Author: KVIA

Yvonne Suarez

EL PASO, Texas (KVIA) – The Texas Commission on Jail Standards was notified of the death of a man in his late 50s who had been in the custody of the El Paso County Sheriff’s Office since 2025.

The Sheriff reported that the 57-year-old man was taken to an area hospital for medical treatment on October 20, 2026. He died at the hospital today at 4:23 a.m.

The man had been in custody since November 16, 2025.

The Sheriff’s Office said in a release, “the official cause of death has not yet been determined. While the circumstances appear to be medical in nature, the cause of death remains under investigation.”

In addition to the TCJS, the Texas Rangers, and the El Paso County Sheriff’s Office Major Crimes Unit are investigating the death.

This is the fifth in-custody death this year compared to nine for the same time period in 2025, according to the Sheriff’s Office.

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Gabrielle Lopez

EL PASO, Texas (KVIA) — A man went to a hospital with serious injuries after being shot on Tuesday, according to the El Paso Police Department.

Police said it learned about a shooting at the Amigos Del Sol Apartments on Rushing Road and Woodrow Bean Transmountain in Northeast El Paso. EPPD said it received a call about the shooting Tuesday at 3:24 a.m.

Police found a man who had been shot. He went to a hospital with life-threatening injuries.

EPPD said no charges have been filed and police are still investigating.

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Gabrielle Lopez

EL PASO, Texas (KVIA) — Severe weekend storms damaged homes and displaced some West El Paso families. The El Paso Office of Emergency Management said the El Paso Community Foundation is accepting donations for affected families.

OEM El Paso said families in the community along Bluff Creek Street, Dawnlight Lane and Crest Creek Lane saw damaging floodwaters.

Residents living in the area told ABC-7 said it was “heartbreaking” to see the streets covered by floodwater. Sixteen families were evacuated.

Donations will help families meet immediate needs and start the process of rebuilding.

“El Pasoans have always stood together in times of need. Every donation, no matter the size, will help affected families recover and rebuild.” OEM El Paso said in a social media post.

Find the link to donate here.

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Gabrielle Lopez

UPDATE (Oct. 29, 2026): County officials met with affected residents during a community meeting Thursday.

The El Paso County Public Works Department placed multiple roll-off dumpsters along neighborhood streets to help residents throw away debris.

Crews said they removed water from public roads and are now removing water from people’s properties.

Horizon resident Liz Rodriguez told ABC-7’s she’s worried more floodwaters will sweep the area.

“There’s more water coming, we’re down here at the bottom, I’m hoping they fix it before it gets even worse,” she said.

After signing a local disaster declaration on Tuesday, county officials shared a flyer with flood assistance resources:

Flood Resources for Horizon 10.27.26Download

The El Paso County Sheriff’s Office said its command post will stay open on Horizon Boulevard 24-hours a day until there’s no longer an emergency.

Thursday, Texas Governor Greg Abbott issued a state disaster declaration during his visit to El Paso for a campaign event.

“Texans affected by this storm should report damage through the iSTAT survey once it is safe so officials can assess needs and eligibility for federal assistance. Texans must never drive through flooded roads and should follow guidance from local officials,” he said.

The self-reporting damage survey is available online.

United Way of El Paso County said about 40 households needed flood assistance.

UPDATE (Oct. 27, 2026) — HFD said electrical power will remain shut off in impacted locations until proper safety assessments have been completed and conditions are deemed safe for restoration.

The Red Cross opened a shelter at Horizon High School.

HFD will have a press conference at 2 p.m. about the flood. Follow updates here.

UPDATE (10:01 p.m.) – Horizon Fire Department Deputy Chief Brandon Kovach confirmed the cause of the flooding is runoff water from Sunday’s rain. He said the water is coming from a higher elevation making its way down to a low point in the jurisdiction.

As of 8 p.m., 34 homes were affected, 11 evacuated and 10 homes shelter-in-place.

The Horizon Fire Department is advising those who do shelter in place to maintain situational awareness and make sure they’re paying attention to if the water is rising or falling.

Kovach said he doesn’t anticipate the water to rise.

He says it will take a couple of days to pull water out of the area.

HORIZON CITY, Texas (KVIA) — A Horizon Fire Department spokesperson said one pet died and 16 people have been evacuated after flooding in a Horizon City neighborhood Monday. Officials still haven’t found the flood’s cause.

Vanessa Guerra with HFD said six homes with 20 residents went under a shelter-in-place. Seven pets were also evacuated.

HFD said it activated the Office of Emergency Management and are assessing the damage and source of the floodwater.

HFD said the flooding happened on Kila Street off Horizon Boulevard.

Crews with country roads and bridges are also activated and responding.

This is a developing story. ABC-7 sent a crew to the area to learn more.

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Gabrielle Lopez

EL PASO, Texas (KVIA) — Having a stroke can be a scary experience, which is why University Medical Center of El Paso (UMC) is providing a summit this weekend advocating for better outcomes for stroke survivors.

UMC said the event is free and open to the public for a day of expert education. It will take place Saturday from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. at the Starlight Event Center (6650 Continental Dr.). While the event is free, UMC provided a website to secure a spot to attend.

The summit is a step forward from what UMC provides in stroke care, the hospital said.

“I think each testimonial will be an inspiration to all of our guests because each experience is unique,” said Carla Escobar from UMC.

Maggie Whittam, a stroke survivor, will bring her perspective on navigating life after a stroke. Whittam survived a brainstem stroke at 33 years old, which resulted in permanent physical and visual disabilities. She’s now working on a documentary, “The Great Now What,” about resilience in the aftermath of a health crisis.

Escobar hopes sharing stroke survivors’ stories at the summit will help other survivors and caregivers.

UMC said it has more than 700 stroke patients. Strokes are a disabling condition that created long-term impairments with up to years of recovery.

Stroke survivors will attend the summit to share their personal journeys to inspire others in rehabilitation.

Beyond the summit, UMC said it has a mobile stroke unit and monthly support groups.

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Gabrielle Lopez

EL PASO, Texas (KVIA) — Monday, the El Paso Police Department posted a statement regarding a social media post showing a “group of individuals in El Paso dressed in attire resembling.”

EPPD Chief Peter Pacillas issued the following statement below:

“The El Paso Police Department is aware of social media videos and reports of individuals, reportedly including young people, wearing Ku Klux Klan-style robes and allegedly shouting racial slurs while moving through a neighborhood in El Paso.

Symbols and language associated with the Ku Klux Klan represent a history of terror, violence and racial hatred. They have no place in our community. Treating that history as a costume or a joke is unacceptable and contrary to the values of respect and safety that define El Paso.

We are reviewing the available information to determine whether any laws were violated, including disorderly conduct or other applicable offenses. Free expression has limits when it crosses into conduct that threatens public order or safety of others. Anyone with information about this incident is encouraged to contact the El Paso Police Deparmtent.

Parents, families and community members play an essential role in teaching young people that hatred and intimidation have no place here. The EL Paso Police Department remains committed to protecting every resident, regardless of background, and to maintaining the safety and dignity of our neighborhoods.

We will continue to monitor the situation and take appropriate action consistent with the law and department policy.”

ABC-7 hasn’t independently verified the authenticity of the video.

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Olivia Vara

EL PASO, Texas (KVIA) — A newly introduced temporary flight restriction stops unauthorized drones from flying within just more than a mile north of the U.S.-Mexico border, according to the Federal Aviation Administration.

The U.S. Department of Transportation, Department of War, and Department of Homeland Security announced restrictions on drone activity up to 400 feet above ground level and 1.15 miles north of the U.S.-Mexico border.

Failure to comply brings a risk of a fine.

The new restrictions affect commercial operators and event coverage in parts of El Paso, including the University of Texas at El Paso campus and Sun Bowl Stadium.

UTEP offers a drone photography class, which teaches students how to comply with FAA drone rules.

ABC-7 reached out to UTEP students to learn how they will navigate the new restrictions for their classes.

This restriction will be in place until October 2027.

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Heriberto Perez Lara

EL PASO, Texas (KVIA) — Thirteen people face federal charges in El Paso for allegedly transporting stolen vehicles from the U.S. to Mexico, U.S Attorney Justin Simmons announced Monday.

Monday, Simmons hosted a press conference at the U.S. Attorney’s Office in El Paso to announce the charges. Officials from Homeland Security Investigations, the FBI and other federal agencies attended. Together, the agencies united as part of the Homeland Security Task Force (HSTF).

The HSTF started this spring after federal agencies and prosecutors noticed a trend of stolen private and rental vehicles allegedly being transported to criminal organizations in Mexico, the U.S. Attorney’s Office said.

Prosecutors said the stolen vehicles were driven to El Paso and delivered across the border to Mexico.

The U.S. Attorney’s Office said the investigation led to the recovery of 29 vehicles, valued at $1,137,000.

During the investigation, authorities indicted two U.S. citizens: Kimberly Aguilar and Marty Gerardo Jr. Both are in state custody, officials said.

Eleven others have been federally indicted and arrested 11 others, nine who are U.S. citizens:

David Monarrez Cesar David Diaz Sinuhe Baltizar Lopez Christopher Rene Reyes Angel Antonio Flores Aaron Fernando Luna-Evans Amy Foote James Dewey Garrett Hilario Abraham Morales

The remaining two are Mexican citizens, according to officials:

Pablo Frias Pilar Bernabeth Mendez Rivas

Watch a recording of the HSTF’s press conference in El Paso above.

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Mia Tricarico

EL PASO, Texas (KVIA) —  The El Paso County Commissioners Court is expected to tackle financial decisions regarding the El Paso County Sheriff’s Office on Monday. However, commissioners voted to cancel the item.

Commissioners were set to consider balancing a multi-million-dollar operating deficit, technology acquisition requests and grant applications.

Financial presentations on the agenda show that the Sheriff’s Office’s salary and benefits budget reached 108% usage as of Oct. 14, driven primarily by staffing shortages and mandatory overtime required to staff county detention facilities.

County budget and finance staff are expected to present an updated plan to resolve the deficit as commissioners review both the FY 2026 and FY 2027 department budgets.

Despite the operational shortfall, the Commissioners Court will also consider several major expenditure items and multi-year funding requests:

More than $17 million in safety and communications technology: Commissioners may consider approving a $5,178,467 contract with Axon Enterprise, Inc. for body cameras and safety technology, as well as an estimated $11,999,495 system contract with Motorola Solutions, Inc. for sheriff and constable operations. DOJ grant applications: The Sheriff’s Office is seeking authorization to apply for a $500,000 federal DOJ ANGEL grant and a $337,720 Patrick Leahy Bulletproof Vest Partnership grant, which would require a $168,860 local county match. Routine budget amendments: Two internal budget transfers are on the table to reallocate existing funds: $22,323 to cover Sheriff’s Department medical expenses for FY26, and $8,515 to cover courthouse security overtime during elections for FY27. Neither amendment increases the county’s overall budget.

The sheriff’s office told ABC-7 it’s evaluating staffing assignments and identifying opportunities to improve efficiency.

“Our focus is making responsible financial decisions without compromising safety,” the sheriff’s office said.

County Commissioner Iliana Holguin said she’s optimistic the deficit will level out. Commissioners are considering bringing in a third-party consultant to help with the deficit.

The county said it plans to present and address the deficit on Nov. 30.

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Armando Ramirez

EL PASO, Texas (KVIA) — The El Paso County Sheriff’s Office (EPCSO) says 48-year-old Kelli Pinnock is facing 5 charges of animal cruelty after officials found 72 exotic animals being transported in inhumane conditions.

According to officials, on October 22, 2026, around 7:30 p.m., El Paso County Sheriff’s Office deputies performed a traffic stop along I-10 East near mile marker 48.

When deputies spoke with the driver of a black Chrysler Pacifica, later identified as Pinnock, they discovered 56 tortoises, two kinkajous, 11 hedgehogs, two guinea pigs, and one caracal, which is an exotic wild cat, inside the vehicle.

According to EPCSO, several animals were confined in overcrowded or undersized containers that restricted their movement. Deputies also observed accumulated feces and urine, inadequate ventilation, and a lack of accessible food and water.

Further investigation revealed Pinnock had traveled through multiple states while transporting the animals. Deputies also identified licensing violations and restrictions associated with a previous animal cruelty arrest in Florida. Federal wildlife authorities were contacted to determine whether additional violations had occurred.

Officials say all 72 animals were voluntarily surrendered and, with assistance from the El Paso County Animal Welfare Unit, safely transported to facilities equipped to provide appropriate care.

Pinnock was arrested and charged with five counts of Cruelty to Non-Livestock Animals. She was booked into the El Paso County Downtown Detention Facility with a total bond of $10,000.

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