Month: July 2026

EL PASO, Texas (KVIA) — Friday, the El Paso Police Department said a crash in the Northeast closed Calgary Avenue. It happened at Prince Edward Avenue and Alcan Street.

The crash happened near Andress High School.

The department’s Special Traffic Investigators are responding to the crash, which they learned about at 10:15 a.m.

EL PASO, Texas (KVIA) — Neighbors around Album Park in East El Paso are upset trees were cut down on Thursday.

Some residents reached out to ABC-7 and said they were “not told this was going to happen.”

Dr. Katherine Lawson has watched the trees at Eastwood Park grow for more than 50 years. Now, seeing some of them come down is heartbreaking.

“All of them have a story. Every single tree here has a story,” Lawson said.

Lawson said the park has long felt like home. She recalled helping care for the trees decades ago.

“It was 1973. The park asked Mr. Nathan and I to water the trees for them,” Lawson said. “He would have a cup of coffee and I’d have a cup of cocoa. Then we would make our rounds and water all the trees.”

That’s why watching crews remove some of the aging mulberry trees has been so emotional.

“It’s like losing a part of your life,” Lawson said.

While she understands the trees pose safety concerns, she said the removals have still been difficult.

“I wasn’t prepared for it,” she said.

City parks officials said not every tree inspected had to be removed. Assistant Parks and Recreation Director Emigdio Gonzalez said crews were able to trim dead branches from most of the mulberry trees to help extend their lifespan.

“Part of trying to extend the life of some mulberries here at Eastwood Park,” Gonzalez said.

Gonzalez said the city conducts the work every year to keep visitors safe and improve tree health.

“Deadwood up in a tree is dangerous with wind. A person walking underneath could be at risk,” Gonzalez said. “It’s also detrimental to the tree. It can be a way for disease to enter the tree.”

Still, officials determined 14 mulberry trees were beyond saving and needed to be removed.

“When we get to the point where there’s not enough leaf coverage and it is a hazard for safety, then we remove those,” Gonzalez said.

The city plans to replace the lost canopy by planting two new trees for every one removed. The replacement trees will not be mulberries.

“Our plan this offseason is to build back 30,” Gonzalez said.

Lawson said she believes the city will follow through on its promise to replant, but she knows it will take years for the park to regain the shade that generations have enjoyed.

“The happiness that it brought to everybody, to walk and have the shade,” Lawson said. “All of us grew up with the trees being this tall and then so huge and protecting us.”

ANTHONY, N.M. (KVIA) — A man has been charged with attempted murder and aggravated battery after allegedly hitting and stabbing his roommate in his sleep, according to the Mesilla Marshals Office.

According to the Mesilla Marshals Office, its Detective and Crime Scene Team went to Anthony, New Mexico, to help Anthony Police after a report of a stabbed and collapsed man at an RV park July 2.

The injured man reportedly shared an RV with his friend, Alejandro Mustafat, who used to be in the military, officials said.

Mustafat, allegedly hit the victim with his fist while he was sleeping on the couch.

Mustafat allegedly stabbed the victim repeatedly while he tried to defend himself, the marshals office said.

The victim escaped and ran to the RV park office, where a witness called 911.

Mustafat allegedly left the area and drove to the Dona Ana County Sheriff’s Office sub-station on Anthony Drive and called 911 to report he was stabbed, officials said.

Anthony Police and deputies arrived and saw blood on Mustafat’s face and clothing. He allegedly told authorities he was “brutally stabbed” by his friend.

The Mesilla Marshals Crime Scene Team found a bloody knife at the RV park, and Anthony police helped determine Mustafat wasn’t stabbed.

The victim went to an El Paso hospital for serious injuries, officials said. Detectives said he had 26 knife wounds on his body and head.

A district judge ordered Mustafat to stay incarcerated and considered a danger to the victim and public on July Wednesday, according to officials.

EL PASO, Texas (KVIA)— Reality is still setting in for 9-year-old Noah Lopez and his family following a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity. The family returned to the Sun City after the El Paso boy made an appearance at the World Cup semifinal match.

Earlier this year, Noah’s mother, Claudia Lopez, entered his name in a raffle for a chance to help escort players onto the pitch during the 2026 World Cup. Earlier this summer, she learned Noah had been randomly selected. Noah would escort a player onto the field and hold their hand before kickoff during the semifinals at Dallas Stadium.

After learning the match was between France and Spain, Noah was hoping he’d be paired with French player Kylian Mbappé, who is the World Cup’s all-time leading scorer. But it wasn’t a possibility.

A family member suggested that Noah learn a few phrases in French so he could try to communicate with the athlete. Noah learned how to say his name in French.

After dropping Noah off at Dallas Stadium, FIFA asked parents who their child would want to help escort. Claudia answered Mbappé, but she said many parents also had the same response. However, FIFA couldn’t guarantee who Noah would be paired up with.

Minutes before walking onto the field, Noah was placed on the French side. Moments later, Noah walked onto the field escorting Kylian Mbappé!

“I knew that he knew what this moment meant for him. Just to be standing with the world’s one of the world’s best soccer players. So, yeah, there was, it was a really great moment. We were all excited,” Claudia said.  

Noah’s mom and sister were able to enjoy the moment outside of the stadium at a nearby entertainment district. While Noah’s father was able to witness it from the stands inside the stadium.

“A lot of the other parents are giving me high-fives and pats on the back, and it was just an amazing experience, just being able to see him walking out with Mbappé,” Edwin said.

Noah said he introduced himself to the player, and Mbappé said, “Hi. My name is Mbappé.”

He also met other celebrities and athletes, but he said the best moment by far was walking out with the top athlete.

Now, he is cherishing all his World Cup memories and keepsakes, including the uniform he wore on the field.

“So, he says he doesn’t want to wash his jersey just because he knows that Mbappé touched his shoulder,” Noah’s dad added.

Noah will start 4th grade in a few weeks! He said his school principal already approached him about talking about his World Cup experience during the school announcements!