Author: KVIA

Rosemary Garcia

EL PASO, Texas (KVIA) — It’s a busy time for animal shelters across the Borderland. Many animals go missing during the summer, and that number only rises following the 4th of July celebrations.

Additionally, shelters are also dealing with added stress due to the hot temperatures.

ABC-7 spoke with officials at El Paso Animal Services. They said they are also forced to change operations to help protect the animals from the heat, especially since some shelter space is outside.

The Public Affairs Coordinator at El Paso Animal Services, Julie Newbold, explained some tactics they use to keep animals cool during the summer.

The shelter turns on misters for outdoor kennels and walks dogs during cooler parts of the day — typically between 8-11 a.m.

Longtime volunteer Colette Bowar is at the shelter seven days a week. She helps walk the dogs and takes them to a park. She said she doesn’t mind braving the heat.

“I have the means just to come and give back. I give back to the community, and I give back to the animals that are here,” Bowar told ABC-7.

She said that taking the dogs out for a few minutes, especially during the summertime, helps the animals de-stress.

“It makes all the difference in the world. It makes them. It gives them, it makes them happier. Even if it’s for those five or 10 minutes,” she said.

Shelter officials said dogs get excited when they see chilled treats volunteers make for them. One of the treats includes peanut butter on a frozen frisbee.

“Our freezers work over time during the summertime, just again, to keep our pets as comfortable as possible,” a shelter official said.

To learn more about El Paso Animal Services, click here.

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Gabrielle Lopez

EL PASO, Texas (KVIA) — One person was airlifted to the hospital after a crash Friday morning, according to the El Paso Fire Department.

At 5:31 a.m., eastbound lanes on Loop 375 on Transmountain shut down for some time after the crash.

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Rosemary Garcia

EL PASO, Texas (KVIA)— Students enrolled at the Boys and Girls Clubs of El Paso were hard at work ahead of 4th of July. They were tasked with writing thank-you letters to be delivered to local veterans as a show of appreciation. Students used markers, pens and colorful paper to express their gratitude.

The CEO of the Boys and Girls Clubs of El Paso, Anthony Tomasheski, said it’s important for club children to understand the true meaning of this holiday.

“We really want the children to be aware and have an understanding of why are we celebrating the 4th of July. What does that mean? And what is the impact? And there have been so many great veterans that are a part of everything that we do,” he added.

Tomasheski said it’s important that students are taught the meaning early on.

“Some of the kids think, it’s ‘Oh, that’s barbecues and fireworks.’ Well, true, but what is the meaning behind that? What is, what is the importance and why do we do that? And being able to share that and, and educate them so that they will grow up to be good, productive citizens that are helping and supporting our community and veterans and everyone else and just being aware of our community in the world.”

ABC-7 spoke with several students as they eagerly completed their letter. They said they were grateful to our soldiers.

“The soldiers protect us,” said one student.

Another girl wrote a letter for her dad, who is also a service member.

“My dad is my soldier, and he’s my hero,” she said.

Nearly 200 letters from students at the Boys and Girls Clubs of El Paso will be given to veterans across our community.

“So it’s just it’s a feel-good. And it’s, it’s interesting to hear the kids talk about what it means to them and how important it is to them. And you can see it in their hearts as they’re writing, and they’re taking the time to draw their best artwork and do all of that for our veterans,” Tomasheski said.

The CEO said this is just another way to pay it forward. He had read some of the letters and had been touched by their sincere words.

“It’s interesting to see that they’re so heartfelt and really how much they care. And just how they want to say thank you. They’ve got some of the biggest hearts.”

ABC-7 would like to thank all current military members and veterans for their service to our country.

If you have a Good Vibes Only story idea, please email rosemary.garcia@kvia.com.

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Joseph Montero

UPDATE (July 20, 2026) — Court records said Nicholas Wells has been denied bond Friday during his bond hearing.

UPDATE (July 6, 2026) — Monday, the El Paso Police Department said it arrested and charged a 26-year-old man for allegedly murdering a man at a Walgreens in West El Paso.

Police said officers went to the shooting scene at 11:34 p.m. July 2 at a Walgreens on N. Mesa across from the Don Haskins Center. The suspect, Nicholas Wells, was one of the 911 callers reporting the shooting.

Officers arrested Wells after he reportedly admitted to the shooting, a news release said. He also allegedly had two firearms on the hood of his SUV — a Glock handgun and a revolver — police documents said.

Inside the store, officers found 32-year-old Christopher Brandon Steven with gunshot wounds. The news release said he later died in the hospital.

Investigators said the shooting happened after an argument over a handicap parking space, EPPD said.

Police documents said Wells parked his SUV at the Walgreens. Later, Steven, his mother and sister tried to park in a handicap spot next to Wells.

Steven’s family reportedly said Wells yelled and asked why they parked next to him, documents said. The family then reversed and parked in a different spot.

Wells allegedly followed Steven and his family inside, and the fight reportedly turned physical, documents said. Wells allegedly hit Steven’s face, and the two men reportedly grabbed at each other, documents said.

Documents said Wells allegedly pointed a handgun at Steven’s head. He reportedly shot his abdomen, documents said. Steven fell to the ground, and Wells allegedly fired two other times.

Documents said Wells called 911 to report himself after Steven fell to the ground. He allegedly told police he confronted the family in the parking lot because they “drove erratically” and nearly hit him.

However, police documents said investigators found inconsistencies between surveillance video and Wells’ story. They said Steven’s family’s vehicle didn’t drive at a high rate of speed and didn’t put Wells in danger, according to police.

Documents said Wells alleged Steven kept attacking him while he fired the gun. Investigators said video footage showed Steven laying on the floor defenseless and bleeding out, according to documents.

Additionally, documents said an autopsy found the manner of death to be listed as a homicide. It said Steven had three suspected gunshot wounds to the abdomen.

Wells booked into the El Paso County Detention Facility on a murder charge.

EPPD said this is the eighth murder this year. At this time last year, police reported 15 murders.

EL PASO, Texas (KVIA) — The El Paso Police Department said the Crimes Against Persons unit is investigating a Thursday night shooting. Authorities said a 32-year-old man was sent to the hospital with serious injuries.

Police say the call came in at around 11:34 p.m. Thursday night from the Walgreens on Mesa Street near the University of Texas at El Paso.

ABC-7 did see the El Paso Fire Department on scene and saw one person airlifted by EPFD’s Fire STAR.

This is a developing story and we will bring updates as they become available.

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Gabrielle Lopez

HORIZON CITY, Texas (KVIA) — A former Eastlake High School football coach had an assault case against him dismissed, according to documents ABC-7 obtained Thursday.

Court documents said Ruben Rodriguez completed a pre-trial diversion program for allegedly choking his girlfriend in September 2025, as ABC-7 previously reported.

According to arrest documents, Rodriguez’ girlfriend told law enforcement he grabbed and pulled her by the hair during an argument.

She said he got on top of her in a straddling position with his legs by her neck and chest area, documents said. Rodriguez also allegedly punched her in the face, pushed her eyes in with his thumbs and choked her with his hands and legs.

The victim told authorities she bit Rodriguez’ thigh to try to get him off, documents said. When he got off her, she ran to her son’s room and told him to call 911.

Documents said Rodriguez told authorities he “was asleep and did not know what happened or how his girlfriend had injuries.”

In January, Eastlake High School hired a new head football coach, JB Frontz, following Rodriguez’ arrest.

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Max Zepeda

EL PASO, Texas (KVIA) — As America’s 250th birthday is just two days away, local firework vendors have been thriving. Even with fireworks banned in El Paso, local healthcare officials urge residents to stay safe during their weekend celebrations.

University Medical Center of El Paso Burn Center Director Dr. Philip Fidler has been vocal in advising the community in recent weeks, particularly those who plan on traveling out of the city to purchase or release fireworks or sparkles into the Borderland skies on Saturday.

“Fireworks themselves, generally smaller fireworks, are pretty safe from an explosive standpoint,” Fidler told ABC 7. “But young kids, particularly boys, can be very creative and they can break the fireworks apart and pile them together to make a very substantial explosion.”

He also said while sparklers may look harmless, they’re hot enough to weld metal. Children shouldn’t play with them without close supervision.

Doctors said people shouldn’t take fireworks apart or combine them, since that could create a more powerful explosion.

“Any burn on the face or the hand or feet or private parts should be seen by a burn specialist. That could be more than meets the eye. Smaller burn injuries that are just the size of a pencil head occurring in the middle of the arm or the leg,” Dr. Fiedler said.

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Gabrielle Lopez

EL PASO, Texas (KVIA) — A former special education teacher at a West El Paso elementary school faces 16 counts of injury to a child, according to documents ABC-7 obtained Thursday. Rachel Lucas, who worked at Charles Murphree School, allegedly injured students with special needs.

According to the 34th Judicial District Attorney’s Office, the case was indicted April 1.

ABC-7 obtained affidavits that alleged Lucas injured six students. Arrest affidavits referenced camera footage that showed Lucas allegedly injuring the students in May 2025.

Lucas allegedly grabbed and forcibly moved a student and hit them on the head with what appeared to be a phone while the student was in a kneeling position, according to documents.

In another incident, she allegedly kicked a chair at a student, causing them to fall and cry, according to documents.

She also allegedly threw toy animals at a student and said, “I’ll hit you too,” documents said. The student tried to get away from Lucas several times. Documents alleged Lucas threw the toys while the child appeared to lay on the floor.

Lucas later allegedly yelled at a student to “get out” of a play area and “that is not your bed, damn it,” according to documents. She then allegedly forcibly tossed the student to the floor.

Another document said Lucas allegedly pushed a child to the floor after telling him to “go sit down.” Video reportedly showed the child crying after.

Documents alleged Lucas hit a student with a broom on the back of his head.

A spokesperson from the 34th Judicial District Attorney’s Office said a contemporary court will determine if Lucas is “competent” to stand trial.

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Gabrielle Lopez

HORIZON CITY, Texas (KVIA) — Thursday, the Horizon City Police Department said its officers found a house on fire in a neighborhood near Eastlake Boulevard and Horizon Mesa Boulevard.

On a Facebook post, HPD said it received calls reporting the fire at 2:45 a.m. Officers went to a house, which was on the 700 block of Desert Silver Drive.

HPD said everyone in the house, including a cat, safely evacuated before first responders got there. No injuries have been reported.

The fire has been put out and the area is secured, according to police.

HPD said the cause of the fire is under investigation.

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Gabrielle Lopez

UPDATE (June 3, 2026) — Lopez told police he had been taking methamphetamine and had paranoid thoughts before the shooting, according to documents ABC-7 obtained.

Before the shooting, Lawrence Lopez, his mother, Tina Lucero, and other family members went out for dinner, documents said.

When they got home, Lopez’ brother said Lopez had recently been using methamphetamines and had become increasingly paranoid, according to documents. He reportedly believed people, vehicles and drones followed him, documents said.

According to documents, Lopez admitted to authorities he used methamphetamines and thought he was being followed. Documents said Lopez also thought people hacked his phones.

Lopez reportedly expressed his worries about being followed and other issues while he was at home with his mom, documents said. He told authorities he wanted his family to believe him but “did not feel as if they did.”

He told authorities he sat in a shed and felt he was “just like dying,” according to documents.

Lopez then asked his mom why she wouldn’t believe him, to which she said she did. Documents said he didn’t believe her.

He then reportedly made threats about killing himself, documents said. She later walked off and said she needed air “to get away” from Lopez.

Lopez allegedly followed his mother to the front door of the house and said, “I’m gonna make you remember this for the rest of your life.”

He then allegedly pulled out a gun, and his mother tried to grab it from him, documents said.

The gun fired while the two fought over it, according to documents.

Lopez noticed he shot his hand but also saw blood on his mother’s shirt. He reportedly called 911, documents said.

He also called his brother and said, “the gun went off and hit mom,” documents said.

Officers went to the home and found Lopez with a handgun. Documents said an officer told him to drop the gun and arrested him.

Lucero had a gunshot wound on her chest, according to documents. Her other son tried giving her CPR. She died at the scene.

Lopez went to a medical center for the wound on his hand, according to documents.

UPDATE (5:31 p.m.) — Police charged 32-year-old Lawrence Lopez with one count of involuntary manslaughter, which is a fourth-degree felony. The woman shot and killed Wednesday was his mother, according to LCPD.

Police identified his mother as 58-year-old Tina Lucero.

Lucero died after life-saving measures were attempted.

LAS CRUCES, N.M. (KVIA) — A woman was shot and killed Wednesday and a 32-year-old man was hospitalized after a possible attempted suicide, the Las Cruces Police Department said Thursday.

At about 9:30 p.m., Las Cruces police and fire crews went to a home at Los Ranchitos off Elks Drive after a reported gunshot victim.

First responders found a 58-year-old woman with a gunshot wound, police said. She died to her injuries.

Police said they won’t identify the woman until her family has been notified.

Police arrested the 32-year-old man at the home, according to a news release. He had a self-inflicted gunshot wound in his hand and went to a hospital.

Preliminary investigation revealed the man allegedly threatened to commit suicide and pulled out a handgun.

The woman tried to stop him, according to police, and that’s when the gun fired, hit the man’s hand and killed the woman.

LCPD said the investigation is ongoing and charges are pending. They didn’t identify the man.

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Heriberto Perez Lara

SANTA TERESA, N.M. (KVIA) — The War Eagles Air Museum will display a plane connected to the arrest of Joaquín Guzmán López and Ismael “El Mayo” Zambada Garcia, one of the founders of the Sinaloa Cartel. The display comes after the museum entered a memorandum of understanding with the FBI El Paso Field Office.

The plane on display brought the two to the Borderland, where they were arrested.

“El Mayo” Zambada Garcia was arrested during a coordinated federal investigation, according to U.S. federal law enforcement agencies. The plane, a King Air aircraft, became a key element of that case.

The son of Joaquin “El Chapo” Guzmán Loera, Joaquín Guzmán López, was also arrested.

The museum said the display and partnership with the FBI in the El Paso Field Office teach people how aviation plays a role in crime prevention and criminal use. It has also been nearly two years since Zambada Garcia’s arrest in July 2025.

Visitors can see the plane at the museum, which is at the Dona Ana County International Jetport in Santa Teresa, New Mexico.

You can find more information about museum visits here.

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