Fallen Bellaire officer, bystander remembered on Christmas Day

HOUSTON (KTRK) -- It started as a car chase, but it ended with bullets flying and two families left grieving on Christmas. Police say a Belliare police officer and an innocent bystander became the victims of a shootout in southwest Houston Monday morning.

The deadly confrontation happened in the parking lot of an auto shop on Bellaire Boulevard. Corporal Jimmie Norman, 53, was working Christmas Eve so he could be off on Christmas Day, to be with his family.

A memorial has sprung up as a sign of support in this community, as the Bellaire Police Department mourns at Christmas. Harlem Harold Lewis, 21, is the accused killer. Investigators say Lewis also fatally shot Terry Taylor, the owner and general manager of a nearby Maaco shop.

The deadly chain of events all began with a traffic stop that turned into a brief chase and eventually ended with the shootings of both Norman and Taylor. Police say Taylor ran out of his shop to help Norman and died in that parking lot.

"We're devastated by the loss," said Bellaire Police Department Chief Byron Holloway. "We ask that you keep his family and the family of the other victim in your thoughts."

"I feel so bad for those families, especially at Christmas," said Leslie Hokanson, whose car was struck. "I feel bad for all the families, including the shooter, who made a horrible choice."

Corporal Norman, a 24 year veteran, is the first Bellaire officer to be shot and killed in the line of duty.

Lewis, the suspected gunman, has gunshot wounds from backup officers who responded and arrested him. He was taken to Southwest Memorial Hermann Hospital in critical but stable condition. Officials say he is expected to survive and has been charged with capital murder of a police officer, murder and felony evading in a motor vehicle.

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

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Funeral held for fallen Atascocita firefighter

HUMBLE, TX (KTRK) -- Funeral services were held Monday morning for an Atascocita volunteer firefighter who died during a training exercise in Beaumont.

Captain Neal Smith died last week from injuries he received during a specialized training course at the east Texas-area fall 'Smoke Diver' School.

The funeral got underway around 10am at the First Assembly of God in Humble. It began with a huge procession including about 150 fire trucks. One of those was carrying the body of Captain Smith. His family stood nearby as his flag-draped casket was brought down from the fire truck.

Captain Smith, a five-year veteran of the Atascocita Volunteer Fire Department, was undergoing training earlier this month in Beaumont. Something went wrong and he died from his injuries suffered in a fire training field exercise.

The 46-year-old was surrounded by family when he was taken off life support.

Training for firefighters can be just as risky sometimes as fighting fires. According to the US Fire Administration, last year eight firefighters died during training.

A Georgia firefighter also became ill during the exercise but is recovering. The accident is under investigation.

Captain Smith is survived by his wife and two children.

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Public visitation today for fallen Atascocita firefighter

  A public visitation will be held today for an Atascocita volunteer firefighter who was killed during a training exercise in Beaumont last week.

Captain Neal Smith, 46, died last Monday from heat exhaustion while training at the East Texas Area Fall "Smoke Diver" school.

A memorial homecoming procession was held for Smith last week.

The visitation runs from 5 to 8pm at the Rosewood Funeral Home on South Houston Avenue.

Members of the public can take a free shuttle from the Humble Civic Center.

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

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Garden rededicated in honor of fallen officers

  By Crystal KobzaHOUSTON (KTRK) -- In southwest Houston new crosses and new plaques now honor the memory of two fallen Houston police officers. The memorial garden at the southwest substation was re-dedicated for those fallen officers Thursday morning.

The memorial garden is to honor and remember Officer James Charles Boswell and Officer Guy Patrick Gaddis. Both of the men were only in their 20s when they died in the line of duty in Houston.

Officer Boswell, at the age of 29, in 1989 was shot by a man who claimed to be a DEA informant. Officer Gaddis was 24 years old in 1994 when he was shot in his own patrol car while transporting two handcuffed prisoners.

HPD Captain Wyatt Martin says this memorial garden has new life, thanks to the community. He added that many of the men who are still on the force today remember these two fallen officers. Some of them actually attended the police academy together some 20 years ago.

"Just having them here, I think lets the officers know that what they are doing means something to someone, not only to their co-workers, but with what the community did for us here at the station, it lets them know people actually care," Captain Martin said.

The memorial garden, along with the rest of the grounds at the southwest division police substation, were cleaned up, thanks to a keep Houston beautiful community donation. Part of the effort was to clean up the gardens, and refurbish the plaques and two memorial crosses.

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

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Family to be reunited with fallen Vietnam vet

HOUSTON (KTRK) -- On Thursday, a Vietnam veteran who was missing for nearly 50 years will return to Texas to be laid to rest.

Lt. Commander William Eagan was last seen alive on April 26, 1966. He was flying an A-1 H Skyraider, bombing a military complex when his plane crashed into the middle of the thick jungle. An American flag is flying outside the family's home in preparation for the homecoming. About 50 relatives will be waiting for the veteran this weekend, including his widow and four children. "The first thing I would say is mission accomplished; those are the best words" said Linda Sanders. Forty-five years is a long time to wait for someone to make it home. "I always was worried about him, but I always knew he'd be home, eventually. I didn't think it was going to take this long," Sanders said. US Navy Lt. Commander William Patrick Egan was Sanders' uncle, but they were born the same year, so he was more like a brother. "He's a good. He's still a good man," she said. In April of 1966, Lt. Commander Eagan had just completed his mission from the USS Hancock when he was killed in action. "Pat was our hero and he'll remain a hero. His great, great grandchildren will know about him," Sanders said. His remains were recovered in December 2009 and identified through DNA earlier in the year. "You realize we're only getting a bone the size of a finger but it matched it my DNA so they told us that there may be more bones coming," Sanders said. The family waited and prayed the day would come. "It's like we've been released. Everybody can be happy now, we can go on with our lives," she said. Never forgetting their family hero. "Every one of our parents from the Eagan family have told each kid get Pat home," Sanders said. And never giving up. "Don't give hope. Wait for your person," she said. Lt. Commander Eagan was very decorated. He was a recipient of the Purple Heart, a Silver Star. His remains are expected to arrive at Bush Intercontinental Airport just before noon. The Houston Police Department, the U.S. Navy and the Patriot Riders will all be there to escort him to his final resting place at a local cemetery. (Copyright ©2011 KTRK-TV/DT. All Rights Reserved.)
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HPD honors fallen officers

  HOUSTON (KTRK) -- The Houston Police Department on Friday honored those officers who have been killed in the line of duty.

Police Chief Charles McClelland and Mayor Annise Parker joined other HPD officers for a service at the Houston Police Officers' Memorial. It included the playing of taps and a 21-gun salute. (Copyright ©2011 KTRK-TV/DT. All Rights Reserved.) Get more Local »

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New junior high to be named for fallen Marine

   CHANNELVIEW, TX (KTRK) -- The Channelview Independent School District held groundbreaking ceremonies for a new junior high to be named in honor of a fallen Marine.

The school is named in honor of 2004 Channelview High School graduate Anthony Aguirre, who was killed in action serving in the United States Marines in Iraq on Feb. 26, 2007. On that day, Anthony and his fellow Marines were conducting a routine sweep of their patrol area, when he took a footstep onto an IED. Knowing that releasing his foot would set off the explosive device, he waited until all of his Marine brothers had passed out of harm's way before removing his foot from the device. By giving the ultimate sacrifice, he saved 20 of his fellow Marines that day.

Lance Cpl. Anthony Aguirre Junior High will be built at 15726 Wallisville Road, directly across the street from the Harris County Library.

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

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