Category: kvia-local-news

Gabrielle Lopez

EL PASO, Texas (KVIA) — A 21-year-old man from El Paso died in a crash east of Van Horn, Texas, according to the Texas Department of Public Safety.

DPS said Aaron Stephen Pepe died in a crash that happened Saturday on I-10 west at Mile Marker 181, which is 41 miles east of Van Horn.

Preliminary investigation revealed that Pepe failed to control his speed and steering, DPS said. He crashed into two other vehicles, which were at a standstill due to construction. Pepe died at the scene.

Texas DPS said the two vehicles were a Freightliner and a trailer.

Click here to follow the original article.

Nina Gallegos

UPDATE (6:17 p.m.): El Paso County shared a flyer with resources for residents affected by recent flooding. It has information on shelter, food, animal services and other relief sources.

Flood Resources for Horizon 10.27.26Download

UPDATE (2:07 p.m.): HFD pushed its press conference to 3 p.m. due to the El Paso County judge announcing a local disaster declaration at 2 p.m.

HORIZON CITY, Texas (KVIA) – The Red Cross opened a shelter at Horizon High School Monday night after several families evacuated their homes due to flooding, according to a spokesperson.

Deputy Chief Brandon Kovach with El Paso County Emergency Services District 1 said runoff water from weekend rain caused the flooding. It happened on Kila Street off Horizon Boulevard.

The Horizon Fire Department said in total, 39 homes and one trailer were affected by the flooding. Thirteen homes were evacuated, while 20 were placed under shelter-in-place.

HFD said a pet died after the flooding started.

Red Cross spokesperson Anna Apodaca said one family visited the shelter Monday night, but didn’t stay.

Families affected by the flooding are welcome to come to the shelter for respite or for a meal.

Red Cross said it’s still assessing how long the shelter will need to stay open. 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 Horizon Fire Department will host a news conference at 2 p.m. Tuesday to give more information on flooded homes.

Click here to follow the original article.

Gabrielle Lopez

EL PASO, Texas (KVIA) — A migrant from Mexico received a 9-year federal prison sentence for facilitating human smuggling, according to the U.S. Attorney’s Office Western District of Texas.

Forty-two-year-old Manuel Alejandro Melendez-Cereceres, also known as “Monstro,” was part of a human smuggling organization, USAO said. He received a 110-month prison sentence for conspiracy to transport migrants resulting in serious bodily injury.

Melendez-Cereceres recruited and coordinated drivers and vehicles to transport migrants to harboring locations or exchange points, USAO said.

In May 2025, U.S. Border Patrol agents in Tornillo stopped a smuggling event and apprehended a foot guide. After searching the guide’s phone, authorities found communications with Melendez-Cereceres, USAO said.

One of the migrants being smuggled and fell from a fence, USAO said. The migrant fractured a hip socket, hip joint, sacral and heel bone.

Melendez-Cereceres was arrested at his home in June 2025 and indicted for four counts related to alien smuggling. On June 11, he pleaded guilty to the conspiracy to transport charge. In addition to the nine-year federal prison sentence, a judge ordered a money judgment of $672,101.

Click here to follow the original article.

Gabrielle Lopez

UPDATE (11:17 a.m.): TxDOT El Paso said the crash cleared and lanes reopened. Traffic is still backed up in the area.

EL PASO, Texas (KVIA) — All eastbound lanes on I-10 at Clint shut down after a rollover crash Tuesday, according to the El Paso County Sheriff’s Office.

A rollover crash closed all lanes on I-10 East at Clint.(Courtesy: TxDOT El Paso via X)

The crash happened after 9 a.m.

Officials haven’t reported any injuries.

The Texas Department of Transportation El Paso said lanes will stay closed until further notice — find an alternative route.

Click here to follow the original article.

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.

Click here to follow the original article.

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.

Click here to follow the original article.

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.

Click here to follow the original article.

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.

Click here to follow the original article.

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.

Click here to follow the original article.

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.

Click here to follow the original article.