Latest news with #TexasAttorneyGeneral'sOffice
Yahoo
3 days ago
- Politics
- Yahoo
2 Arrested in Connection with Death of 18-Year-Old Kayaker in Texas Jet Ski Hit-and-Run on Memorial Day Weekend
Two people have been arrested after Texas teen Ava Moore, 18, was killed in a jet ski hit-and-run on Sunday, May 25, authorities have confirmed Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton said in a press release that Daikerlyn Alejandra Gonzalez Gonzalez and an unnamed male have been arrested in connection with the incident "Our thoughts are with Ava's family and friends during this difficult time," the Texas Game Wardens said in a previous release while announcing the teenager's tragic deathTwo people have been arrested after a teenage kayaker died in Texas over Memorial Day weekend after being struck by a jet ski whose driver allegedly fled the scene. In a Tuesday, May 27 press release, Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton announced that Daikerlyn Alejandra Gonzalez Gonzalez and an unnamed male, both reportedly in the U.S. illegally, had been arrested following the death of Ava Moore, 18, on the evening of May 25 at Lake Grapevine in Tarrant County. Gonzalez, from Venezuela, is suspected of striking and killing Moore, while the man arrested is suspected of helping her "flee the scene of the crime," per the release. After leaving the scene, the pair allegedly subsequently committed "a hit-and-run after striking another vehicle," the press release continued. 'My heart breaks for Ava's family and friends, and my prayers are with them as they face this tragedy,' Attorney General Paxton said, per the release. 'My office will continue to work with local, state, and national law enforcement partners to secure justice for Ava,' he added. The Texas Game Wardens also announced Gonzalez's arrest, sharing a photo of the suspect on Facebook on Tuesday. "We are thankful for the help of fellow law enforcement officers from the Texas Attorney General's Office, the Texas Department of Public Safety, the Dallas Police Department and Homeland Security Investigations," they wrote. Want to keep up with the latest crime coverage? Sign up for for breaking crime news, ongoing trial coverage and details of intriguing unsolved cases. In a May 26 news release shared on Facebook, the Texas Game Wardens said Moore had died in the jet ski hit-and-run. A female passenger remained to speak with first responders following the incident, per the release, while "the operator fled with an adult male." "Our thoughts are with Ava's family and friends during this difficult time. Texas Game Wardens remain committed to keeping our public waters safe," they said in the release. Moore had 'just returned from Colorado Springs after finishing her 1st year at the Air Force Preparatory School,' according to a GoFundMe page. She had previously been an 'outstanding student and athlete' at Timber Creek High School. The basketball player helped the Lady Falcons to a 71-51 mark across four years, including a 24-10 record in 2022 during her sophomore year and a 17-14 mark during her senior season, Sports Illustrated reported. "As The Moore family is grieving the sudden loss of their beautiful daughter/sister, we would like to ask for the communities help in easing the burden of funeral costs for this family. All money will go directly to the family. Thank you so much for helping," the GoFundMe stated. The page had raised over $31,000 as of Wednesday, May 28. Texas Parks & Wildlife, the Grapevine Police Department and the Attorney General's office did not immediately respond when contacted by PEOPLE for additional information. Read the original article on People
Yahoo
4 days ago
- General
- Yahoo
Suspect arrested in jet ski hit-and-run at Grapevine Lake: Texas game wardens
Texas game wardens have arrested the woman who allegedly struck and killed an 18-year-old kayaker on Sunday at Grapevine Lake, authorities said on Tuesday. Game wardens identified the suspect as Daikerlyn Alejandra Gonzalez Gonzalez, according to a Facebook post. Gonzalez was operating the jet ski that hit and killed 18-year-old Ava Renee Moore, a U.S. Air Force Academy student, as she kayaked on Grapevine Lake, authorities said. After hitting Moore, Gonzalez left the scene, officials said. Another woman who was a passenger on the jet ski stayed behind to be interviewed by first responders, but Gonzalez fled with a man in a car that also hit another vehicle, police said. Gonzalez was arrested with help from the Texas Attorney General's Office, the Texas Department of Public Safety, the Dallas Police Department, the Grapevine Police Department and Homeland Security Investigations, according to the game wardens' post. Investigators have not yet said what charges Gonzalez will face. She is expected to be booked into the Tarrant County Jail. It's unclear whether she has a defense attorney. Attorney General Ken Paxton said the man who left the scene with Gonzalez also was arrested with the help of his office's Fugitive Apprehension Unit. Witnesses and first responders tried to save Moore, who had head injuries, but she died after being taken to the emergency room at Baylor Scott & White Medical Center, authorities said. Moore was a 2024 graduate of Timber Creek High School in Keller ISD and then committed to play basketball as a student at the U.S. Air Force Academy Preparatory School, according to her social media. After completing the preparatory school program earlier this month, she had returned to North Texas to spend time with her family for a few weeks before beginning basic training at the United States Air Force Academy in Colorado Springs as part of its Class of 2029. 'We lost an exemplary teammate this weekend – Cadet Candidate Ava Moore, whose passion for leadership and service left an impact on everyone she met,' Lt. Gen Tony Bauernfeind, the superintendent of the U.S. Air Force Academy, said in a statement on Tuesday. 'Ava's constant happiness and attitude helped her squadron get through the challenges of the Prep School, and her drive to excel was on display as she sought out leadership positions to improve herself and her team. Our team is focused on providing support to Ava's family, her Prep School Squadron, the Prep School Women's Basketball team, and the entire Academy family.' Support services including chaplains and mental health professionals are available for her classmates, the academy said. Moore's father said in a statement to Star-Telegram media partner WFAA-TV, 'We are grieving the loss of our daughter at this time. Our prayers are also with the young ladies involved, along with their families.' 🚨 More top stories from our newsroom: → Texas bans secret agreements in sex abuse cases → Texas Monthly's Top 50 BBQ list is here → 18-year-old kayaker killed in hit-and-run crash with jet ski [Get our breaking news alerts.] In his statement, the attorney general said that Gonzalez is from Venezuela and that she and the man who was arrested are both undocumented immigrants. 'Ava Moore's senseless death was caused by an illegal alien who should have never been in our country in the first place,' said Paxton, who is challenging incumbent John Cornyn to represent Texas in the U.S. Senate in the 2026 election. 'My heart breaks for Ava's family and friends, and my prayers are with them as they face this tragedy. My office will continue to work with local, state, and national law enforcement partners to secure justice for Ava.'
Yahoo
10-05-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
Texas, Google reach $1.375 billion settlement over data privacy
The state of Texas and tech giant Google have agreed in principle to a $1.375 billion settlement to end a lawsuit rooted in data privacy and security rights, the Texas Attorney General's Office announced late Friday. The attorney general's office brought the lawsuit against Google in 2022 alleging that it had unlawfully tracked and collected private data regarding geolocation, incognito searches and biometric data, according a news release from the state agency. "After years of aggressive litigation, Attorney General (Ken) Paxton agreed to settle Texas's data-privacy claims against Google for an amount that far surpasses any other state's claims for similar violations," the release said. "To date, no state has attained a settlement against Google for similar data-privacy violations greater than $93 million." The private law firm of Norton Rose Fulbright was hired by the attorney general's office to assist with the litigation. More: Google supports Austin area nonprofits' AI adoption efforts through $1 million grant The attorney general's office in recent years has secured several settlements against big tech companies. In July, Paxton's office and Meta — formerly Facebook — reached a $1.4 billion settlement over the collection of facial recognition data. Earlier, Texas and Google agreed to one $700 million settlement and a separate $8 million settlement over allegations of anticompetitive and deceptive trade practices. This article originally appeared on Austin American-Statesman: Texas, Google reach $1.375 billion settlement over data privacy Sign in to access your portfolio
Yahoo
10-05-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
Texas, Google reach $1.375 billion settlement over data privacy
The state of Texas and tech giant Google have agreed in principle to a $1.375 billion settlement to end a lawsuit rooted in data privacy and security rights, the Texas Attorney General's Office announced late Friday. The attorney general's office brought the lawsuit against Google in 2022 alleging that it had unlawfully tracked and collected private data regarding geolocation, incognito searches and biometric data, according a news release from the state agency. "After years of aggressive litigation, Attorney General (Ken) Paxton agreed to settle Texas's data-privacy claims against Google for an amount that far surpasses any other state's claims for similar violations," the release said. "To date, no state has attained a settlement against Google for similar data-privacy violations greater than $93 million." The private law firm of Norton Rose Fulbright was hired by the attorney general's office to assist with the litigation. More: Google supports Austin area nonprofits' AI adoption efforts through $1 million grant The attorney general's office in recent years has secured several settlements against big tech companies. In July, Paxton's office and Meta — formerly Facebook — reached a $1.4 billion settlement over the collection of facial recognition data. Earlier, Texas and Google agreed to one $700 million settlement and a separate $8 million settlement over allegations of anticompetitive and deceptive trade practices. This article originally appeared on Austin American-Statesman: Texas, Google reach $1.375 billion settlement over data privacy
Yahoo
24-04-2025
- Yahoo
Texas man is executed for the 2004 strangling and stabbing death of a young mother
HUNTSVILLE, Texas (AP) — A Texas man convicted of fatally strangling and stabbing a young mother more than 20 years ago was executed Wednesday evening as the victim's mother and other relatives looked on. Moises Sandoval Mendoza, 41, received a lethal injection at the state penitentiary in Huntsville and was pronounced dead at 6:40 p.m. He was sentenced to death for his conviction in the March 2004 killing of 20-year-old Rachelle O'Neil Tolleson. After a spiritual adviser prayed over him for about two minutes, Mendoza apologized repeatedly to the victim's two parents and other relatives present, calling to each by name. 'I am sorry for having robbed you of Rachelle's life,' he said, addressing the parents, one of her brothers, a cousin and an uncle watching through a window from an adjoining room. Mendoza also said he had robbed Tolleson's daughter of her mother, adding, 'I'm sorry for that. I know nothing that I could ever say or do would ever make up for that. I want you to know that I am sincere. I apologize.' The daughter wasn't present for the execution. He then spoke briefly in Spanish, addressing his wife, his sister and two friends watching through a window from another witness room. 'I love you, I am with you, I am well and at peace,' he said in Spanish, his words provided in a transcript in English translation. 'You know that I'm well, and everything is love.' As the injection began, he could be heard making two loud gasps and then began snoring. After about 10 snores, all movement ceased and he was pronounced dead 19 minutes later. Prosecutors say Mendoza, 41, took Tolleson from her north Texas home, leaving her 6-month-old daughter alone. The infant was found cold and wet but safe the next day by Tolleson's mother. Tolleson's body was discovered six days later, left in a field near a creek. Evidence in Mendoza's case showed he also had burned Tolleson's body to hide his fingerprints. Dental records were used to identify her, according to investigators. Pam O'Neil, the victim's mother, told reporters after witnessing Mendoza's execution that it could not undo the loss of her daughter. Reading from a statement, she said of Mendoza: 'He's been on death row 20 years. That ended today. He was put to sleep. He felt no pain. I wish I could say the same about my daughter's death.' As Mendoza's relatives and friends left the prison, they appeared distraught and embraced one another. Hours earlier on Wednesday, the U.S. Supreme Court denied a final request by Mendoza's attorneys to stop his execution. Mendoza's attorneys told the justices in a filing that he had been prevented by lower courts from arguing that he had been denied effective assistance of counsel earlier in the appeals process. But the Texas Attorney General's Office told the Supreme Court that Mendoza's claim of ineffective assistance of counsel had previously been found 'meritless and insubstantial' by a lower federal court. Lower courts also had previously rejected his petitions for a stay. The Texas Board of Pardons and Paroles on Monday denied Mendoza's request to commute his death sentence to a lesser penalty. Authorities said that in the days before the killing, Mendoza had attended a party at Tolleson's home in Farmersville, located about 45 miles (72 kilometers) northeast of Dallas. On the day her body was found, Mendoza told a friend about the killing. The friend called police, and Mendoza was arrested. Mendoza confessed to police but couldn't give detectives a reason for the killing, authorities said. He told investigators he repeatedly choked Tolleson, sexually assaulted her and dragged her body to a field, where he choked her again and then stabbed her in the throat. He later moved her body to a more remote location and burned it, they said. Mendoza was the third inmate put to death this year in Texas, historically the nation's busiest capital punishment state, and the 13th in the U.S. On Thursday, Alabama plans to execute James Osgood for the 2010 rape and murder of a woman. ___ Follow Juan A. Lozano: Juan A. Lozano And Michael Graczyk, The Associated Press
