More than three years after the incident, Tony Earls has been indicted on a manslaughter charge in connection with the shooting death of 9-year-old Arlene Alvarez on Valentine’s Day 2022. The Harris County grand jury returned the indictment after previously declining to file charges in July of the same year, according to Click2Houston. The shooting involved a bullet initially aimed at a suspected robber that struck the child.
Initially, Earls, defending himself against an armed robbery at an ATM, fired shots at the fleeing suspect, accidentally striking Alvarez, who was riding past the bank with her family. In the days following the incident, Earls, unaware of the consequences of his actions, was charged with aggravated assault-serious bodily injury, as he reported the robbery upon arriving at home. The subsequent release of Earls by a grand jury decision, as reported by KHOU.
Despite initial challenges, the Alvarez family’s persistent advocacy and their choice to engage a private investigative team uncovered new evidence. This breakthrough led to Earls being indicted for murder in 2024. According to Earls' defense attorney Ed McClees, in a statement obtained by Click2Houston, "It never really should have been a murder. It’s not a murder. We don’t think it’s a manslaughter, but it’s never been a murder," emphasizing the defense’s position on the allegations.
The trial is scheduled to begin on September 5, and officials have not provided any further details about the indictment.
