New details emerged in the manslaughter trial of Tony Earls Jr. on Thursday, including 911 calls made moments after the nine-year-old Arlene Alvarez was fatally shot.
The calls, heard in court for the first time, were placed by Earls’ wife, who described an armed robbery that led to the deadly incident.
According to testimony, Earls fired shots while pursuing the person he said had robbed him and his wife at gunpoint. One of the shots struck Arlene, who was sitting in the back seat of her father’s F-150, killing her on Valentine’s Day 2022.
Owen Bledsoe, a former HPD officer now working as an investigator with the DA’s office, took the stand Thursday. Bledsoe, who specializes in crash scene reconstruction, used specialized cameras in August 2025 to reconstruct the ATM scene connected to the case. The defense argued that conditions have changed in the three years since the incident, raising questions about the accuracy of his reconstruction.
During his testimony, Bledsoe stood by a TV screen in front of the jury to demonstrate the positions of Earls’ and Alvarez’s vehicles. He claimed to observe a gun muzzle flash but did not see any shots fired by the robbery suspect. This demonstration coincided with the first playing of Tony Earls Jr.’s 911 call.
Prosecutors questioned Bledsoe about Alvarez’s truck, specifically whether its tinted windows would have allowed someone inside to see the color of the suspect’s pants. Bledsoe said it would not have been possible, a point tied to descriptions given in the 911 call.
Expert witnesses, including the Harris County Chief Medical Examiner, a crime scene investigator, and a crime scene reconstructionist with the district attorney’s office, confirmed the circumstances of the shooting. Graphic autopsy photos were shown to the jury, showing that Arlene died from a penetrating gunshot wound to the head.
Arlene’s father testified for the second time, describing his efforts to help her after the shooting.
“After I saw the head go down, I went around my truck and tried to render aid,” he said in court.
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Family members did not remain in the courtroom after Arlene’s aunt, April Aguirre, was unexpectedly informed she might be called as a witness.
Crime Stoppers Director Andy Khan was also asked to leave because of the logo on his shirt, which a court official said could influence the jury.
Witnesses expected Friday include a digital forensics expert with the DA’s office, a firearms expert, and another patrol officer who responded to the scene.
Court resumes Friday with Bledsoe returning to the stand, where the defense will begin cross-examination.