Texas officials announced Wednesday a state takeover of the eighth-largest school district in the U.S. after allegations of misconduct by school trustees and chronically low academic scores at its schools.
<a href="https://apnews.com/article/houston-schools-texas-takeover-eae680bec5fbd3b419c2583fb850d42e">According</a> to The Associated Press, Texas Commissioner of Education Mike Morath announced officials would officially gain control of the Houston Independent School District (HISD).
Morath cited a state law that mandates Texas officials to take control and argued the move is the best way to get the district back on track, <a href="https://www.houstonchronicle.com/news/houston-texas/education/article/houston-tea-takeover-hisd-17821731.php">according</a> to The Houston Chronicle.
&#8220;Even with recent improvements and despite good intentions from many, Houston ISD as a system continues to allow chronically low achievement in multiple schools,&#8221; Morath said. &#8220;State intervention is necessary in several years in an attempt to shore up support for students in those schools.&#8221;
Morath sent a letter to the Houston ISD board of trustees alerting them to the takeover Wednesday morning, KPRC 2 News <a href="https://www.click2houston.com/news/local/2023/03/15/tea-to-take-over-houston-isd-after-weeks-of-speculation/">reported</a>.
“The goal here is to let what is great about Houston continue to be great, but where there are places where students have for far too long gone without the sort of structure of support that they need,” Morath told KPRC 2 News. “The system of Houston ISD seems to allow campuses to go many, many years without seeing performance.”
Government officials began mobilizing to seize control of the district in 2019, after 50 out of about 300 schools within the district received D or F grades. Wheatley High School reportedly received seven consecutive unacceptable ratings and dozens of other schools in the district received D or F evaluations.
According to recent <a href="https://www.usnews.com/education/k12/texas/districts/houston-isd-104364">data</a>, district-wide, only 51% of high school students were proficient in reading, and 52% were on level for math.
The failing grades triggered a state law that required schools to close or install a board of managers to replace the existing district board members, The Houston Chronicle reported.
District officials filed a lawsuit against the state, but the Texas Supreme Court blocked the case due to new education laws passed by the state legislature, which gave authority to the state to take control.
Superintendent Millard House sounded optimistic in his statement, touting the fact that 40 of those 50 schools that were struggling moved off the D and F list during his tenure. 
&#8220;I stepped into my role understanding the obstacles we faced as a district, including a looming takeover,&#8221; House said, according to The Houston Chronicle. &#8220;Today’s announcement does not discount the gains we have made district-wide. I am confident our educators and staff will continue to do the necessary work to ensure positive student outcomes at every level.&#8221;
House, who was elected by the school board in 2021, will likely still receive his annual salary of approximately $350,000 until his contract expires in 2024.
Commissioner Morath applauded House’s work in the district, but due to the nature of the law, he still has to appoint a new leadership team for a clean slate.
“Ultimately, a board of managers allows Houston to completely reframe the governing team to focus on servant leadership to truly believe that the board exists to serve the staff and students, not the other way around,” Morath said. “So it&#8217;s important that we set the district leadership team up with a fresh start.”
Houston Mayor Sylvester Turner has reportedly been critical of the state takeover, accusing the state of mishandling the situation and arguing the leadership shakeup would only cause a distraction for the staff and students for the rest of the year.
“I don&#8217;t think that parents appreciate all of this stress and anxiety being put on their students when they’re getting ready to take exams,&#8221; Turner said. &#8220;I give them an F on how they managed this situation.”
Texas Congresswoman Sheila Jackson Lee and the Legislative Black Caucus condemned the state intervention and called it “a dark day” for the district.
Democrats, in general, have disapproved of the move, claiming it’s political. Houston is a largely Democrat-controlled city that has been at odds with state-level Republicans over a variety of issues related to education since the pandemic.
The unprecedented move from the Texas Education Agency toward HISD adds to the list of 15 other districts where state officials have appointed new leadership. Seven of those districts had a new board of managers put in place, and in most of those cases the takeover wasn’t actually related to academic issues &#8211; the majority were for financial issues.
But none have been anywhere near the size of Houston Independent. 
This kind of overhaul from state governments has happened nationwide. Philadelphia, New Orleans, and Detroit have gone through state takeovers in recent years. Critics argue there is little success in improving the academic outcomes when such takeovers occur from state governments.
Texas Education Agency officials will reportedly appoint a board of managers and a superintendent to oversee the district until the end of the school year in June.

US-HEALTH-VIRUS-EDUCATION-SCHOOL

Texas Announces Takeover Of Failing Big City School District

Education

Houston

School Board

Texas

U.S.

The <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/topic/denver" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Denver Broncos</a> and <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/topic/houston" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Houston Texans</a> both reportedly hired new head football coaches on Tuesday after experiencing losing seasons.
ESPN&#8217;s Adam Schefter reported that the Texans hired former San Francisco 49ers’ defensive coordinator DeMeco Ryans on a six-year deal. The Texans went 3-13-1 during this season.
&#8220;For so many reasons, DeMeco is everything we are looking for in a leader and coach for our organization,&#8221; Houston Texans owner Cal McNair said in a statement. &#8220;He has a proven track record for developing high-quality players and constantly innovated his defensive scheme over the last six seasons in San Francisco.&#8221;
&#8220;We started this process with the goal of finding someone our fans and city can be proud of and we&#8217;ve done just that,&#8221; the statement continued. &#8220;While we received a lot of incredible feedback and support for DeMeco from different people, it was our discussions with him and his vision for our football team that made him the right coach to lead us as we continue to evolve as an organization.&#8221;
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-width="500" data-dnt="true">
Former 49ers’ defensive coordinator DeMeco Ryans and the Houston Texans reached agreement today on a six-year deal, per sources. Texans have their new head coach. <a href="https://t.co/1CvFSLvZY5">pic.twitter.com/1CvFSLvZY5</a>
&mdash; Adam Schefter (@AdamSchefter) <a href="https://twitter.com/AdamSchefter/status/1620533383439994880?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">January 31, 2023</a></blockquote>
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Schefter also reported that the Broncos agreed to a deal to sign Sean Payton from the New Orleans Saints. The NFL confirmed Schefter&#8217;s report.
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-width="500" data-dnt="true">
Saints receive a 2023 first-round pick and 2024 second-round pick. 
Broncos receive Sean Payton and a future third-round pick.
&mdash; NFL (@NFL) <a href="https://twitter.com/NFL/status/1620544277876187137?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">January 31, 2023</a></blockquote>
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Even though Payton did not coach this year, Denver had to negotiate with New Orleans to sign him because Payton signed an extension with New Orleans in 2019 to remain with the team through the 2024 season, the report said. The Broncos finished the season 5-12.
New Orleans will get Denver&#8217;s first-round draft pick this year and the team&#8217;s second-round pick next year in exchange for Payton and New Orlean&#8217;s third-round pick next year.
&#8220;Timing of today’s two hires was completely coincidental,&#8221; Schefter said. &#8220;Broncos were zeroed in on Sean Payton, and didn’t make any contact this week with DeMeco Ryans or his agent. Denver was focused on Payton, and Houston on Ryans.&#8221;
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-width="500" data-dnt="true">
Timing of today’s two hires was completely coincidental. Broncos were zeroed in on Sean Payton, and didn’t make any contact this week with DeMeco Ryans or his agent. Denver was focused on Payton, and Houston on Ryans.
&mdash; Adam Schefter (@AdamSchefter) <a href="https://twitter.com/AdamSchefter/status/1620541240562561024?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">January 31, 2023</a></blockquote>
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&nbsp;

Houston Texans Denver Broncos

Denver Broncos And Houston Texans Both Hire New Head Coaches

Denver

General

Restaurant and bar owners in <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/news/houston-taqueria-where-patron-shot-and-killed-would-be-robber-gets-robbed-again" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Houston</a> are sleeping in their establishments, armed, in order to protect them from robbers.
The restaurant owners have resorted to sleeping in their businesses in order to prevent a recent rash of break-ins that have taken place in recent weeks. The owners said that their businesses have been broken into repeatedly, sometimes by the same suspect. They placed the blame on Houston&#8217;s bail policies, which have resulted in more criminals out on the streets.
“We’ve been broken into six times now,&#8221; Tod Jones, the owner of Glitter, a karaoke bar in Midtown Houston, told local news outlet <a href="https://www.khou.com/article/news/local/houston-restaurant-bars-burglaries/285-6667ff6d-562d-4173-9594-be37661e754b" target="_blank" rel="noopener">KHOU</a>. “They’re coming in, grabbing as many bottles as they can, throwing it in a bag and then they’re out. Both my windows are broken, and I’m like, &#8216;Man, I don’t even want to fix them because they’re going to be broken again in the next few days.’”
Jones said that the thieves have caused more than $20,000 in damages and stolen alcohol. “At this point, you don’t even want to claim it on your insurance, because you don’t want to lose your insurance,&#8221; he said. &#8220;You just have to fix it yourself.” KHOU reported that Jones now sleeps at the bar from closing until morning to protect the property.
Raul Jacobo, the owner of Cobos Barbecue in the East Downtown neighborhood, is also sleeping in the back office of his restaurant with a gun waiting for burglars. The restaurant was broken into twice in less than two weeks, despite being a block away from a Houston Police Department office. In one instance, Jacobo and a security guard caught a would-be thief and held him until police arrived. &#8220;Police got there, he had his bag with all his tools in it, ski mask,&#8221; he said. &#8220;Then, next thing I find out, he’s out the next day.”
“We are literally one street away from an [HPD] substation and we have a criminal that is breaking in twice in four days and doesn’t care about any consequence,&#8221; he added.
“I have been burglarized 15 times in the last year,” Lindsey Rae, the owner of Two-Headed Dog in Houston, said during a recent city council meeting, via the <a href="https://nypost.com/2023/01/19/armed-bar-owners-in-texas-sleeping-in-shops-to-stop-criminals/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">New York Post</a>. “We’re seeing, if they are getting caught, they’re getting re-released because of the cash bond issues we’re having,” she added. &#8220;They can come back and rob us again.”
A 2021 investigation from ABC affiliate <a href="https://abc13.com/feature/harris-county-bond-system-repeat-offenders-houston-crime/11250980/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">KTRK</a> found that Houston&#8217;s bail policies have allowed more criminals back onto the streets. The outlet found that in 2011, just 3.5% of cases filed in Harris County court resulted in the defendant being released on felony bond; in 2021, the defendant was released in 18.8% of cases, nearly six times as often. The most frequent charges for defendants who posted felony bond were: felon in possession of a weapon; possession of a controlled substance; or aggravated assault with a deadly weapon.
The investigation also found that criminals were committing more crimes while out on bail. In 2011, just 3.5% of cases involved a defendant who was already out on at least one existing felony bond; in 2021, that number leaped to 19%. Of those cases, 968 accused felons allegedly committed four or more new crimes since being released on bond. One case investigated by the outlet found that the offender was out on 13 separate bonds.

Guns

Houston Restaurant Owners Are Sleeping In Their Businesses, Armed, To Keep Out Burglars Because Of City’s Lax Bail Policies

Houston Restaurant Owners Are Sleeping In Their Businesses, Armed, To Keep Out Burglars Because Of City's Lax Bail Policies

Crime

Robbery

Small Businesses

The <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/topic/houston" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Houston</a> taqueria where a would-be robber was shot and killed last week suffered a break-in on Tuesday.
At about 2:45 a.m. local time on Tuesday morning, a man broke into El Ranchito #4 in southwest Houston, stealing money and damaging several video poker machines in the establishment. Surveillance video from the scene shows the robber using a crowbar to pry open the door of the restaurant, breaking into several gambling machines before making off with several hundred dollars from the cash register.
&#8220;When I got here, I looked at the video and I saw the man break into the games and the register,&#8221; Pedro Lopez, the owner of El Ranchito, told <a href="https://abc13.com/houston-taqueria-robbery-shooting-break-in-at-el-ranchito-customer-shoots-robber/12685408/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">local news</a> reporters.
Surveillance video of the break-in shows a masked man using a pry bar to wrench open the door of the restaurant. The man then busts open three video poker machines from which he reportedly stole money. He then walks up to the cash register, breaking it open and taking the money from inside. Lopez told local news outlets that the thief made off with a couple hundred dollars.
His gambling machines are ruined, and a <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vHritBC8Ajw" target="_blank" rel="noopener">news hit</a> from local station ABC 13 showed the front door lock of the restaurant mangled as well.
&#8220;I don&#8217;t know if it&#8217;s against me. I just don&#8217;t know,&#8221; Lopez lamented. &#8220;I think we need to come out ahead of it and move forward. Keep working until someone else comes to rob us.&#8221; The shop was open the day after the robbery took place, ABC 13 reported.
The second break-in came just five days after a would-be robber was <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/news/armed-customer-shoots-robber-dead-and-returns-stolen-money-in-houston-taqueria-report" target="_blank" rel="noopener">shot and killed</a> by a patron while attempting to hold up the store. Witnesses told officers that a masked African American man wearing all black clothing, a black ski mask, and black gloves walked into the restaurant, pointing what appeared to be a firearm at customers while demanding their money, according to Houston police.
While this person was walking around the restaurant taking money from patrons, one customer sitting in a booth with another person quickly stood up as soon as the suspect passed by and pulled out a gun, as seen in the surveillance video.
Police said the armed patron shot the suspect multiple times before collecting the stolen money, which he then returned to the others. This individual and other patrons then left the scene, leaving the police to ask the public for help in identifying the shooter as he was wanted for questioning.
The Houston Police Department shared surveillance images of who they believe was the armed customer, described as a white or Hispanic man, as well as his 1970s or 1980s model pickup truck with no bed. No charges have been filed, police said in a Friday press release.
On Monday, the Harris County District Attorney’s Office said in a statement that it was referring the case to a <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/news/grand-jury-to-decide-on-charges-for-customer-who-fatally-shot-robber-at-houston-taqueria" target="_blank" rel="noopener">grand jury</a>, which would decide whether or not to press charges against the patron.
Lopez expressed support for the patron on Tuesday. &#8220;I&#8217;m happy that they didn&#8217;t put charges against him right now,&#8221; he said. &#8220;He continues forward and God takes care of him and protects him. Thanks to him, they didn&#8217;t take the money. The bad thing is the death.&#8221;

Robber with crowbar

Houston Taqueria Where Patron Shot And Killed Would-Be Robber Gets Robbed Again

Shooting

The man who shot and killed a robbery suspect at a taqueria in <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/topic/houston" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Houston</a> last week before returning the stolen money to other patrons will be referred to a grand jury, according to authorities.
Houston police said the 46-year-old armed customer, who has not been publicly identified, was questioned by homicide detectives in the presence of his attorney on Monday.
&#8220;After consulting with members of the Harris County District Attorney&#8217;s Office, it was determined the shooting will be referred to a grand jury,&#8221; the Houston Police Department <a href="https://www.houstontx.gov/police/nr/2023/jan/nr010923-7.htm" target="_blank" rel="noopener">said in a statement Monday</a>. &#8220;Since the male is not arrested or charged, his identity is not being released at this time.&#8221;
The incident happened inside The Ranchito #4 at around 11:30 p.m. Thursday. Witnesses told officers that a masked African American man wearing all black clothing, a black ski mask, and black gloves walked into the restaurant, waving what appeared to be a firearm at customers while demanding their money, according to Houston police.
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-width="500" data-dnt="true">
CAUGHT ON VIDEO: A customer at a taqueria shot and killed a robber at the restaurant on S. Gessner in southwest Houston, police said. 
Read: <a href="https://t.co/3M4zQSUx2G">https://t.co/3M4zQSUx2G</a> <a href="https://t.co/XQH8r8yHus">pic.twitter.com/XQH8r8yHus</a>
&mdash; KHOU 11 News Houston (@KHOU) <a href="https://twitter.com/KHOU/status/1611369847417446401?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">January 6, 2023</a></blockquote>
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While the alleged robber, now identified by police as 30-year-old Eric Eugene Washington, was walking around the restaurant taking money from patrons, one customer sitting in a booth with another person quickly stood up as soon as Washington passed by and pulled out a gun, as seen in surveillance video.
The armed patron shot Washington, who collapsed on the ground. The 46-year-old customer continued to fire as he walked up to Washington, took his gun, and then fired one more round toward Washington. <a href="https://abcnews.go.com/US/customer-fatally-shot-robber-houston-taqueria-wanted-questioning/story?id=96294463" target="_blank" rel="noopener">At least nine shots</a> could be heard in the footage.
As reported by FOX 26 Houston, the <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=o20wyw04r64" target="_blank" rel="noopener">security video shows</a> the 46-year-old patron apparently realizing the alleged robber&#8217;s firearm was fake, as he throws it against the wall. Police said the man collected the stolen money, which he then returned to the others. He and other patrons then left the scene.
Responding officers found the robbery suspect shot multiple times, and paramedics pronounced him dead, according to authorities. No one else was reported to be injured in the incident.
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-width="500" data-dnt="true">
UPDATE: Surveillance photos of the male (and his vehicle) wanted for questioning in this fatal shooting of a robbery suspect last night (Jan. 5).
Know the man&#39;s ID? Call HPD Homicide 713-308-3600. He is not charged at this time.
More info at <a href="https://t.co/ldFdhIXy1g">https://t.co/ldFdhIXy1g</a><a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/hounews?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#hounews</a> <a href="https://t.co/CIqpLEQmmM">https://t.co/CIqpLEQmmM</a> <a href="https://t.co/FrL42qkjxu">pic.twitter.com/FrL42qkjxu</a>
&mdash; Houston Police (@houstonpolice) <a href="https://twitter.com/houstonpolice/status/1611382092209815552?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">January 6, 2023</a></blockquote>
<script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>
Houston police Lt. R. Wilkins said Washington was brandishing &#8220;a plastic pistol possibly an aero soft or possibly a little BB pistol,&#8221; <a href="https://www.chron.com/news/houston-texas/article/houston-police-taqueria-shooting-video-17699731.php" target="_blank" rel="noopener">according to KHOU 11</a>. Still, Pedro Lopez, the owner of the restaurant, <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lHkbTbhLmoI" target="_blank" rel="noopener">praised the armed patron as a &#8220;hero,&#8221;</a> according to an English translation provided by the news outlet.
The 46-year-old&#8217;s attorney released a statement to ABC 13 Eyewitness News saying they are confident the grand jury will conclude the shooting was justified under Texas law.
&#8220;In fear of his life and his friend&#8217;s life my client acted to protect everyone in the restaurant,&#8221; <a href="https://abc13.com/houston-taqueria-shooting-customer-shoots-robber-eric-eugene-washington-killed-suspect-death/12681554/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">the statement said</a>. &#8220;In Texas, a shooting is justified in self-defense, defense of others and in defense of property. The customer has met with the Harris County District Attorney&#8217;s Office and Investigators with HPD homicide. He fully intends to continue cooperating with the ongoing investigation.&#8221;

(Photo by Celal Gunes/Anadolu Agency via Getty Images)

Grand Jury To Decide On Charges For Customer Who Fatally Shot Robber At Houston Taqueria

grand jury

Gun Violence

Texas authorities are searching for a man who fatally shot a suspected robber inside a Houston taco restaurant last week.
The shooting death occurred inside Ranchito Taqueria at approximately 11:30 p.m. CT on Thursday.
&#8220;Witnesses told officers the suspect entered the restaurant and pointed a pistol at patrons as he demanded their money. As the suspect collected money from patrons, one of the patrons, described as a white or Hispanic male, produced a gun of his own and shot the suspect multiple times,&#8221; police said in a <a href="https://cityofhouston.news/surveillance-photos-of-male-wanted-for-questioning-in-fatal-shooting-at-6873-south-gessner-road/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">statement</a>.
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-width="500" data-dnt="true">
UPDATE: Surveillance photos of the male (and his vehicle) wanted for questioning in this fatal shooting of a robbery suspect last night (Jan. 5).
Know the man&#39;s ID? Call HPD Homicide 713-308-3600. He is not charged at this time.
More info at <a href="https://t.co/ldFdhIXy1g">https://t.co/ldFdhIXy1g</a><a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/hounews?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#hounews</a> <a href="https://t.co/CIqpLEQmmM">https://t.co/CIqpLEQmmM</a> <a href="https://t.co/FrL42qkjxu">pic.twitter.com/FrL42qkjxu</a>
&mdash; Houston Police (@houstonpolice) <a href="https://twitter.com/houstonpolice/status/1611382092209815552?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">January 6, 2023</a></blockquote>
<script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>
&#8220;The shooter collected the stolen money from the suspect and returned the money to other patrons. He and other patrons (victims) then fled the scene,&#8221; police said.
ABC News reported that the suspect was later found to have used a toy gun during the incident, though customers believed it was a real firearm. ABC-13 Houston <a href="https://abc13.com/houston-robberies-customer-shoots-suspect-el-ranchito-taqueria-gessner-and-bellaire-southwest-crime/12663715/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">said</a> that the robber&#8217;s firearm was either a plastic air-soft gun or a BB gun, according to Houston Police Detective Lt. R. Willkens.
The identity of the deceased robbery suspect was not revealed in the statement. He is believed to be in his 20s and wore all black, including a black mask and gloves. His verification by the Harris County Institute of Forensic Sciences is pending, according to the police report.
The surveillance images of the customer who shot the alleged robber showed an older male in a t-shirt and jeans carrying a jacket and handgun. Another image of his vehicle showed a late model red pickup truck, likely 1970s or 1980s with no bed, as the vehicle he drove when leaving the restaurant.
[WARNING: Graphic video below.]
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-width="500" data-dnt="true">
🚨<a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/WATCH?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#WATCH</a>: Self-defense shooting of armed robber at a restaurant 
📌<a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/Houston?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#Houston</a> | <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/Texas?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#Texas</a>
Watch as a brave customer at a taqueria shot restaurant shot and killed an armed criminal who was robbing from other customers. Houston police are now looking for that person for questioning <a href="https://t.co/g7EYjms5PZ">pic.twitter.com/g7EYjms5PZ</a>
&mdash; R A W S A L E R T S (@rawsalerts) <a href="https://twitter.com/rawsalerts/status/1611824003932475392?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">January 7, 2023</a></blockquote>
<script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>
No charges have been filed in the incident. Police are asking those with information to come forward with details.
ABC News <a href="https://abcnews.go.com/US/customer-fatally-shot-robber-houston-taqueria-wanted-questioning/story?id=96294463" target="_blank" rel="noopener">reported</a> that about 10 people were eating inside the taqueria at the time of the attempted robbery. Surveillance video showed the customer with the firearm shooting the robber multiple times after money was taken from other customers. Nine shots were reportedly heard in the video.
Police are also seeking information from customers who were inside the restaurant at the time, as customers fled before police arrived to investigate the shooting incident. Pedro Lopez, the owner of the establishment, said he and his workers were in shock following the shooting, according to ABC-13.
Nathan Beedle with the Harris County District Attorney&#8217;s Office <a href="https://www.khou.com/article/news/crime/taqueria-robbery-shooting-houston/285-5dceec19-9c07-444c-b211-4c584738e0fa" target="_blank" rel="noopener">told</a> KHOU-TV Houston that Texas law allows for deadly force when justified by robbery or threat of robbery.
<div class="article__section article__section_type_text utility__text">
&#8220;I can point you exactly where it is in the law, 9.31 and 9.32 of the penal code,&#8221; Beedle said. &#8220;Whether someone uses deadly force in the situation, that is presumed to be correct under Texas law.&#8221;
</div>

Red and blue police lights near a car crash in a city at night.

Customer Who Fatally Shot Houston Taqueria Robbery Suspect Sought For Questioning

A man shot and killed a robbery suspect at a taqueria in Houston on Thursday before returning the stolen money to other patrons, according to authorities.
The incident happened at around 11:30 p.m. and was caught on surveillance video, which has been viewed online millions of times.
Witnesses told officers that a masked African American man wearing all black clothing, a black ski mask, and black gloves walked into the restaurant, pointing what appeared to be a firearm at customers while demanding their money, according to Houston police.
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-width="500" data-dnt="true">
CAUGHT ON VIDEO: A customer at a taqueria shot and killed a robber at the restaurant on S. Gessner in southwest Houston, police said. 
Read: <a href="https://t.co/3M4zQSUx2G">https://t.co/3M4zQSUx2G</a> <a href="https://t.co/XQH8r8yHus">pic.twitter.com/XQH8r8yHus</a>
&mdash; KHOU 11 News Houston (@KHOU) <a href="https://twitter.com/KHOU/status/1611369847417446401?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">January 6, 2023</a></blockquote>
<script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>
While this person was walking around the restaurant taking money from patrons, one customer sitting in a booth with another person quickly stood up as soon as the suspect passed by and pulled out a gun, as seen in the surveillance video.
Police said the armed patron shot the suspect multiple times before collecting the stolen money, which he then returned to the others. This individual and other patrons then left the scene, leaving the police to ask the public for help in identifying the shooter as he is wanted for questioning.
The Houston Police Department shared surveillance images of who they believe was the armed customer, described as a white or Hispanic man, as well as his 1970s or 1980s model pickup truck with no bed. No charges have been filed, police said in the <a href="https://www.houstontx.gov/police/nr/2023/jan/nr010623-1.htm" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Friday press release</a>.
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UPDATE: Surveillance photos of the male (and his vehicle) wanted for questioning in this fatal shooting of a robbery suspect last night (Jan. 5).
Know the man&#39;s ID? Call HPD Homicide 713-308-3600. He is not charged at this time.
More info at <a href="https://t.co/ldFdhIXy1g">https://t.co/ldFdhIXy1g</a><a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/hounews?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#hounews</a> <a href="https://t.co/CIqpLEQmmM">https://t.co/CIqpLEQmmM</a> <a href="https://t.co/FrL42qkjxu">pic.twitter.com/FrL42qkjxu</a>
&mdash; Houston Police (@houstonpolice) <a href="https://twitter.com/houstonpolice/status/1611382092209815552?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">January 6, 2023</a></blockquote>
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Police said that responding officers found the robbery suspect shot multiple times, and paramedics pronounced him dead. The suspect is believed to be a man in his 20s, and his identity was pending verification by the Harris County Institute of Forensic Sciences, per the police statement.
Houston police Lt. R. Wilkins said the now-dead suspect was brandishing &#8220;a plastic pistol possibly an aero soft or possibly a little BB pistol,&#8221; <a href="https://www.chron.com/news/houston-texas/article/houston-police-taqueria-shooting-video-17699731.php" target="_blank" rel="noopener">according to KHOU 11</a>. No one else in the restaurant was injured, the news report noted.
Investigators encouraged the shooter and victims to contact the Houston Police Department Homicide Division at 713-308-3600 to provide statements.

Armed Customer Shoots Robber Dead And Returns Stolen Money In Houston Taqueria: Report

Houston police have released a dashcam video of an Army Reserves veteran driving an uber who escaped after two passengers attacked him with one holding a gun to the vet&#8217;s head.
The police are hoping that releasing the video to the public will help them to find the suspects.
“They put the gun to my head, behind me, and shouting like, ‘Get out of the car,’” the Uber driver Dovran, who reportedly served seven years in the U.S. Army Reserves, told <a href="https://www.click2houston.com/news/local/2023/01/03/get-out-before-i-kill-you-video-shows-terrifying-armed-robbery-of-rideshare-driver-in-west-houston/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">KPRC 2</a>.
The incident occurred on October 18, at roughly 11 a.m. Dovran said a pickup request came from a man named “MJ” in a parking lot behind a McDonald’s. The initial plan was for Dovran to make the drop-off near a Walmart, but then was changed to an apartment complex, Houston police stated. Dovran said that when the Uber approached the drop-off site, one man pulled out a gun and put it to Dovran’s head, demanding Dovran get out of the car, snapping, “&#8217;Get out before I kill you. Get out before I kill you. I&#8217;m going to kill you. Get the f*** out the car. Get the f*** out the car!”
“Luckily, he didn’t shoot me,” Dovran said.
The Dashcam video caught one suspect exiting the rear passenger door in order to open the driver’s side door to yank Dovran out. “I was holding my seatbelt so they failed,” Dovran recalled.
The ensuing struggle with the suspect who had left the car left him on the ground along with Dovran’s phone, prompting Dovran to try to drive away. “I was thinking, ‘Okay, if I drive off, at least one guy will be behind me because he was outside. Luckily, the guy who was in the driving seat, he just jumped out,” Dovran told <a href="https://abc13.com/rideshare-robbery-caught-on-video-dashcam-shows-passengers-hold-driver-at-gunpoint-houston-crime-stoppers-uber-threatened-with-a-gun/12646712/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">ABC 13</a>.
As Dovran drives away, the video shows the suspect with the gun insisting, “I&#8217;m gonna shoot you! I&#8217;m gonna shoot you!” before apparently jumping out of the car.
“I was shocked, you know. I was thankful to God like, he didn’t shoot me,” Dovran admitted. “Thankful. I’m lucky.”
Uber released a statement regarding the incident. &#8220;The actions of the riders shown in the video were chilling to watch and we are grateful the driver wasn’t injured,&#8221; the statement read. &#8220;We removed the rider’s access and have reached out to the driver to offer support. We look forward to assisting police in identifying those responsible.&#8221;
Police have asked anyone who can identify the suspects to call Crime Stoppers of Houston.
<iframe loading="lazy" title="YouTube video player" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/yFWGGwOH7F4" width="560" height="315" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen="allowfullscreen"></iframe>

Car Driver with GPS

Dashcam Video: Army Reserves Vet Driving Uber Escapes After Suspect Holds Gun To His Head

U.S. Army

Uber

Veterans

A 29-year-old <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/topic/texas" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Texas</a> mechanic and father of two girls was fatally shot two days before Christmas after a dispute with a client about a $500 repair bill.
Luis Manuel Casillas was found dead near the 7600 block of North Freeway in Houston, Texas, on Friday afternoon after an unknown customer accompanied by five other men allegedly chased down and killed him execution-style, according to <a href="https://abc13.com/luis-manuel-casillas-death-houston-mechanic-gunned-down-man-killed-over-money-dad-before-christmas/12617293/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">local media</a> reports.
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A heartbreaking loss for the Casillas family only two days before Christmas. 
They told me Luis Manuel Casillas was killed by a customer who was upset over a $500 payment for work done on his truck. 
He leaves behind a wife and two young daughters. <a href="https://t.co/3kLgoR8m1X">https://t.co/3kLgoR8m1X</a> <a href="https://t.co/5Zh1Nbg5A1">pic.twitter.com/5Zh1Nbg5A1</a>
&mdash; Mycah Hatfield (@MycahABC13) <a href="https://twitter.com/MycahABC13/status/1607809633304940544?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">December 27, 2022</a></blockquote>
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Sandy Casillas, the victim&#8217;s sister, told local media that witnesses claim an argument broke out between her brother and the customer over repairs on a truck before the situation turned fatal. When the customer said he refused to pay for the service, Casillas allegedly told him to take his truck and leave.
&#8220;My brother started running,&#8221; Sandy Casillas said. &#8220;He ran through all the side businesses he could run through,&#8221; adding that the suspects caught up to the mechanic and &#8220;shot him in the head point blank.&#8221;
&#8220;They put him on his knees, and they shot him in the head,&#8221; Sandy said.
She told <a href="https://www.khou.com/article/news/crime/he-didnt-deserve-this-family-of-man-found-shot-to-death-in-north-houston-wants-answers/285-90b132fd-8ce0-4fee-adb9-20cde9dae816" target="_blank" rel="noopener">KHOU11</a> her brother pleaded for his life to the gunmen saying, &#8220;I have a family — just take whatever you want.&#8221;
Jose Casillas, the victim&#8217;s brother, said Luis shared screenshots of his conversation with the customer the day before the deadly confrontation.
&#8220;After that, I just received a call that my brother has been shot,&#8221; his brother said. &#8220;I didn&#8217;t believe it at first.&#8221;
Authorities transferred Casillas to a hospital, where he died from his injuries.
He leaves behind his wife and their two and three-year-old daughters.
Family members said Casillas had purchased Christmas presents for his children and planned to finish holiday shopping with the $500 owed from the repair bill.
&#8220;Santa was coming with Daddy, but Santa showed up, but Daddy didn&#8217;t,&#8221; the sister said.
Relatives appeared at the crime scene on Christmas Day, demanding that the alleged murderers be held accountable.
&#8220;You don&#8217;t do that to any human beings,&#8221; the sister said. &#8220;You don&#8217;t do that to animals. How do you do that to my brother? What they did is not fair and if you&#8217;re the mother of those six individuals, at least be a good enough mother to turn your child in.&#8221;
Houston police have not released a description of the suspects or their vehicles. However, investigations are underway to find surveillance footage of the shooting. Family members also believe they may be able to identify the suspect, according to KHOU-11.
&#8220;I&#8217;ll be damned if I let this case go cold,&#8221; the sister said. &#8220;My brother will get his justice.&#8221;
Family members will lay Casillas to rest on Thursday at the Funeraria Del Angel.

Police car with overhead emergency lights

Texas Mechanic Killed Over $500 Repair Bill Two Days Before Christmas

Murder

A <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/topic/houston" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Houston</a>-area city approved a resolution that seeks to restrict books with graphic content intended for minors in its public library.
The City Council of League City, Texas, voted 4-3 on Tuesday to set up rules by which books and other materials could be banned if they are determined to have &#8220;obscenity or other harmful content.&#8221;
<a href="https://abc13.com/league-city-council-texas-book-ban-restrictions-books-on-rape-and-bondage/12536465/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">As reported by ABC 13</a>, the resolution aims to block the use of taxpayer money for buying, displaying, or stocking books for people under 18 that address pedophilia, incest, rape, and bondage, as well as those intended for readers below the age of 10 that talk about or show sex, nudity, sexual preference, or related topics.
The council voted in favor of a committee to oversee the library board and create procedures to challenge a book, <a href="https://www.khou.com/amp/article/news/local/league-city-public-library-book-ban/285-a6de7094-b3c4-41af-81c2-10c92c029689" target="_blank" rel="noopener">according to KHOU 11</a>, a local CBS affiliate.
<a class="c-link" tabindex="-1" href="https://get.dailywire.com/readers-pass/read-only-v2?utm_campaign=dwplus&amp;utm_medium=editorial&amp;utm_source=dwsite&amp;cid=dwplus&amp;mid=z&amp;xid=0" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer" data-stringify-link="https://get.dailywire.com/readers-pass/read-only-v2?utm_campaign=dwplus&amp;utm_medium=editorial&amp;utm_source=dwsite&amp;cid=dwplus&amp;mid=z&amp;xid=0" data-sk="tooltip_parent" data-remove-tab-index="true" aria-describedby="sk-tooltip-54730">TIRED OF THE LEGACY MEDIA’S BIAS CONTROLLING THE NARRATIVE AND OBSCURING THE TRUTH? JOIN US.</a>
Local reports said dozens of people spoke during the public comment portion of the meeting, and many protested the resolution. Among the issues raised were concerns about government overreach and the resolution&#8217;s impact on the gay community.
“They’re lumping the LGBTQ+ community in with rapists and pedophiles and I find that highly offense and shameful,” said Roy Green, a gay man and local resident, according to Click2Houston, <a href="https://www.click2houston.com/news/local/2022/12/07/some-residents-concerned-about-possible-new-book-policy-for-public-libraries-in-league-city/?utm_source=twitter&amp;utm_medium=social&amp;utm_campaign=snd&amp;utm_content=kprc2" target="_blank" rel="noopener">an NBC affiliate</a>.
Texas leads all other states in the nation with the most books banned in schools, <a href="https://www.statesman.com/story/news/state/2022/09/19/texas-banned-books-2022-list-leads-us-schools-free-speech-group-finds/69500100007/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">claimed a recent analysis</a> by PEN America. Such restrictions have led to <a href="https://www.axios.com/local/austin/2022/10/28/texas-library-book-ban-lawsuit-austin-judge" target="_blank" rel="noopener">legal action in Llano County</a> by citizens arguing that the First Amendment is being violated.
But when it comes to League City and its Helen Hall Library, <a href="https://www.khou.com/amp/article/news/local/league-city-public-library-book-ban/285-a6de7094-b3c4-41af-81c2-10c92c029689" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Mayor Nick Long</a> argued that the procedures being put in place are reasonable.
“In the end, this resolution will fix a lot of the issues. It will allow citizens to have their voices heard. It will ensure that no books or material is banned and put parents in charge of what their children are reading,” he said.

Library

Texas City Votes To Allow Restriction Of Books For Minors In Public Library

Books

First Amendment

<a href="https://www.dailywire.com/topic/rap-music">Rapper</a> Takeoff was shot and killed in <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/topic/houston">Houston</a> in the early Tuesday morning, according to TMZ.
The 28-year-old recording artist was part of the group Migos. Law enforcement sources and several witnesses told <a href="https://www.tmz.com/2022/11/01/migos-takeoff-dead-dies-shot-houston-quavo-migos/">TMZ</a> that the fatal incident occurred just after 2:30 AM when police were called to 810 Billiards &amp; Bowling Houston.
The sources said Takeoff, whose real name is Kirshnik Khari Ball, was playing dice with bandmate Quavo when a fight broke out among participants. This led to one person allegedly <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/topic/gun-violence">opening fire</a> and striking Takeoff in or near the head. He was pronounced dead at the scene.
Two other individuals were also allegedly injured during the altercation and taken to the hospital, but their condition is unknown. The sources said Quavo was not hurt.
A Migos representative <a href="https://apnews.com/article/takeoff-migos-killed-houston-b5e86d023796a9c4eddf9bf547bcd396?ref=upstract.com" target="_blank" rel="noopener">confirmed</a> to the Associated Press that Takeoff had died.
Migos is a hip hop group based in Georgia and started in 2008. The three members are all related, with Takeoff being the youngest member and nephew of Quavo. Offset is the third member and is Takeoff’s cousin. Offset is also married to fellow hip hop star Cardi B.
The band rose to fame with the hit song &#8220;Versace&#8221; in 2013 and then topped charts again with the 2016 rap song &#8220;Bad and Boujee.&#8221; That song was later certified four times platinum by RIAA, though Takeoff is not credited on the song and can only be seen in the background of the music video.
Takeoff was accused of “sexual battery, assault, false imprisonment, gender violence and interference with civil rights” by an anonymous woman in August 2020. In April 2021, the Los Angeles District Attorney&#8217;s <a href="https://www.complex.com/music/takeoff-wont-face-criminal-charges-sexual-assault-case">confirmed</a> they would not be filing criminal charges due to lack of evidence.
Takeoff and Quavo did an <a href="https://www.complex.com/music/takeoff-quavo-future-of-migos">interview</a> with Complex in early October discussing the future of Migos just ahead of the pair releasing a duo album without Offset.
“I just feel like we want to see our career as a duo because we just came from a loyal family,” Quavo said. He agreed that family is “supposed to stick together” but circumstances can change.
“Sometimes, when sh** don’t work out, it ain’t meant to be,” the rapper continued. “So that’s what I think.”
Takeoff agreed with that assessment.
“We don’t know all answers,” he told the publication. “God know. So we pray a lot. And we tell him, whatever, whatever ain’t right, however you supposed to see it fit, you put it back together or however you do it. Only time will tell. We always family, now. Ain’t nothing gon’ change.”

Spotify’s RapCaviar Live

Migos Rapper, 28, Shot Dead In Houston

Migos Rapper Takeoff, 28, Shot Dead In Houston

Entertainment

Rap Music

Those trying to watch the Young America’s Foundation (YAF) livestream of <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/author/matt-walsh" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Matt Walsh</a>’s University of Houston speech Thursday night were met with an unavailable video, and leftist student employees are being blamed.
YAF <a href="https://www.yaf.org/news/leftist-student-employees-likely-sabotaged-live-stream-for-walsh-event-at-university-of-houston/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">wrote</a> following the event that it believes it is likely that student employees who opposed Walsh&#8217;s speech disrupted the livestream. Part of the speech was seen on YAF&#8217;s YouTube page, but poor audio made it impossible to hear what Walsh was saying. The livestream later became completely unavailable.
“One of the student workers, Ky Lai, was in communication with members of a leftist coalition, ‘Stop Transphobia @ UH,’ and shared that she would be working behind the scenes. After YAF became aware of this student worker’s postings, she was removed from the event, and a bomb sweep was conducted,” Nick Baker, assistant editor for YAF’s The New Guard, <a href="https://www.yaf.org/news/leftist-student-employees-likely-sabotaged-live-stream-for-walsh-event-at-university-of-houston/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">wrote</a>.
According to Baker, several student workers were required by the university to remain on site for the event and had access to YAF’s streaming equipment in the hours before Walsh’s speech.
Earlier in the night, a person protesting the event was wrestled to the ground and handcuffed by police. Video of the incident showed the masked protester, who had made it inside the event venue, on the ground and surrounded by five police officers who were attempting to arrest him. The protestor appeared to be carrying a small transgender flag that ended up on the ground beside him.
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WATCH: Masked protestor tackled by police at <a href="https://twitter.com/MattWalshBlog?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@mattwalshblog</a>&#39;s event in Houston <a href="https://t.co/bEKfT2WKpC">pic.twitter.com/bEKfT2WKpC</a>
&mdash; YAF (@yaf) <a href="https://twitter.com/yaf/status/1580709868360458240?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">October 13, 2022</a></blockquote>
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Officers finally handcuffed the protester and escorted him outside, where a group of protestors can be heard chanting in the background of the video. In another video, the group outside Walsh’s event shouts, “What do we want? Walsh out! When do we want it? Now!”
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Far-left protesters chant “What do we want? WALSH OUT!” outside a screening of What Is A Woman at the University of Houston.
Footage by TPM’s Beth Baisch <a href="https://twitter.com/PuffinsPictures?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@PuffinsPictures</a> <a href="https://t.co/CyuBIlwiWZ">pic.twitter.com/CyuBIlwiWZ</a>
&mdash; The Post Millennial (@TPostMillennial) <a href="https://twitter.com/TPostMillennial/status/1580707340898140160?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">October 13, 2022</a></blockquote>
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“I have taken their feedback into consideration but unfortunately I must decline their request at this time,” the Daily Wire host responded in a tweet.
The protesters were vastly outnumbered by those who were attending the event that included a screening of “What is a Woman?” followed by a speech from Walsh. Long lines formed around the building for the event in the hours leading up to it, and officers from the Houston Police Department sat on horseback as protesters and attendees arrived.
In the days leading up to the event, an anarchist group attempted to form a protest to counter what they call Walsh’s “transphobia.”
“On Thursday, far-right bigot and transphobe Matt Walsh will be on campus! We must oppose this hate!” a social media announcement from Space City AO said. “The majority of UH students and workers reject this hatred! We must organize the largest possible counter-protest to make sure Matt Walsh and other bigots know they’re unwelcome!”
A Texas Democratic state representative even joined the protesters outside the event. “U of H no place for hate!” Rep. Jon Rosenthal chanted with the crowd.
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Representative <a href="https://twitter.com/Jon_RosenthalTX?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@Jon_RosenthalTX</a> chants “U Of H No Place For Hate” in support of protesters outside of <a href="https://twitter.com/MattWalshBlog?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@MattWalshBlog</a>’s screening of ‘What Is A Woman’. <a href="https://t.co/U0RL9ZoRTY">pic.twitter.com/U0RL9ZoRTY</a>
&mdash; Tayler Hansen (@TaylerUSA) <a href="https://twitter.com/TaylerUSA/status/1580715610555944960?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">October 14, 2022</a></blockquote>
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