HARRIS COUNTY, Texas – A man has been indicted for murder in connection with the tragic shooting of 9-year-old Arlene Alvarez in the Gulfgate area in 2022. The Harris County District Attorney’s Office made the announcement on Wednesday, revealing new developments in the case.
The incident unfolded as Arlene and her family were on their way to get pizza on Valentine’s Day. The accused, Tony Earls Jr., was involved in an altercation at a bank when a robbery took place. He fired shots at the fleeing robber, but tragically, some of those shots ended up hitting Arlene’s family’s pickup truck, resulting in the young girl’s death.
Initially, Earls was arrested and charged with aggravated assault, but a grand jury decision in July 2022 led to his release. However, the case was re-examined by the Harris County District Attorney’s Office two months ago, leading to the recent indictment.
According to the district attorney’s office, a special prosecutor assigned to the case believes that Earls had a clear line of sight when he fired the shots. The prosecutor argued that Earls saw the robber pass by the Alvarez family’s truck and had no justification to shoot into the passing vehicle.
Investigators are still working to identify and apprehend the robber involved in the initial incident. If convicted of murder, Earls could face a range of sentencing options from five years in prison to life behind bars. The case continues to unfold, shedding light on the tragic events that transpired on that fateful day.
Video footage capturing the robbery at the bank preceding the deadly shooting of Arlene Alvarez has been released, providing further insight into the sequence of events that led to the young girl’s untimely death. The community mourns the loss of a young life, while seeking justice for Arlene and her grieving family.