2 young brothers killed after being hit by car

  ALVIN, TX (KTRK) -- A man and two children are dead after a late night accident in Brazoria County.

The two boys were with their father, pushing a disabled vehicle on County Road 144 near Alvin around 11:30pm when a vehicle ran into them.

The case took a strange turn for police when they discovered the man in car had been shot in the head.

As friends and family mourned Saturday, investigators swarmed the area, searching for answers -- anything to explain what happened.

"Nobody knows nothing but the people who were there, and two of them are gone," family friend Pete Villanueva III said.

According to the Brazoria County Sheriff's Office, the Barajas family was driving home when they ran out of gas.

Deputies said 12-year-old David and 11-year-old Caleb helped their father, David Sr., push their truck home.

"Another vehicle came up behind them -- and, of course, this was in the dark, early hours -- and struck the vehicle from behind, striking all three," BCSO Criminal Investigator Dominick Sanders said.

David Jr. died instantly and Caleb died at an area hospital.

Their mother and sister were in the disabled truck at the time. They were not hurt, officials said.

David Sr., was injured and rushed to the hospital. He was recovering Saturday night.

The accident happened just 50 yards away from the family's home.

Deputies arrived at the scene and found the car that hit the Barajas family smashed on the side of the road. Jose Banda, 20, was slumped over in the passenger seat with a gunshot wound to the head.

He later died at an area hospital.

There's no word at this point if that Banda was shot before or after the accident. Investigators found no weapons nearby and they haven't identified any suspects in Banda's death.

"We don't want to jump to any conclusions at this point until we've done a thorough investigation," Sanders said.

This case remains under investigation. Please stay with Eyewitness News and abc13.com for updates.

(Copyright ©2012 KTRK-TV/DT. All Rights Reserved.) Get more Local »

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Boy dies after being struck by vehicle in W. Houston

A child was struck by an oncoming vehicle last night and died from his injuries.

  HOUSTON (KTRK) -- A boy died after being hit by a car in west Houston.

Investigators say the victim identified as Desmond Thomas, 11, wandered out onto the feeder road around 7:40pm of the Katy Freeway near Oak Stream when he was hit by a car. He was transported to Texas Children's Hospital where he was pronounced dead.

Authorities say the driver of a gray Lincoln Navigator was traveling westbound on the Katy Freeway service road when Desmond ran into traffic. The driver was unable to avoid the accident.

According to police, the driver did not show any signs of intoxication or impairment at the scene. He was questioned and released.

The accident remains under investigation.

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Man accused of being Russian agent appears in court

  HOUSTON -- A naturalized U.S. citizen accused of illicitly obtaining military technology for Russia has been formally briefed on the charges against him in an initial court appearance.

Alexander Fishenko and six others had an initial appearance in court Thursday. They did not enter pleas. Hearings to determine whether they will be allowed out of jail before trial are expected to start Friday.

Fishenko was born in what is now Kazakhstan and owns Houston-based Arc Electronics Inc.

Prosecutors say Fishenko and others sold cutting-edge microelectronics that could be used in Russian weapons systems, exchanged communications with Russian intelligence and tried to hide documents when they suspected authorities were onto them.

Fishenko's attorney, Eric Reed, told reporters that he plans to "take a hard look at" the allegations.

(Copyright ©2012 by The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved.) Get more Local »

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Cypress mom accused of being drunk, endangering children in hot car

Constance Lois Long, 28, is charged with endangering a child.

  HOUSTON (KTRK) -- A Cypress mother is accused of being passed out drunk with her young children in a hot car.

Court documents show on September 19 Constance Lois Long was found unconscious and seated in the driver's seat of her vehicle parked on private property with the motor running. Her two children, ages 4 years and 18 months old, were in their car seats in the back seat.

A witness was alerted when the 4-year-old honked the horn. Investigators say the child tried to wake Long, but couldn't.

According to court records, the witness observed an open bottle of vodka to be two-thirds empty on the front passenger floor board, as well as a water bottle in the center console with clear liquid one-third full that smelled of alcohol.

The alcohol was within reach of the older child and the car's air conditioner was not running, making the interior very hot, court documents state.

Police say Long was unresponsive and smelled of alcohol that resembled the odor in the vodka bottle. They say she refused a field sobriety test or to provide blood or breath specimen.

She was arrested the same day.

Long, 28, is charged with endangering a child. Bond was set at $2,000.

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Driver dies after being ejected from SUV

HOUSTON (KTRK) -- An SUV ran off the road and crashed into several trees early this morning in northwest Houston. The driver was ejected and died on impact.

It happened around 1:25am. A woman investigators say was in her 20s was driving a black Mitsubishi Montero northbound on Barker-Cypress near Addicks Reservoir. They say she lost control and drove off the road.

The vehicle actually went into the air before striking several trees. The driver was ejected and died on impact.

Investigators don't know exactly why the driver lost control. There were no signs alcohol was involved, but a toxicology report will determined that.

"She's traveling at a high rate of speed," said Sgt. Ignacio Aguirre with the Houston Police Department. "For an unknown reason, perhaps to maintain a single lane, at one point goes airborne and strikes several trees. She was ejected from the vehicle and pronounced dead at the scene."

There were no witnesses. A passer-by saw the crash and called 9-1-1. Police say if you witnessed it, call HPD.

The victim hasn't been identified.

(Copyright ©2012 KTRK-TV/DT. All Rights Reserved.) Get more Local »

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Galveston runoff election being held Saturday

  GALVESTON, TX (KTRK) -- Galveston is holding a runoff election tomorrow.

The mayor's job and the seat for Council District 4 are both up for grabs. In the mayor's race, Joe Jaworski is up against Lewis Rosen. In district four, Dianna Puccetti and Norman Pappous are both in the hunt.

Polls will be open from 7am to 7pm. There are nine polling locations. CheckGalvestonVotes.org to find your location.

(Copyright ©2012 KTRK-TV/DT. All Rights Reserved.)
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Venus viewing parties being held tonight

  HOUSTON (KTRK) -- Several Houston-area observatories are holding Venus viewing parties tonight, including the Houston Museum of Natural Science.

The museum district location will have telescopes set up near the front patio sundial from 4pm until 6pm.

There will also be viewing parties at the Museum Annex in Sugar Land and at the George Observatory.

Humble ISD's Insperity Observatory is also open to star-gazers from 5:05pm until 8:20pm tonight. Individual telescopes will be set up and the Venus transit will also be projected on a big screen.

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Historic League City tree being preserved in large-scale moving operation

LEAGUE CITY, TX (KTRK) -- It's the start of a moving process for a tree in League City that's been standing for decades. It's a large-scale operation to preserve history.

The tree was standing at the corner of Louisiana and FM 518, and will soon settle in to its new home.

We've seen how most developers go in and bulldoze every tree when building a new neighborhood, and then they plant those little six-foot trees in the yard. Well, League City leaders are showing the simplest solution is not always the best one.

After more than a hundred years in one spot, this rare hybrid oak will start a new life just down the road in League City. Residents can't help but stop in awe.

"Totally fascinated by the way they are going about this. It's great to see something like this saved," said Jim Michaels.

The Compton Oak found itself in harm's way when construction began on a road improvement project to widen Louisiana Avenue at FM 518. League City council decided to spend more than $190,000 for Hess Landscape Construction of Southern California to transplant the tree.

They have unearthed tons of dirt, just far enough from the tree, to preserve its main root system. Using wood, crews have built what amounts to a large wooden planter around the tree to keep it stable and nourished. Stress from the move is showing from the yellow leaves.

"The tree is being closely monitored. We do a lot of prep work. The contractor has actually done a lot of feeding, it's being hydrated. I don't know if you can see there is a water hose on it, so it's constantly being hydrated to reduce stress," said Heather McKnight, League City arborist.

The heavy lifting is yet to come. Weighing about 540,000 pounds, it will be hoisted out of the earth.

"We have two cranes that will lift the tree, set it onto a big steel plate and then they'll drag it down an open field," said project manager Scott Tuma.

Private land has been donated for its new home near a planned water conservation park, where this Texas-sized tree will be a model of preservation.

"It's nice to see them save it and I think it says a lot for the city and for the county on what they are trying to do here," said Michaels.

The big move will happen on June 5 when the hybrid oak is hoisted out of the ground and replanted near a water conservation park just down the road. League City hopes to have a live web cam up for the event.

(Copyright ©2012 KTRK-TV/DT. All Rights Reserved.)
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Motorcyclist killed in wreck while being pulled over

  HOUSTON (KTRK) -- A motorcycle rider pulling over for a Houston police officer was killed overnight when another vehicle hit his bike.

It happened on the South Freeway near Yellowstone on Houston's south side at around 1:30am. An HPD officer spotted the motorcyclist on the feeder road. They say he was running red lights.

The officer signaled to the motorcyclist to pull over, and the rider stopped at a narrow, one-lane entrance ramp. That's when officers say another driver in a pickup truck sideswiped the HPD patrol unit and hit the motorcyclist, who died at the scene.

"A blue Chevy truck came from behind and sideswiped the officer's vehicle, then ran over the individual that was on the motorcycle," said Sgt. S. George with the Houston Police Department. "He was killed at the scene."

No officers were hurt. Police say they were going to ask the motorcyclist to pull over in a different, safer place just before the accident happened.

The pickup truck driver was taken to Ben Taub Hospital with minor injuries. According to police, that driver had a blood-alcohol level beyond the legal limit and now faces charges.

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Police: Man dies after being shot while driving near the Heights

HOUSTON (KTRK) -- Police are hunting for the killer or killers after a man was shot through his car window near the Heights overnight.

It happened at the Colonial Apartments on North Durham and West 11th. That's where a tan car was found. Next to the vehicle, a man was found lying on his back on the street. Police say he was breathing at the time, but not responsive.

Authorities believe he was shot while driving because the driver's window was shot out. The victim died on the way to the hospital.

There are two witnesses being interviewed by investigators. Police say they do not have any suspects or a motive in the shooting.

The victim's identitiy hasn't been released.

Anyone with information on this case is being asked to call authorities.

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Serial burglary suspects identified, being sought

  HOUSTON (KTRK) -- Police are searching for two suspects accused in a string of home burglaries, and police say they had a unique way of targeting their victims.

The burglaries happened over the past three months in the Magnolia Creek Subdivision.

Police have arrested Alton Simmons the third. He's charged with three counts of burglary. They're now searching for two other suspects: Jason Carswell and Rebecca Droher.

Investigators say the burglars would use a prepaid cell phone to blanket subdivisions with phone calls.

If no one answered the home phone, they assumed no one was home.

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Art Car parade being held this weekend

  HOUSTON (KTRK) -- The world's largest Art Car parade rolls through Houston this weekend.

More than 300,000 people are expected to watch the 25th annual event that will feature more than 250 rolling works of art. The parade begins at Allen Parkway and Taft, and ends on Montrose after looping around the Heritage Society.

It all kicks off at 1pm tomorrow and all the fun is free of charge. The parade route opens at 9am.

If you attend the parade, send us your photos or video. You can upload them at iWitness.abc13.com or email them to news@abc13.com.

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Driver crashes into gas station sign after being shot

  HOUSTON (KTRK) -- Police say a man crashed his car into a gas station sign after he was shot at in northwest Houston.

Investigators say the man was shot at on Antoine around midnight before crashing his car near the Northwest Freeway.

The victim knocked down a couple of metal street pole signs before smashing into the sign of a Shell gas station. Rescue crews used the Jaws of Life to pull him out and he was taken to the hospital.

Authorities are still looking for the gunman who shot the victim.

(Copyright ©2012 KTRK-TV/DT. All Rights Reserved.)
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New types of synthetic pot being sold at stores

HOUSTON (KTRK) -- The sale of synthetic marijuana was banned by the state of Texas a little over a year ago. So why is it back on store shelves in Houston tonight?

Twenty-six-year-old Will Knickle is lucky to be alive. He has been doing drugs since he was a kid.

"So I started using probably around 12," he said.

He's been arrested, been put on probation, been forced to submit to drug tests. But even that didn't stop him. Knickle found a way to circumvent the tests by smoking synthetic pot. He bought stuff like Primo, Killa Gorilla, Killa Skunk and Brain-Freeze. But you may recognize it by what it used to be called --- K2 and Spice.

Now, this new form is being sold in smoke shops all over Houston.

"Once I found out I didn't come up dirty, it was just something I could pretty much walk in and be like I'm high and there is nothing you can do about it," Knickle said.

Urine analysis doesn't test for the man made compounds found in synthetic pot. So Knickle kept using, until one day.

"I started sweating real bad and it felt like the first time I ODed on heroin," he said. "My vision started going blurry, and like I said, I could feel my heart slowing down."

Knickle's bad trip is a story health professionals are hearing over and over.

"It's a dangerous bag to open" said Dr. Jason Powers with The Right Step.

Dr. Powers says since not all synthetic pot is regulated, you never know what each bag will bring.

"They will put in Sudafed and they will put in God knows what, and in the same batch one time you smoke it, it may not do that much then, the next time you get a huge dose of the active ingredient and the adulterants and then that can cause problems with the heart and even cardiac arrest," Dr. Powers said.

The Southeast Texas Poison Control has taken as many as a 600 calls in a month, with most coming from right here in Harris County.

"Now that's down to about a third of that but it's beginning to go up and down. It certainly went down when Texas banned a number of these synthetic cannabinoids, synthetic marijuana drugs," said John Thompson, director of Southeast Texas Poison Control.

Last year, Texas lawmakers banned over 140 different compounds found in products like K2 or Spice. But substances that carry similar effect are back on store shelves; the compounds and the names have simply been changed.

"Many police departments, many police officers, sheriff's departments came and testified for this bill. I don't understand why they're not enforcing it now. They have the legal grounds to enforce it," Sen. Florence Shapiro said.

But local law enforcement tell us it's tough to regulate. The synthetic pot is being sold everywhere, and they have no quick means of proving what is and what isn't on the banned substance list.

"For us, it usually requires us sending it to a lab, to a crime lab and having them analyze it and then finding out what chemicals are in it and find out if it's any of the chemicals that are currently ban," said Josh Bruegger with the Pasadena Police Department.

We sent an ABC 13 producer undercover to several smoke shops around town. They all said the same thing.

"Didn't they ban some of this stuff?" we asked one clerk.

"Yeah, they put a different formula or whatever," the clerk replied.

And get this, you don't have to be 18 to buy it.

"The biggest thing is availability; it's legal so they can walk into the store and get it, where marijuana is a little harder to get. And so with this, it's legal," Bruegger said.

For will Knickle, his days of smoking synthetic pot are over. He says he has been drug-free for a year and a-half now and wants all of it taken off the streets. He hopes drug users heed his warning.

"It's not good. This fake stuff, there is something wrong with it. I don't know exactly what it is," Knickle said.

Texas is one of 23 states that have passed laws trying to ban synthetic pot, but Sen. Shapiro believes it will take the backing and the funding of the federal government before it can be truly be policed.

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Restaurateur Sylvia Casares recovering after being shot by ex-boyfriend, who's been arrested

HOUSTON (KTRK) -- A man who authorities say shot a well-known Houston restaurateur has been arrested in Fort Bend County.

The suspect, who investigators say had been considered armed and dangerous, was arrested by sheriff's deputies and a Texas Ranger Thursday afternoon at a Rosenberg motel. Michael Warren, 58, is charged with aggravated assault.

On Monday night, the Ft. Bend Co. Sheriff's Office says Houston restaurateur Sylvia Casares was wounded after being shot by her ex-boyfriend. Investigators say it happened at Casares' residence in Fulshear.

Years of success at Sylvia's Enchilada Kitchen earned Casares an Eyewitness News profile in 2007 and recognition from the Houston Hispanic Chamber of Commerce.

"She has worked very hard to be where she is today. And we just wish her well," said Dr. Laura Murillo with the Houston Hispanic Chamber of Commerce.

Investigators say at around 9pm on March 12, an argument erupted between Casares and her ex-boyfriend, Michael Warren, at her home in the 1400 block of Foster Lake in Fulshear. She was shot at least once and taken by air ambulance to a local hospital. Warren was seen leaving her residence in a black 2004 GMC Yukon with licence plate 42M-VT1.

Casares, well known in the Houston restaurant scene, underwent surgery after the shooting.

"I think that the lesson here is that domestic violence and these types of things happen to and can happen to anyone," said Dr. Murillo.

Casares is in stable condition in a Houston hospital. She is recovering as family members run day-to-day operations of Sylvia's Enchilada Kitchen.

"We're just sorry to hear that she recently undergone this tragedy, but she has that can do spirit. We know that she'll recuperate and do just fine," Dr. Murillo said.

The manhunt stretched all the way to Lafayette, Louisiana, the suspect's hometown, but ended Thursday afternoon when Warren was arrested at the Palace Inn at Highway 59 near the intersection of FM 2218 in Rosenberg. The arrest occurred without incident.

Officials say they recovered Warren's vehicle in the parking lot of a Lafayette hospital Thursday afternoon. The suspect apparently was returned to Fort Bend County by a relative.

Warren is in the Fort Bend County Jail with a $100,000 bond.

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Famed Texas prison rodeo arena being demolished

  HUNTSVILLE, TX -- Workers in Huntsville have been demolishing the home of the old Texas Prison Rodeo.

Crews on Wednesday continued tearing down the decades-old complex that served as the arena for what was billed as "The Wildest Show Behind Bars."

Some scenes from the 1980 movie "Urban Cowboy" were filmed at the arena. Scott Glenn portrayed a prisoner who competed in the rodeo, with newlyweds John Travolta and Debra Winger in the crowd.

The arena, on the grounds of the Huntsville Unit, has been quiet since the last rodeo was held in 1986. Prison system officials, faced with limited resources for repairs, scrapped the rodeo that had attracted big-name entertainers and thousands of spectators each Sunday in October.

The site became a tourist attraction in Huntsville, about 75 miles north of Houston.

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Run-off elections being held on Saturday

  HOUSTON (KTRK) -- Tomorrow, four Houston city council races will finally be decided and like the original election in November, voter turn-out for the run-off election is expected to be dismal.

District A incumbent, Brenda Stardig is fighting to keep her seat against challenger, Civic Blub President Helena Brown.

In District B, an eight-person race has been whittled down to two to replace term-limited Councilman Jarvis Johnson. Johnson's aide - Alvin Byrd - will face non-profit director Jerry Davis.

The 10-person race for at-large position 2 seat is down to Pastor Andrew Burks and former State Representative Kristi Thibaut.

For the second time, at large 5 incumbent Jolanda Jones finds herself in a run-off for the same seat with the same person she faced 2-years ago, west side Chiropractor Jack Christie.

Polls are open for 12-hours tomorrow from 7am until 7pm.

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Job fair being held today in SE Houston

  HOUSTON (KTRK) -- There's a job fair in town today for all of you who are on the hunt.

Companies such as Kroger, Aaron's, and Nationwide Graphics are looking to hire new employees as soon as today.

You can also meet with career fair representatives who will review your resume.

To check it out, dress professionally and go to the Hilton, 8181 Airport Blvd., next to Hobby Airport between 11am and 2pm.

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Driver rescued after being pinned in car

  HOUSTON (KTRK) -- A woman had to be rescued after crashing her car near downtown overnight.

It happened around 2:45am on the Southwest Freeway near Gray. Crews shut down the freeway as they worked to clear the mess.

Police say the woman lost control of her car and smashed into a metal guard rail. Crews had to remove the doors of the car to get her out. She went to the hospital listed in stable condition.

(Copyright ©2011 KTRK-TV/DT. All Rights Reserved.)
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Ripples of Marvin Zindler's legacy still being felt

HOUSTON (KTRK) -- Five years ago, Marvin Zindler and one of Marvin's Angels gave Luis Romero one of the things he needed to succeed in school -- a new wheelchair.

This week, Romero will be graduating from high school, something he says he may not have been able to do without that gift. From the time he was born, Romero could not walk, but he's never let that stand in his way. "He blended in really well with his sense of humor," English teacher Shirley Lyons said. In Mrs. Lyons seventh grade English class at F.M. Black Middle School, it wasn't his disability that slowed him down. It was his old wheelchair. "All of us would help him push it and it was really heavy and it would always break down," Romero's friend Monique Martinez said. His teacher and students couldn't buy a new one, but that didn't stop them from doing something about it. "I told them a teacher's voice is only heard so loud, but a teacher's voice with all her students will be heard," Lyons said. One by one, they wrote from the heart. "I was very happy to see they really cared about me and they were really trying to help me out," Romero said. "I thought, 'Well, I really don't know if anybody is going to help us because we are just kids," Martinez said. But on the last day of school in 2006, their voices were heard. "You know how he is really loud, 'This is Marvin Zindler!' It was an exciting day for all of us," Martinez said. "It taught the students the lesson we want to teach them, their words have power," Suzanne Mihaloglou, Remoer's middle school principal, said. On his 14th birthday, Romero got that brand new chair. "It was like having a new car for him, and it gave him independence," Luis and Coralia Romero, Luis' parents, said. The past five years, it's gotten him up and down the halls on his journey towards graduation. "I learned that whenever you have hope for something and really hope for something, you might have a chance of it happening," Romero said. His story has left a lasting impression on so many. "I guess they all get A+++ for those letters regardless of any grammatical errors because it brought the greatest results for Luis," Lyons said. And it is an example of the Marvin Zindler legacy that lives on. Romero will graduate this Sunday at the George R. Brown Convention Center with 400 classmates from Waltrip High School. He plans on starting college at HCC in the fall, specializing in computer engineering and software programming. (Copyright ©2011 KTRK-TV/DT. All Rights Reserved.)
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