19-year-old rearrested on murder charge after plea hearing for Socorro shooting case

KVIA on August 31, 2026

Gabrielle Lopez

SOCORRO, Texas (KVIA) — A 19-year-old was rearrested in court Friday on a murder charge during his plea hearing in a deadly shooting case.

Gael Quintana is one of four suspects accused of a deadly shooting that happened at a Socorro house party in December 2025. The shooting killed 33-year-old Jose Avila, documents said.

Quintana has been charged with murder and tampering/fabricating physical evidence with intent to impair, court documents said. He originally only faced the tampering with evidence charge.

According to documents, the shooting happened Dec. 27, 2025, at a home on Cyan Valley near Nuevo Hueco Tanks Road and N Loop Drive. Avila owned the home and let his children host a party there, documents said.

Police went to the home around 10:09 p.m. after receiving reports about shots fired. Witnesses said four men got into an argument with another person attending the party. The men allegedly got into a vehicle and shot several rounds at the home as they drove off, documents said.

Avila was shot in the chest, and another man was possibly shot in the foot, documents said. Avila later died at a hospital.

A witness helped identify one as a 15-year-old boy, documents said.

Detectives received video footage showing the four suspects allegedly shooting from a vehicle. After showing pictures from the video to local law enforcement and school districts, authorities identified a second suspect, 17-year-old David Ramirez, documents said.

Avila’s family told authorities they heard one of the other suspects lived at the Tres Palmas Apartments, documents said. The apartment manager told detectives one of the suspects in a picture sent by Avila’s family looked like Quintana, documents said.

Detectives went to one of the apartment units and saw a vehicle matching the one seen in the video footage from the night of the shooting, documents said. Investigators also found Quintana’s Facebook profile, which had a picture of him wearing the same clothes he had during the shooting. Documents said his Facebook also had a picture of him standing next to the suspected vehicle.

According to documents, authorities previously pulled Quintana over in the same vehicle in October 2025. He allegedly told officers he owned the vehicle.

Documents said Quintana admitted to driving the vehicle during the shooting.

Investigators said Quintana said he was with one of the suspects as he dismantled and discarded the handgun in different parts of the desert. Quintana later showed detectives where the gun parts were buried, documents said.

As ABC-7 previously reported, the fourth suspect was a 16-year-old.

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Kofa MCJROTC program named Naval Honor School

KYMA on August 31, 2026

Dillon Fuhrman

YUMA, Ariz. (KYMA) – Yuma Union High School District (YUHSD) said the Kofa High School Marine Corps Junior Reserve Officers Training Corps (MCJROTC) has been named a Naval Honor School.

In a press release, this is the fourth consecutive year Kofa MCJROTC has earned the title, as well as sixth time overall.

“We are very proud of our cadets who worked so hard planning events, community service, public events, competitions, and executing these to their very best ability,” Kofa MCJROTC Instructor Maj. Todd Birney said. “Part of the Naval Honor School award was the formal compliance inspection conducted last February, in which our cadets did a fantastic job of showing how student led programs can flourish.”

YUHSD said the selections were based on the following:

Superior performance throughout the school year such as annual commanding general

Inspector general inspection, unit enrollment

Cadet citizenship (school and unit activities, clubs, leadership, community service, and public affairs)

Scholastic achievement (academic awards, scholarships and enlistments)

To learn more about this, read the press release below.

PR – Kofa MCJROTC program named Naval Honor School for sixth time.docx (1)Download

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Vehicle fire spreads to vegetation, burning more than 20 acres south of Banning; HWY 243 back open

KESQ on August 31, 2026

City News Service

BANNING (CNS) – A vehicle fire sparked in the hills south of Banning charred 23 acres at the foot of the San Bernardino National Forest before it was stopped Monday afternoon.

The non-injury blaze was reported just after noon Monday in the area of Mt. Edna Road and Highway 243, according to the Riverside County Fire Department.

The agency said that multiple engine and hand crews were sent to the location, joined by four Cal Fire air tankers and two water-dropping helicopters that initiated runs on the brusher at 12:30 p.m.

No homes or other structures were damaged, and no evacuation orders were implemented.

However, just after 2 p.m., California Highway Patrol officers shut down both sides of Highway 243 for public safety, mainly due to the number of fire department vehicles and personnel packed onto the two-lane corridor. Officials said the highway is expected to remain closed until 8 p.m.

A SigAlert was issued because of the closure. Highway 243 was reopened just before 7 p.m.

As of 2:30 p.m., with the fire’s forward rate of spread stopped, all air tankers had cleared the area, leaving only the choppers to make targeted drops, according to reports from the scene.Crews were working to strengthen containment lines, but full containment of the blaze was not expected Monday afternoon.

The incident was initially reported as a vehicle over the side near Highway 243 and Mount Edna Road, according to CAL FIRE. The vehicle caught fire, which extended into the surrounding vegetation. One bystander climbed down into the rocky terrain and pulled an occupant from the vehicle.

The patient was then transported by ground ambulance to a local hospital with moderate injuries.

The cause of the fire was under investigation.

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1 dead after East El Paso motorcycle crash

KVIA on August 31, 2026

Gabrielle Lopez

UPDATE (Sep. 1, 2026): A 21-year-old El Paso man died in Monday’s crash in East El Paso, according to police.

Police said a Mazda drove west on Pebble Hills Boulevard while a Kawasaki motorcycle drove west at a high rate of speed.

The driver of the Mazda allegedly failed to yield the right of way while turning left, and hit the motorcyclist.

Police said the motorcyclist, Eric Scott Spink, was thrown from his bike and died to his injuries.

According to the police report, the driver of the Mazda had two children in the SUV at the time of the crash.

Police said contributing factors in the crash include failure to yield the right of way and high speed.

This is the 40th traffic death this year, police said, compared to 41 at this time last year.

EL PASO, Texas (KVIA) — One person is in the hospital with serious injuries after a motorcycle crash in East El Paso, the El Paso Fire Department said Monday.

It happened near the intersection of Pebble Hills Boulevard and Castle Woods Drive, according to El Paso police.

Police said a call for the crash came in around 3:22 p.m.

(Courtesy: KVIA)

The El Paso Police Department’s Special Traffic Investigators is now responding to the crash.

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ICFD welcomes new emotional support dog named Courage

KYMA on August 31, 2026

Jessamyn Dodd

IMPERIAL COUNTY, Calif. (KYMA) – Courage, a facility dog with an important job has joined the Imperial County Fire Department (ICFD).

Courage came through a program run by Imperial County Behavioral Health. The program partners with the Humane Society, training dogs to become facility dogs.

After spending about eight months with Behavioral Health, Courage was adopted by the fire department, and has been with them since February..

He is part of the department’s peer-to-peer support team, which focuses on firefighter’s mental health.

When firefighters respond to traumatic calls, Courage can help with crisis intervention, giving firefighters a chance to decompress, and get grounded.

Firefighters often respond to traumatic calls like child abuse, overdoses, and death. And sometimes just having Courage there is enough.

“In a person’s lifespan, they’ll experience one to three traumatic events in their life. And in the career of a fire fighter or first responder, we’ll experience anywhere in the thousands so, on average I think it’s one to two thousand events. That’s why the fire service has been pushing for support dogs,” said Fire Captain Daniel Martinez with ICFD.

The National Fallen Firefighters Foundation estimates that at least 100 firefighters die by suicide each year due to Post Traumatic Stress Syndrome and depression.

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Great horned owl flies to New Mexico skies after successful rehab

KVIA on August 31, 2026

Hillary Floren

TULAROSA, N.M. (KVIA) — Hootie, the baby great horned owl found in April at a Tularosa lavender farm, is no longer a baby. She has great big, strong wings and used them to fly to freedom in the wild for the first time.

We first brought you Hootie’s story when she was rescued. She learned to fly and hunt at the Gila Wildlife Rescue in Silver City.

That months-long process ended successfully, and Hootie is back at Floren Family Farmfs in Tularosa, New Mexico.

Hootie, the great horned owl.

A small crowd gathered to watch the breathtaking moment Hootie took to the skies. Others marveled at her wing size and bright yellow eyes.

“It brought tears to my eyes,” Lisa Schydlower said. She was one of the many helping hands in the rescue process. She helped drive Hootie to Second Chance Wildlife in El Paso shortly after she was found.

“It’s like picturing a little baby growing into this beautiful adult, or teenager I guess, and going off to live their life knowing she’s safe and healthy,” Schydlower said.

Hootie, a great horned owl, soared to freedom after recovering with Borderland wildlife organizations.

This is just one success story. Thursday, tune in to ABC-7 to see this majestic bird take flight, and meet the people behind thousands of rescue stories similar to Hootie’s.

Watch “Soaring to Freedom” Thursday on ABC-7 at 6.

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Search continues for Arizona man who fell off rocks near Broadway Bridge in Idaho Falls

KIFI on August 31, 2026

Curtis Jackson

IDAHO FALLS, Idaho (KIFI) — Dive teams continue searching for a man who fell into the Snake River in Idaho Falls.

Idaho Falls Police said Teng Go, 88, of Arizona, slipped and fell from the rocks between the falls and the Broadway Bridge on Sunday around 2:30 p.m.

First responders quickly arrived and began searching for Go. As of Monday afternoon, Go has not been found.

The Bonneville County Sheriff’s Dive Team stayed late Sunday evening and returned early Monday morning.

Officials said the search has been complicated by river conditions.

The Chaplains of Idaho also assisted by supporting the man’s family.

The Sheriff’s office said they are searching between Broadway and South Tourist Park. Authorities have restricted access to the area and are asking people to stay away while the search continues.

This is the second person to fall into the river near the Broadway Bridge. In June, a Louisiana man also slipped and fell off the rocks. His body has never been found.

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El Paso County Coliseum made $1.5M in ticket sales in May, marking record-breaking event

KVIA on August 31, 2026

Gabrielle Lopez

EL PASO, Texas (KVIA) — The El Paso County Coliseum made more than $1.5 million in ticket sales during May, according to the El Paso Sports Commission. Within the month, the coliseum set a record with its highest-grossing combat sports event ever.

The venue also saw more than 33,000 guests throughout the month.

Disney on Ice: Road Trip Adventures attracted a majority of May’s visitors, the Sports Commission said. During the May 6-10 performances, 21,371 people watched some of Disney’s iconic characters take over the coliseum.

The ice skating spectacular generated $674,076 in ticket sales revenue, officials said.

In a highly anticipated rematch between boxers Stephanie Han and Holly Holm, the coliseum generated $610,990 in ticket revenue, officials said. The match marked the highest-grossing and best-selling combat sports event in the coliseum’s history. The Sports Commission said 7,225 people watched as Han defeated Holm, retaining her WBA lightweight title.

The boxing event made more than a local impact. The sports commission said 21% of the event’s tickets were bought outside the El Paso market. With national recognition, the match drove economic activity through hotel stays, dining, transportation and retail in the area.

Cazzu, an Argentine rapper and singer, drew a sold-out performance of 4,734 fans, the Sports Commission said. Her performance generated $260,020.50 in ticket sales revenue.

Outside of ticketed events, the coliseum provided a space for local programs and events throughout May, including car seat safety checks and art markets. The Sports Commission said local programming wasn’t included in the revenue and attendance data.

“The success of May 2026 reflects the Coliseum’s continued role as the Borderland’s premier entertainment and community gathering destination,” said Janet Vargas, President for the El Paso Sports Commission.

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More than 2,600 without power at height of outage in southwest Columbia; caused by problem with substation transformer

KMIZ on August 31, 2026

Ryan Shiner

COLUMBIA, Mo. (KMIZ)

Crews restored power Monday evening to hundreds of Columbia Water and Light customers left without electricity on a scorching late-summer afternoon.

At one point around 5 p.m., the city’s outage map showed more than 2,800 electric customers in the southwest part of the city didn’t have power. By 5:40 p.m., that number was down to about 300.

The outage affected more than 900 customers in one neighborhood west of Scott Boulevard at the height of the incident, while multiple outages were reported along Fairview Avenue.

At the intersection of West Broadway and Fairview Road the traffic light was out completely. Cars lined West Broadway all the way to Stadium Boulevard. By 6 p.m. the light had been temporarily fixed to flash red so cars could yield.

Columbia Water and Light wrote on its social media that the problem was with a transformer at the Perche Creek substation.

Magda Mello, an impacted resident, said her power was out for about an hour.

“They said when that got resolved they will call me back and they did right away. Within an hour after I first experienced, the power got restored,” Mello said.

As of Aug. 5th, $2.6 million worth of Perche Creek Substation replacements and upgrades were waiting for delivery. ABC 17 News reached out to the city to see if possible installation of the upgrades had anything to due with the power outage.

A years-long conversation has also surrounded a $35 million transmission line project that would connect the Perche Creek Substation to the Grindstone Substation. It was originally approved in 2015 and expected to take eight to 10 years.

Pushback over the path the line would take has stalled any movement forward. The Water and Light Advisory Board wants the Columbia City Council to consider a route across Nifong Boulevard, Vawter School Road and up Scott Boulevard.

The electrical strain continues to layer on thicker. City council members will vote at the Sept. 8th meeting to approve an additional $6 million dollars for the city’s purchase power account.

City documents said the money would ensure the city’s utility can meet ongoing power obligations by MISO, which oversees the Midcontinent Electric Power Grid.

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Man accused of armed robbery on Clark Lane over dirt bike, silver chain

KMIZ on August 31, 2026

Ryan Shiner

COLUMBIA, Mo. (KMIZ)

A man has been charged with multiple felonies after he allegedly robbed someone on Saturday night on Clark Lane while holding a gun.

Keith Marks Jr., 25, of Columbia, was charged on Monday in Boone County with first-degree robbery, illegal gun possession and armed criminal action. He is being held at the Boone County Jail without bond. A hearing was held on Monday.

He is also charged in another case from April with third-degree domestic assault, misdemeanor fourth-degree assault and second-degree property damage. A $50,000 bond was set in that case.

The probable cause statement in his recent case says police responded to an armed robbery call to the 4800 block of Clark Lane. The victim told police he met with a man – who was later identified as Marks – to sell a dirt bike, the statement says.

Marks allegedly walked out of a home while holding a gun with a purple laser, took the dirt bike and demanded the victim hand over a chain, which included a $3,500 silver chain and $500 silver bracelet, court documents say. The dirt bike allegedly cost $500.

The victim gave police the phone number Marks used and police identified it from their records management system, the statement says. Officers then went over to Marks’ residence down the road and saw him wearing the chain and having the dirt bike in his apartment when he answered the door, officers wrote.

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