HFD: Two-alarm apartment complex fire that injured firefighter downtown Houston ruled arson

  HOUSTON (KTRK) -- Detectives at the Houston Fire Department say a two-alarm blaze that gutted a north Houston apartment complex early Friday morning was intentionally set by someone.

The raging fire was captured on home video. Flames shot high into the air as firefighters worked frantically put out the blaze at the complex on Flecher at Carl. No one was hurt but several units were damaged.

"It was 20 feet up in the air when I saw it and it went out of control," said Alfonso Salazar, who lives nearby and shot the video he sent to us through our iWitness reports.

We were there as firefighters rushed into the apartment complex at about 5am. They were already in the area responding to several trash fires.

"They were busy with these trash fires when somebody came running up and said there's a house on fire," said Joe Evans with the Houston Fire Department.

The flames were so high and the smoke so thick that one firefighter had to be wheeled out on a stretcher.

"Houston arson division will be talking to all of the people and interviewing everybody within the three-block area," said Evans.

He says the fire started on the front porch and quickly spread to attic and nine apartment units. Residents inside worked together to get out in time.

Tanea Perez woke up her mom and sisters.

"My mom and my sisters, they went out because it was like a fire," she said.

And even though they're happy to be alive, many residents wonder where they'll go from here.

"Where am i going to go? I'm going to have to get another place," said resident James Torres. "I've been laid off from work."

Right now, authorities have not identified any suspects.

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

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Pasadena church fire ruled arson

  PASADENA, TX (KTRK) -- A three-alarm fire that erupted at an old church building in Pasadena has been ruled arson, officials announced Sunday.

According to Pasadena Fire Marshal David Brenham, investigators are following some leads in an effort to catch the person or people responsible for the blaze.

The fire happened around 3pm Friday in the 3500 block of Red Bluff and it burned into the night.

The vacant building once housed the Sharron Lutheran Church. In the 60's, the building was the home of the mega-church of its day in the then-small city of Pasadena. During the blaze Friday, firefighters had to collapse it in order to get the flames under control.

No injuries were reported.

A woman who works at a day care that was next door to the building tells us two people were seen running away from it just moments before the fire erupted.

Anyone with information that could help in this investigation is urged to call 713-475-5556, or call Crime Stoppers if you would like to remain anonymous.

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Alleged Tranquility Park gunman ruled not competent to stand trial

  HOUSTON (KTRK) -- A judge has ruled that a man who allegedly fired a rifle in Tranquility Park in November is not competent to stand trial.

Joshua Anthony Twohig, 21, was found incompetent Monday morning and will be sent to Vernon Hospital for mental evaluation. He will be brought back to court on May 2 to determine if he has regained competency.

Investigators say Twohig waved a 40-caliber rifle during an Occupy Houston rally before putting the gun to his head.

Twohig's attorney says his client has a history of metal illness and that his plan was to commit "suicide by cop."

Much of the incident was captured on cell phone video by an Occupy Houston protester camped out nearby. Twohig was dressed in a black suit and carrying the 40-caliber assault rifle. Prosecutors say an officer, who was flagged down by a protester, found the young father firing in the reflecting pond, then the state says he turned and pointed the gun at the officer.

That's when one officer shot him and prosecutors say he dropped his rifle, reached in his back waist band and was shot again. Prosecutors say when he reached for his rifle again, he was shot a third time.

Twohig's attorney says his client did not plan to come out of the park alive.

"There is a plethora of material that indicates that he was delusional, that he exhibited paranoia, that he had in the past heard voices; he was very definitely not a member of Occupy Houston. He was out there all by himself and quite frankly intended to commit suicide by cop," said George Parnham, Twohig's defense attorney.

Parnham said Twohig was on his medication at the time of the shooting.

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Red light camera election ruled invalid

  HOUSTON (KTRK) -- There's a major development in the legal battle over Houston's red light cameras. A judge has ruled last November's red light cameras charter amendment vote is invalid.

The ruling came down from U.S. District Judge Lynn Hughes today. However, this does not mean that the red light cameras will be turned back on and tickets will be issued immediately. Judge Hughes' ruling reads in part, "The charter itself and Texas law limit the ability of citizens to initiate changes to the city's charter and ordinances. The nature of the proposition was to repeal a single ordinance about techniques for enforcing traffic laws. It was done beyond the time limit in the charter for repealing an ordinance." Voters wanted them out, but the cameras have remained in place while the battle is being fought in federal court between the city of Houston and ATS, the camera vendor. The city is hoping to avoid paying damages to the company for dropping the contract. Mayor Annise Parker issued a statement saying, "Judge Hughes' ruling means that we have several options to consider. I will consult with City Attorney Dave Feldman and City Council members as we deliberate the future of the red light camera program in Houston. Right now the cameras continue to monitor intersections, but no tickets are being issued."

Paul Kubosh, a lawyer who led the fight against the cameras, told us today's ruling is "judicial activism at its worst."

Stay with ABC13 Eyewitness News for the latest on this developing story.

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Houston roller coaster death of man ruled accident

  HOUSTON -- The death of a man who fell from a roller coaster during the Houston Livestock Show and Rodeo has been ruled an accident.

The Harris County Institute of Forensic Sciences on Friday listed the manner of death for Brian Greenhouse as an accident. The cause of death is pending.

Greenhouse died March 20 after falling about 28 feet. His relatives have filed a wrongful death lawsuit against the Houston Livestock Show and Rodeo and Ray Cammack Shows.

Livestock show CEO Leroy told the Houston Chronicle that the matter is in litigation and declined comment. A spokesman for Ray Cammack Shows also declined comment.

Family attorney Tony Denena says he's not surprised that the death was ruled accidental. The lawsuit maintains the ride did not have proper restraints.

(Copyright ©2011 by The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved.) Get more Local »

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