Issue link: https://www.epageflip.net/i/554144
DAVIDJ.PHILLIP—THEASSOCIATEDPRESS Members of the Harris County Sheriff's Department are joined by other law enforcement officials during a news conference in the case of David Conley, shown on the video screen, on Sunday in Houston. ByJuanA.Lozano The Associated Press HOUSTON A woman who previously dated the man accused of fatally shooting her, her husband and six children texted her mother before her death that she was being held at gunpoint, a Texas district attorney said Monday. Harris County District Attorney Devon Ander- son said after the man ap- peared in court that au- thorities had been alerted of problems at the home by the mother of victim Valerie Jackson. "My heart goes out to the mother who received the text from her daughter that she was in trouble, and the mother was many states away but of course did what any mother would do and called 911," Devon Ander- son said. David Conley, 48, who has been charged with cap- ital murder, stood hand- cuffed and shackled before State District Judge Van- essa Velasquez as the prob- able cause warrant naming him was read. There was no mention of a lawyer either appointed or hired during the court hearing. His only response was to acknowledge his name when asked by the judge, who also read him his rights. Those killed, who all were shot in the head, were iden- tified as parents Dewayne Jackson, 50; his wife, Valerie Jackson, 40; and their chil- dren Dewayne, 10; Honesty, 11; Caleb, 9; Trinity, 7; and Jonah, 6. Also killed was a 13-year-old, Nathaniel, who was believed to be Conley's son from the relationship with Valerie Jackson. Most of the victims had been handcuffed and some had been shot multiple times, police have said. "We do not — cannot — fully comprehend the moti- vation of an individual that would take the lives of so many innocent people. Espe- cially the lives of the young ones," said Chief Deputy Tim Cannon of the Harris County Sheriff's Office. "The killer's motives appear to be re- lated to a dispute with Val- erie, who was his former do- mestic partner." Anderson said it would be three to four months be- fore she decides whether to seek the death penalty. The request from Valerie Jackson's mother Saturday sent deputies to the home in northwest Houston. Woman among 8 killed ha d te xt ed m om f or h el p HOUSTON FIRE BLAZE BURNS BUSINESS PHOTO BY ROSS PALUBESKI RedBluffFire,CalFireandTehamaCountyFireweredispatchedaround4:15a.m.Sundaytoareporteddump- ster fire with threat to a commercial structure behind Tommy K's 4 Alarm Yogurt at 331 Pine St. The first arriv- ing unit found multiple dumpsters burning on the 300 block of Pine Street and one had spread into the Tommy K's building. The dumpsters were contained within five minutes, however, the fire did significant damage to Tommy K's. Main Street and Pine Street were closed for about an hour during the incident. Units responded from Red Bluff, Antelope, El Camino, Los Molinos and Dibble Creek. By Jim Salter and Alan Scher Zagier The Associated Press FERGUSON, MO. Ferguson was a community on edge again Monday, a day af- ter a protest marking the anniversary of Michael Brown's death was punc- tuated with gunshots and police critically wounded a black 18-year-old accused of opening fire on officers. Police, protesters and people who live and work in the St. Louis suburb were bracing for what nightfall might bring following more violence along West Floris- sant Avenue, the same thor- oughfare that was the site of massive protests and ri- oting after Brown was fa- tally shot last year in a con- frontation with a white Fer- guson officer. "Of course I'm worried," said Sandy Sansevere, a re- tired health care worker who volunteers at the retail store operated by the non- profit group I Love Fergu- son, which was formed af- ter Brown's death to pro- mote the community. "What scares me are the guns." The father of the suspect who was shot called the police version of events "a bunch of lies." He said two girls who were with his son told him he was unarmed and had been drawn into a dispute involving two groups of young people. St. Louis County Execu- tive Steve Stenger declared a state of emergency, which authorizes county Police Chief Jon Belmar to take control of police emer- gency management in and around Ferguson. Protests spilled out- side of Ferguson. About 50 protesters were arrested around midday Monday for blocking the entrance to the federal courthouse in downtown St. Louis. Among those arrested was scholar and civil rights ac- tivist Cornel West. SHOTS FIRED Police shooting, protests put Ferguson back on edge | NEWS | REDBLUFFDAILYNEWS.COM TUESDAY, AUGUST 11, 2015 8 A ★