May 6, 2024 - A suspect wanted in the fatal shooting of a juvenile female at 2900 Woodridge Drive about 9:45 p.m. on February 14, 2022 is in custody.

The suspect, Tony D. Earls, 33, was wanted after he was indicted for murder in the 337th State District Court by a Harris County grand jury on April 23 for his role in the killing of Arlene Alvarez, 9. 

A booking photo of Earls is attached to this news release.

Investigators are still seeking the public's help in identifying a male suspect who robbed Earls leading up to the shooting incident.  The suspect is described only as a dark-skinned black male with a thick build and full eyelashes.  Surveillance video of the suspect, released on February 18, 2022, is posted on the HPD YouTube channel at https://youtu.be/Pjd9iD9HjR8

HPD Homicide Division Sergeant M. Holbrook and Detectives A. Hernandez and A. Ferrell reported:

HPD patrol officers responded to a shooting call at the above address.  Upon arrival, they found the juvenile victim, later identified as Arlene Alvarez, unresponsive in her parent's disabled vehicle.  

Further investigation determined Earls was with his wife at a bank ATM drive-thru at the above address when an unknown male robbed them.  Earls first shot at the robbery suspect, who was fleeing on foot, and then at a pickup truck he thought the robbery suspect had gotten into.  The vehicle's occupants, a family of five, were not involved in the robbery.  Arlene, a rear seat passenger, was struck during the shooting.  Paramedics transported her to a hospital where she was later pronounced deceased.

Earls was subsequently arrested and initially charged with aggravated assault in the incident.  He was released in July 2022 after a grand jury declined to indict him. 

Late last month, Earls was indicted by a grand jury.  On May 1, officers with the HPD Southeast Patrol Division Crime Suppression Team arrested Earls without incident on the murder warrant.

Anyone with information on the whereabouts and/or on the identity of the robbery suspect in the surveillance video is urged to contact the HPD Homicide Division at 713-308-3600 or speak anonymously to Crime Stoppers at 713-222-TIPS.



Tony D. Earls   



4th Update: JFC/VHS  5-6-24
3rd Update: JFC/SOA     4-24-24
2nd Update JFC/VHS  2-18-22
Update: KJS/VHS  2-15-22
KJS  2-15-22
Inc. #020324422