Texas Man Indicted on Murder of 9-Year-Old Arlene Alvarez

Texas man indicted for murder of 9-year-old Arlene Alvarez after initially being cleared in fatal shooting case.

Following a development in the case of the tragic killing of 9-year-old Arlene Alvarez in February 2022, a 33-year-old Texas man has been indicted on a murder charge nearly two years after another grand jury had declined to indict him in connection with the child’s fatal shooting.

Tony Earls Jr. was released after a Harris County grand jury declined to indict him for aggravated assault in July 2022. However, the case was brought before another grand jury this year after District Attorney Kim Ogg assigned a special prosecutor to re-examine it.

Events Leading to the Shooting

According to the district attorney’s office, Earls was at a bank on the night of February 14, 2022, when he was robbed at gunpoint. As the robber ran away, Earls took out a gun and began firing at the suspect. Tragically, the Alvarez family drove past the bank with Arlene in the back seat, and several shots were fired into their pickup truck, fatally striking the young girl.

Arlene’s parents previously told CNN affiliate KHOU that they were on their way to a Houston restaurant for a Valentine’s Day dinner when their daughter was shot in the head. Arlene, who was in fourth grade, took care of her younger siblings, who were also in the vehicle at the time of the shooting, and “got along with everyone.”

Earls previously said he began shooting because he heard gunshots when the robber started to run away and believed he was being shot at. He allegedly was unaware someone had been hit by his gunfire and he left the scene to call police and report the robbery.

Special Prosecutor's Statement

Special prosecutor Warren Diepraam, who took on the case, mentioned that an FBI firearms expert was brought in to examine the evidence. “The expert’s opinion is that Mr. Earls saw the robber run past the vehicle with Arlene Alvarez inside — the vehicle did not do anything to give Mr. Earls a justification to shoot into the passing vehicle,” Diepraam said in a statement.

If convicted, Earls faces five years to life in prison. District Attorney Kim Ogg emphasized the duty to ensure justice, stating, “We have done everything possible to figure out exactly what happened that day to ensure that we get justice.” It's important to note that Houston police are still working to identify and arrest the armed person who robbed Earls, adding another layer of complexity to this tragic case.

Share news

Copyright ©2024 All rights reserved | PrimeAi News

We use cookies to improve your browsing experience, offer personalized ads or content, and analyze our traffic. By clicking 'Accept', you consent to our use of cookies.

Cookies policy.