Latest news with #NBC5DFW
Yahoo
12-06-2025
- Health
- Yahoo
Toxic Hammerhead Worms Surge In DFW After Heavy Rains
Recent heavy rainfall across North Texas has led to a surge in sightings of toxic, invasive hammerhead worms, prompting concern among residents and experts about their threat to plants, animals, and potentially humans. The hammerhead worm, an invasive species from Southeast Asia known as Bipalium kewense, has been reported in counties throughout the Dallas-Fort Worth metroplex. Recognizable by its distinctive hammer-shaped head and snake-like body, the worm can grow up to 15 inches long, though it typically measures 8 to 12 inches. Its light or honey-colored body often features one to five dark dorsal stripes. Adam Ingle, a Keller resident, encountered one on his porch. 'And then noticed its head had a hammer shape,' Ingle said, NBC 5 DFW reported. 'And it was terrifying, like these are truly the end times, even the worms are demonic.' Texas Agriculture Commissioner Sid Miller described the worm's appearance: 'If you see one, you won't mistake it, it's over a foot long, about 12, 15 inches long. It's got a big, wide head on it, like a hammer, I mean, just like it says.' The hammerhead worm poses a significant ecological threat as a predator of earthworms, which are vital for healthy soil in forests, crops, gardens, and compost piles. Its skin secretes a neurotoxin that can cause rashes in humans and harm animals if ingested. The worm may also carry parasitic nematodes, adding to its danger. Killing the worm requires caution due to its ability to regenerate. 'The thing people need to know is don't kill it, don't squish it, don't cut it up, because it makes three or four more worms, it's asexual reproduction,' Miller said, per NBC 5. 'Tear it in half, now you've got two worms.' Experts recommend placing the worm in a sealed bag with salt or vinegar, freezing it for up to 48 hours, or spraying it with a mixture of citrus oil and vinegar. Handling should be done with gloves, a paper towel, or a stick. Then, wash hands in warm, soapy water and rinse with alcohol or hand disinfectant. Sightings should be reported to the Texas Invasive Species Institute. First introduced to the U.S. in the late 1800s, likely through horticultural plants, the hammerhead worm thrives in hot, humid environments like greenhouses and has spread to tropical and subtropical regions, including Texas. It has been reported from Orange to Uvalde, numerous Gulf Coastal counties, and the DFW area through East Texas. The worms are often found under leaf litter, rocks, or shrubs during the day and may appear on soil, driveways, or sidewalks after heavy rains. Concerned for his dog, children, and garden, Ingle said he's staying vigilant: 'To try to get rid of it. Because I've got a dog, I've got little kids, and I've got a garden, so this thing hates all of those things,' NBC 5 reported. Experts say continuous removal of hammerhead worms is critical to protecting native earthworm populations and mitigating their ecological impact.
Yahoo
08-05-2025
- Yahoo
Texas Teen on Life Support with Severe Injuries After Playing 'Senior Assassin' Weeks Before Graduation: Reports
A 17-year-old in Texas is fighting for his life after being severely injured while playing the "Senior Assassin" game weeks before his graduation, according to reports Isaac Leal was playing the game when he fell off the back of a Jeep and hit his head, his mother, Raquel Vazquez said, per NBC 5 DFW "We're going to keep fighting for my son," Vazquez insisted, according to CBS News TexasA 17-year-old in Texas is fighting for his life after suffering a severe head injury while playing the "Senior Assassin" game weeks before he was due to graduate, according to reports. Isaac Leal — who is a student and baseball player at South Grand Prairie High School — was playing the game when he fell off the back of a Jeep and hit his head, NBC 5 DFW reported, citing the teenager's mom, Raquel Vazquez. Arlington Police told the outlet the incident occurred on Sunday, April 20. "Senior Assassin" is a game that commonly involves high school seniors and their classmates pursuing each other with water guns, or sometimes Nerf guns, in a bid to be the winner, which is the last person who isn't sprayed, a previous article by ABC-owned station WPVI noted. CBS News Texas stated that participants have been using "a handful of mobile apps to track their targets." The outlet noted that Leal's classmates had been "armed with water guns" and chasing one another through the Arlington neighborhood. Vazquez said she would be remaining by her son's side while he fights for his life at Medical City Arlington. 'I have not been able to go home because I can't imagine going home without him," she told NBC 5 DFW. "They were playing 'Senior Assassin,' " she recalled. "He jumped on a young girl's Jeep as it was parked. The girl reversed and took off and drove for five minutes at a high speed to where he could not jump off. She hit a dip and that's where I was told, allegedly, he flew off the Jeep and hit his head." Vazquez said that the family is hoping Leal can be moved to "a different hospital for different care," per the publication, but she shared that wasn't possible at the moment as he was "too unstable." "We can't even roll him in the bed without his vitals reacting," she said. Security camera footage showed Leal standing on the back bumper of the Jeep, CBS News Texas noted, before he was ejected onto the pavement after the vehicle hit a dip in the road. "Everything was planned out, but plans changed overnight," Vazquez insisted, per the outlet. "Nothing matters but saving your kid's life." The Arlington Police Department told CBS News Texas that officers were first made aware of the incident on Saturday, May 3, when Leal's family "contacted us and officers responded to the hospital to speak with them." The family reportedly wants the police to conduct a criminal investigation, the outlet noted. "In reviewing calls for service from the date the incident occurred, April 20, we learned that EMS [Emergency Medical Services] responded to the accident site for what was described as an unconscious person. PD [Police Department], however, was never dispatched and we were not notified that Mr. Leal's injuries stemmed from a traffic incident until we spoke with his family this past weekend," Arlington Police Department said in a statement, per the outlet. Medical City Healthcare/Medical City Arlington said in a statement to CBS News Texas, "Our hearts go out to any family with a seriously ill loved one." "If, for any reason, a family requests treatment for their loved one at another facility, we try to facilitate a transfer. It is important to note that transfers are dependent on the patient's condition, whether they are stable enough to be transferred, as well as the receiving hospital's capacity and willingness to accept the patient," the statement added, referencing the family's wish to have Leal transferred, the outlet reported. "We're going to keep fighting for my son," Vazquez insisted, per CBS News Texas. "I don't know how to make it more clear." Never miss a story — sign up for to stay up-to-date on the best of what PEOPLE has to offer, from celebrity news to compelling human interest stories. "Senior Assassin" has been surrounded by controversy in the past, due to the fact that some of the water guns could be mistaken for real firearms, the outlet reported. South Grand Prairie High's principal told the senior class, "Students who engage in this activity on or around school grounds may face disciplinary action, including the loss of senior privileges," per CBS News Texas. Arlington Police Department, the principal at South Grand Prairie High School, and Medical City Arlington didn't immediately respond when contacted by PEOPLE for additional information. PEOPLE has also reached out to Raquel Vazquez but did not immediately hear back. Read the original article on People
USA Today
15-04-2025
- USA Today
Teen accused of fatally stabbing Texas track athlete released after posting $250K bond
Teen accused of fatally stabbing Texas track athlete released after posting $250K bond The teen was released with an electronic monitor and will remain on house arrest, only leaving the home with court approval. Show Caption Hide Caption Teen stabbed and killed at high school track meet Students and staff at Memorial High School are remembering Austin Metcalf—a student who was stabbed to death Wednesday at a track meet in Frisco. Fox - 4 News A teenager charged in the stabbing death of a Texas track athlete has been released from jail on bond this week. Karmelo Anthony, 17, was released from jail on a reduced bond on April 14, according to court records and Mike Howard, Anthony's newly-hired defense attorney. The teen's bond was originally set for $1 million, former counsel for the teen confirmed to USA TODAY last week. Lawyers filed to have it reduced to $150,000, reported NBC 5 DFW and WFAA-TV. Anthony's bond was ultimately reduced to $250,000, according to court records and Howard. The teen has been issued an electronic monitor and will remain on house arrest, only leaving with court approval, court records say. Anthony must also be supervised by a parent or adult at all times, and can't have contact with the victim's family. He also has to check in with court bailiffs every Friday, court records show. In a statement to USA TODAY on April 15, Howard said that Anthony is now back home with his family. 'Karmelo and the entire Anthony family look forward to some quiet time together,' his lawyer wrote. 'They ask for space and time for the full investigation by both sides to play out fairly.' Anthony was charged with murder in connection to the April 2 stabbing death of 17-year-old Austin Metcalf, according to Frisco police and an arrest warrant affidavit obtained by USA TODAY. 'The police and prosecution want to get it right' Since the killing on April 2, Anthony's family has created a fundraiser through the platform GiveSendGo, raising over $431,000 of its $500,000 goal as of April 15. 'The narrative being spread is false, unjust, and harmful,' his family wrote in the GiveSendGo fundraiser description. 'As a family of faith, we are deeply grateful for all of your support during this trying period. Your prayers and assistance mean more to us now more than ever.' The Next Generation Action Network, a civil rights organization in north Texas, has spoken out in support of the Anthony family and said on April 8 that there have been 'escalating racist threats and bigotry directed at the Anthony family.' 'Their personal address has been exposed,' Minister Dominique Alexander, president of the civil rights organization, said during a news conference last week. 'This justice must be fair and impartial, and protected from biases. We do not pull the race card. We live it.' Howard said threats aren't good for either family involved so he asked the public to allow "the temperature on this" to "come down," NBC 5 DFW reported. The judge who released Anthony on bond took into consideration his age, his clean record, and whether he was a flight risk, reported NBC 5 DFW. Anthony's father testified at his bond hearing on April 14, adding that his son has never been in trouble and he does not have a passport. His father said friends and family would make sure Anthony stayed on the right path, NBC 5 DFW reported. When reporters asked Howard this week why his client had a knife at the track meet that day, he said it's a valid question but the team wasn't ready to answer it. "The police and prosecution want to get it right and want to have a full and fair investigation, and so do we,' Howard said. 'It would be irresponsible for me, or them, at this point to start saying, 'This is what happened.'' Read more: Texas teen charged with murder in track meet stabbing cites self-defense 'I was protecting myself' The killing happened the morning of April 2 during a track meet at Frisco Independent School District's Kuykendall Stadium. Metcalf was a student at Memorial High School and was participating in a track meet that day, police said. A witness called for help around 10 a.m. about an altercation between the two teens in which Metcalf was stabbed. First responders tried to save Metcalf but he was eventually pronounced dead, police said. A school resource officer was the first to arrive, according to the arrest warrant affidavit obtained by USA TODAY. The officer recalled telling Anthony to put his hands up, to which the teen allegedly replied "I was protecting myself." Anthony said Metcalf put his hands on him, admitted to stabbing Metcalf, and asked 'Is he going to be OK?" During the investigation, one witness said he was sitting under a Memorial High School tent with the team and Metcalf and Anthony were sitting nearby, according to the affidavit. Anthony, who was not a member of the team, was sitting under the team's tent. That's when Metcalf told Anthony he needed to move, the witness told authorities, per the court document. 'Anthony grabbed his bag, opened it and reached inside and proceeded to tell (Metcalf) 'Touch me and see what happens,'' the affidavit read. Metcalf then touched Anthony, who told Metcalf to punch him and see what happens, according to the witness. Metcalf grabbed Anthony and again told him to get from under the team's tent, then Anthony pulled out a knife and stabbed Metcalf once in the chest before running away, the witness said. Metcalf grabbed at his chest and told people to get help, per the affidavit. He was pronounced dead at the scene. Austin Metcalf's father: 'Maybe we can learn from this' Since his death, multiple fundraisers for the Metcalf family have been created. As of April 15, the fundraisers have garnered nearly $530,000. Loved ones celebrated Metcalf at a memorial service on April 12, reported KDFW-TV. According to the outlet, the teen was a twin, and he died in his brother's arms on April 2. The weekend before his death, the teens went hunting with their father, Jeff Metcalf. "I'm so fortunate to be able to spend that weekend, not knowing it was the last weekend I'll ever spend with him," their father said, per the Dallas, Texas-based TV station. "I was able to watch and be blessed, so much, to have such, both my sons are amazing. My other son is just crushed. I feel for him now, he won't be the same. None of us will." His father found out about his son's stabbing when a coach called him, he told KDFW-TV. He recalled seeing his son on the gurney. He's still in shock about the death of his son, he told the TV station. "I pray that maybe there's changes made as far as security," he said. "Maybe we can learn from this, and try to turn a tragedy into something positive to make sure it doesn't happen to anyone else's child ... His brother was holding him, trying to hold the blood in. My son watched his brother die in his arms." He said he had forgiven the person who stabbed his son, adding that he feels sorry for his son's killer because he had made a mistake that would change his life forever. "To be taken away, it's such a tragedy," his father said, per KDFW-TV. "I feel numb ... I do hope for justice because this is unacceptable." Saleen Martin is a reporter on USA TODAY's NOW team. She is from Norfolk, Virginia – the 757. Email her at sdmartin@
Yahoo
09-04-2025
- Yahoo
Why the Texas Black Teen Charged With Stabbing a White Teen to Death at a Track Meet Has Raised Nearly $300,000 For His Case
A confrontation at a high school track meet in Texas left one teen dead and another facing a murder charge. And as the investigation into what led up to the tragic event continues, some members of the community are rallying around the 17-year-old suspect. According to a post on X, Frisco, Texas, police say they arrived on the scene at the David Kuykendall Stadium around 10:00 am on April 2. They were responding to calls of 'an altercation between two students which resulted in one stabbing the other.' Witnesses told police that 17-year-old Austin Metcalf, who is white, got into a disagreement with 17-year-old Karmelo Anthony, who is Black, after he asked Anthony to remove himself from a tent that was set up for athletes from Metcalf's school, PEOPLE reported. Bystanders said they heard Anthony telling Metcalf, 'Touch me and see what happens.' When the confrontation got physical, they said Anthony pulled a knife out of a backpack and stabbed Metcalf in the chest before running away. Metcalf was pronounced dead on arrival at the hospital. Anthony is being held in Collin County Jail on a one million dollar bond and has been charged with first degree murder, according to NBC5DFW. Fox 4 Dallas-Fort Worth reported that Anthony told police at the scene that he stabbed Metcalf in self-defense. 'He put his hands on me,' the teenager said. 'I told him not to.' While Anthony's family prepares his legal defense, they want to convince others that the image of the teenager as a cold-blooded killer is a false narrative. The family has set up a support fund on the crowdfunding site GiveSendGo to support his legal defense. 'The narrative being spread is false, unjust, and harmful. As a family of faith, we are deeply grateful for all of your support during this trying period. Your prayers and assistance mean more to us now more than ever,' the family wrote on the donation page. The fund has raised over $274,000 to date, and donors are leaving words of encouragement for the teen and his family. 'The truth will come to light. Keep your head high my friend,' wrote one anonymous donor. Others want the public to see Anthony as a hero as a 2021 news article posted by a mother claims Anthony saved her child from drowning in a pool when he was 14 years old. Pictures of an unverified print article has been making its way across social media. The Root has been unable to confirm this story. 'Yeah it's real this way‼️ FOREVER STANDING WITH KARMELO cause my son could have been dead and HE SAVE HIM OUT THAT POOL🥺,' the mother wrote in her April 7 Instagram post. Additionally, there are those who say this wasn't Anthony's first encounter with the Metcalf brothers, who have reportedly bullied him in the past. One person's Facebook post says he knows the kind of home Anthony was raised in. 'Karmelo comes from a home filled with love—surrounded by a beautiful, diverse family of all colors, and backgrounds. Race has never been a factor in his heart, because love is what raised him,' Kevin Hayes wrote on Facebook. 'When people who have never met him—who don't know his heart, his story, his spirit—try to tear him down, it reveals just how broken this world can be. It shows how quick society is to judge, to stereotype, to villainize—especially when it comes to our youth.' Meanwhile, the Frisco Police Department is warning the community not to trust everything they read online. 'Only official releases from verified accounts should be trusted,' a FPD spokesperson wrote in an April post on X. 'Do not contribute to the misinformation by spreading unconfirmed information.' For the latest news, Facebook, Twitter and Instagram.
