Thursday, March 15, 2012

Houston parade April 7 for Iraq war vets, others

AP  HOUSTON -- A military support group says Houston will host a welcome home parade next month for Iraq war veterans.

Gene Tulich with the nonprofit Houston Military Affairs Committee said Tuesday that the parade will be held Saturday, April 7. He told the Houston Chronicle that veterans of earlier wars are also invited to participate.

A similar parade was held Jan. 28 in St. Louis. Organizers say that parade drew about 100,000 observers and 20,000 participants, including Iraq War and other post-Sept. 11 vets.

A spokeswoman for Houston Mayor Annise Parker says the parade is still in the planning stages and details will not be announced until later this month.

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


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Three sentenced to prison for stealing millions from oil giant

  HOUSTON (KTRK) -- Three former employees of Davis-Lynch have been handed lengthy prison sentences for stealing millions from the oil company and using it to buy lavish items.

Nancy Moreno, 55, was sentenced to serve 30 years, Yvette Ybarra Trevino, 47, was sentenced to serve 15 years, and Ernest Trevino, 44, was sentenced to serve 20 years in prison, according to the Harris County District Attorney's Office. A judge also ordered that restitution of approximately $13 million be paid to the company as a condition of parole.

The former employees of Davis-Lynch were charged after an internal audit revealed more than $13 million had been stolen from the company and company equipment was found at the home of Moreno. Further investigation led authorities to discover that the employees used the money also to purchase luxurious homes, jewelry and vacations.

"Davis-Lynch was founded as a small, family- operated business, and Nancy Moreno was trusted completely. She would have coffee with the CEO in the morning, chat with him about news and such, and then steal him blind when his back was turned," Assistant District Attorney Wendy Baker said in a statement. "She started as the company receptionist, and although she had no formal training or college education, she eventually rose to act as the chief financial officer for the business. She and her codefendants were trusted, valued employees who betrayed the Davis-Lynch families."

Three others also have been charged in the case.

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


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Search for missing Liberty Co. man called off; authorities are now calling it a criminal matter

  HOUSTON (KTRK) -- The search for a a missing Liberty County man has suddenly been called off and authorities are calling it a criminal matter.

Dennis Rogers was last heard from on last Thursday. He called 911 saying he had gotten lost in a wooded area near his home. Rogers is 54 but has the mental capacity of a 9-year-old child because of a brain injury.

Rex Evans with the Liberty Co. Sheriff's Office says an undisclosed person contacted them and indicted that something criminal may have happened to Rogers. He says search and rescue efforts were suspended Tuesday to allow detectives to pursue the criminal investigation and to interview possible persons of interest.

Anyone with information is asked to call the Liberty County Sheriff's Office at 936-336-4500.

We'll bring you any new developments as they happen.

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


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Record Rodeo crowd turns out for Band Perry

  HOUSTON (KTRK) -- Last night was another successful night for the Houston Livestock Show and Rodeo.

They brought in big numbers with headliner, The Band Perry. The band was making their RodeoHouston debut at Reliant to the second largest paid attendance in Rodeo history. Approximately 74,241 people attended last night's performance. Last Sunday's Go Tejano Day holds the title.

And there could be another huge crowd on hand tonight when Jason Aldean retakes the stage. This will be his third year in a row performing at the Rodeo.

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


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Fight between men ends in fatal shooting

Police are interviewing several witnesses of a deadly shooting that happened late last night on Troulon at Cook. Police are interviewing several witnesses of a deadly shooting that happened late last night on Troulon at Cook.

  HOUSTON (KTRK) -- A man is dead after a shooting outside his neighbor's home in southwest Houston late last night.

Officers were called to a home on Troulon near Cook.

Investigators say a fight broke out inside the house and spilled outside into the driveway. Shots were fired and one man was struck. According to police, the victim does not live in the home where the altercation started, but does live nearby.

No one is in custody.

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


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Beaumont shooting suspect's brother arrested in front of cameras

HOUSTON (KTRK) -- We are hearing from the family of the Houston man investigators say opened fire at a Beaumont courthouse, killing one woman and injuring two other women and a man.

Bartholomew Granger, the accused shooter, actually lives in northeast Houston. We learned his sexual assault trial in Jefferson County also involved his brother, who was arrested Wednesday night as cameras were rolling.

"The father was upset and angry because he felt that there was no justice in this case," Quanell X said at the press conference Wednesday night.

But in the middle of that Quanell X news conference where he talked about Granger's frustrations, news broke right before our eyes.

"I didn't do anything," said Lyndon Granger, the accused shooter's brother.

Lyndon Granger was handcuffed, arrested and taken to jail. Jefferson County sheriff's deputies made sure to do it themselves.

"He has a felony warrant on him so we had to execute that warrant," Jefferson County Sheriff's Office Major Bradford Lowe said.

"Does it have anything to do with the shooting today?" we asked.

"I don't know. I don't know that," he replied.

Lyndon Granger, who along with the accused shooter's son, stood next to Quanell X just moments earlier. He's charged with sexually assaulting the same girl for which his brother was on trial. Lyndon's been out on bond. Sources tell Eyewitness News the judge in the case issued a warrant Wednesday, in part, to protect the public going forward.

"If this is truly done for public safety, I can understand but this seems very suspicious to me," Quanell X said.

Both Lyndon and Bartholomew are charged in Jefferson County, but they are no strangers to law enforcement in Harris County.

We found in 2010 they sued the Houston Police Department in federal court claiming a long list of grievances including corruption discrimination, slander, as well as civil and constitutional violations.

The lawsuit was in response to the criminal investigations which they called an unlawful witch hunt.

In fact, recently Bartholomew Granger was in the city's legal department, according to the mayor's office, giving a deposition related to the lawsuit.

It has since been dismissed. But the legal troubles for both brothers seem to be getting worse.

Lyndon Granger was taken downtown to stand before a magistrate on Wednesday night. He then was expected to go to Jefferson County Jail.

Neither he nor the accused shooter's 19-year-old son would answer any questions. Other family members with whom we spoke on Wednesday in Port Arthur wouldn't answer questions either.

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


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One killed at rave party in southeast Houston

  HOUSTON (KTRK) -- A killer is on the run after a shooting at party that police say got out of control. Hundreds of teenagers were reportedly at the party, all crammed into a vacant house in southeast Houston.

It happened at a home on Allison near Cullen. Police were on the scene investigating for several hours after the massive Spring Break foam party advertised on social media turned into a deadly shooting.

Willie Armstrong, 19, and a group of friends were among what Houston police say was anywhere from 300 to 600 or more teens and college students all crowded in the house.

Party-goers tell Eyewitness News it was a massive bubbles and foam party. But around midnight, after calls from several neighbors, police, including off-duty HPD officers working security, shut the party down.

"Then about 30 minutes later all hell broke loose -- gunfire," said neighbor Amos Miles.

Police say there were several people firing. Witnesses say bullets were coming from everywhere.

"Like 10 over here, three over here, six over there," said witness Fredrick Johnson.

That's when Armstrong, who was running from gunshots, looked up and saw one of the gunmen.

"He was just walking and then he just pulled out a gun and started shooting," he said.

Then he saw the gunman fire at a teen.

"He shot that boy in the back of the head and he fell on the ground by the car. He was just laying there," Armstrong said.

HPD says as the suspect took off officers tried to detain him, but he got away.

"He started shooting at the police, too, because I guess the police had seen him," said Armstrong.

It's said to be the fourth rave style party at what was built as an assisted living facility 12 years ago. It went through foreclosure and the ownership is murky. The builder says it is bank property, but it is not abandoned. Instead it's believed to be a business again -- a party venue that brings hundreds of cars down a two lane country road and more.

A neighbor, who didn't want to be identified, recalled, "The last mansion party they had out here I was trying to keep out of my yard and they said, 'Hey, can we put our weed in your mailbox?' And I said absolutely not."

Police are now trying to contact the promoter and trying to find out who the property owner is.

"It's a tragedy. It's a loss," said Miles. "Somebody lost their child which could have been avoided."

The victim died at the hospital and hasn't been idenfitied. The shooting suspect remains at large.

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


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