound South Loop feeder road before entering a neighborhood where the car crashed near Spellman at Cliffwood.

The driver and a passenger bailed and escaped on foot, but officials say both were caught and arrested within an hour in the same neighborhood.

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Christmas Day storms turn dangerous across Houston area

  HOUSTON (KTRK) -- Strong storms that moved across the Houston area Tuesday morning are being blamed for at least one death, thousands of power outages and plenty of damage.

Weather radars may have cleared, but remnants of the Christmas morning storms are still very visible, as downed trees and power lines remain scattered across some streets.

Meteorologist Casey Curry says a powerful upper level storm system combined with a warm, moist air mass produced the dangerous weather. Parts of the ABC13 viewing area endured damaging winds, small hail and even faced the threat of tornadoes.

The storms are being blamed for a young man's death in northwest Harris County. It happened around 9:30am in the 17600 block of North Eldridge Parkway.

Investigators say the man was trying to move a downed tree that was blocking the roadway when another one snapped and fell on top of him. He was taken to St. Lukes Hospital in The Vintage, where he was pronounced dead. His name has not been released, but we're told he's in his 20s.

In the Heights area, a knocked-down power line stretched across Interstate 10 at Washington, and road crews had shut down part of the highway to clear the scene.

And near the northern edge of Huntsville, downed power lines forced highway officials to close both directions of Interstate 45 for several hours until workers could clear that scene, according to the Walker County Sheriff's Office.

Reports of more downed trees and power lines also were made in parts of northwest, east and northeast Harris County.

In Montgomery County, power lines smoked and swayed in the wind for hours, and toppled trees lined some streets.

In Splendora, a tree fell on one home, busting through the bathroom window and causing thousands of dollars in damage.

"You could hear the wind just whistling, blowing. You could hear the hail all over the house. It was just crazy. It was literally crazy," Splendora resident Mindy Mitchell said.

In Kingwood, ABC13 cameras were rolling when the transformer of a downed power line combusted in the middle of a street in the Kings Mill neighborhood and startled just about everyone nearby.

"We heard a big pop and then all of a sudden we didn't have any electricity. It kept trying to come back on and then just nothing," Kingwood resident Mike Alexander said.

And then there were the power outages. At their peak, CenterPoint reported more than 75,500 customers had lost power during the storms, and Entergy reported about another 34,000.

Though the threat of severe weather is behind us, big changes are on the way, Curry said. She says bitter cold air is expected rush in from the north overnight, dropping our high temperatures to the mid-40s.

"Look for some of the coldest air of the season to settle into southeast Texas," Curry said. "Many of us will wake up to lows below freezing Wednesday morning."

By the afternoon, the high temperatures will struggle to reach 50 degrees, she said.

You can track any storms in the Houston area by downloading our free mobile apps. Also, like us on Facebook and follow us on Twitter for updates as they happen.

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Suspected drunk driver slams into light pole in north Houston

  HOUSTON (KTRK) -- Alcohol is believed to have played a role in an accident in north Houston.

The driver of a Kia Spectra was turning on to Veterans Memorial from Shepherd when he lost control and hit a traffic light pole. The driver had to be taken to the hospital.

Police suspect the driver was drunk.

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Strong winds cause exploding transformers, power outages around Houston area

  HOUSTON (KTRK) -- The strong winds overnight led to exploding transformers and power outages across town.

We caught several explosions from our Tower Cam HD above the ABC13 studios in southwest Houston. You'll need to watch out for intersections that do not have lights because of power outages.

CenterPoint Energy reports just under 14,000 homes and businesses are without power as of 9:45am. That's down from a peak of close to 61,000 at around 3am.

Those outages are scattered from southeast Houston to The Woodlands.

Meteorologist Casey Curry says wind advisories are posted across our area today. Look for widespread 40-50mph wind gusts. One wind gust was clocked in at 61 miles per hour at around 3:45 this morning in Bayou Vista.

Be careful on the roads this morning as you may run into road debris throughout your morning drive.

Some ABC13 viewers have sent us photos of the power outages and wind damage across the area. We've seen tree branches in the Heights near the North Freeway and North Main, as well as a downed tree in a neighborhood off Beechnut in southwest Harris County.

You can send your photos to news@abc13.com, but please don't put yourself in harm's way to get the shot.

Many of you are also talking about the outages from the wind on Twitter and Facebook. One of our viewers writes that electricity went out at around 4:30am in Spring. Another says the power remains out in Magnolia. There are also reports of outages on our Facebook page from Friendswood and the Gulfgate area.

We want to hear from you about conditions where you are. Post to our Facebook page or Tweet your report with the hashtag #abc13.

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Driver killed in METRO bus wreck in SE Houston

Police are investigating a wreck that killed a METRO bus driver in southeast Houston Tuesday evening.

  HOUSTON (KTRK) -- Officials say a METRO bus driver was killed in a wreck in southeast Houston Tuesday evening.

METRO police and safety personnel are investigating the accident that occurred on the service road of the Gulf Freeway just north of Howard shortly before 7pm Tuesday.

Preliminary information shows METRO bus operator James Brooks lost control of the vehicle, which crashed into a concrete traffic sign pole along the Gulf Freeway's feeder road. A witness reported to investigators that a vehicle made a right turn in front of another vehicle that was ahead of the bus. Brooks reportedly swerved to avoid rear-ending that vehicle, lost control of the bus and then struck the pole.

The bus was not in service and there were no patrons onboard the bus. Investigators state the bus was not equipped with cameras.

METRO staff sends its condolences to the family of 63-year-old Brooks, who had been part of the METRO family since 1983.

"While spending time with James' colleagues at the Polk Facility this morning it became very clear that he was loved and respected. He would always try to make people smile. He cared deeply about his own family and his METRO family," said METRO President & CEO George Greanias.

METRO officials are offering support to Brooks' family. Crisis counseling will be made available to all employees at the Polk Bus Operating Facility where Brooks worked.

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Man escapes burning SE Houston home just in time

  Crystal KobzaHOUSTON (KTRK) -- Residents at a southeast Houston home had to run for their lives when a fire broke out overnight.

The fire broke out on Cullen near Polk in southeast Houston around 1:25 this morning. Firefighters arrived and found the duplex on fire with the roof collapsing. A resident of the duplex says he woke up to heavy smoke and heavy flames when he looked out his window this morning. He then called 911 for help.

Neighbors initially thought the homeowner was inside at the time, but when firefighters arrived they determined that person was not inside when the fire started.

"They said the house next store was on fire so I ran out of the house. They made everybody get out of the house and they almost caught my apartment on fire," said neighbor Michael Richerson. "If they wouldn't have beat on the door, I'd have burned up."

Firefighters say the fire appears to have started on the front porch and are calling it very suspicious.

Arson investigators are looking into the cause.

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Mass adoption ceremony performed in downtown Houston

  HOUSTON (KTRK) -- This Christmas will be extra special for almost 90 children who now have new permanent families.

A mass adoption ceremony was held Tuesday at the Juvenile Justice Center in downtown Houston. The children range in age from one to 17. Some were adopted by relatives, others have brand new parents.

The Haight family adopted a fourth son, giving the couple seven children now.

"It's amazing," said Charity Haight. "We've been waiting a long time and finally the day is here and we're going to go out for pizza now. That's what he wanted to do."

"You get a lot of people in a little place, but, you know, basically everybody's got a buddy and they just love hanging around each other," David Haight said.

Children's Protective Services officials say there are more than 1,700 children in its care waiting to be adopted.

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Heroes honored with wreaths at Houston National Cemetery

  HOUSTON (KTRK) -- Veterans are being remembered this holiday season with wreaths at Houston National Cemetery.

Thousands of people attended Saturday morning's ceremony, which included a moment of silence and a flyover in honor of the dead as part of National Wreath Day.

Volunteers placed nearly 40,000 wreaths on the graves of local veterans.

The annual Wreath Day started at Arlington National Cemetery 20 years ago and is now observed across the country.

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ABC13 helps Houston Food Bank deliver meals

  HOUSTON (KTRK) -- Because of the success of this year's ABC13 Share Your Holidays food drive food drive and the GE Phone Bank, the Houston Food Bank went from helping 14,000 families last year to 19,000 this year.

And that meant a day of hard work Saturday for a great cause.

Our viewers gave boxes and boxes filled with food to their neighbors in need. Dozens of volunteers packed thousands of pounds of donated meals into more than 21,000 boxes at the group's warehouse in east Houston.

Saturday, the ABC13 family, led by President and General Manager Henry Florsheim, rolled up our sleeves to help the Houston Food Bank distribute thousands of meals collected during our Share Your Holidays food drive.

We spent the day loading boxes onto trucks so that the food can be given to 19,000 needy families. That's 5,000 more families than last year, they said, and every little bit helps.

"This is our 32nd Share Your Holidays event that we have had at ABC13, and behind me is the result of the hard work of our viewers who have donated so graciously from their homes from their hearts," said Cynthia Cisneros, ABC13 vice president of community affairs. "Over 300,000 pounds of food."

Saturday was also a day of service for the many corporate volunteers who help make this happen each year. Many use the day to teach their children about the joy of giving.

Year after year, we see just how much Houston cares. Because of you, thousands of area families will have a happy holiday. And for that, we all say "thank you."

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