A man suspected of fatally shooting a nine-year-old girl in 2022 has been arrested. Tony D. Earls, 33, was taken into custody on May 1 after being wanted since a Harris County grand jury indicted him on April 23, records show.

Earls allegedly opened fire during a robbery at a bank ATM at 2900 Woodridge Drive, leading to the tragic death of Arlene Alvarez, according to a news release. The juvenile victim was caught in the crossfire while sitting in her parent's disabled vehicle. Earls was initially charged with aggravated assault, but after a grand jury's decision, the charges were elevated to murder. He was released in July 2022 following a previous grand jury's decision not to indict him.

The incident, which took place on Valentine's Day in 2022 around 9:45 p.m., unfolded after Earls and his wife were robbed. In response, Earls fired at the fleeing robbery suspect, and mistakenly shot at a pickup truck, he wrongly thought the suspect had entered. The truck was occupied by a family of five who had no involvement in the robbery.

Paramedics rushed Arlene to the hospital where she was pronounced dead. Her tragic death has since prompted a manhunt for the shooter. After eluding police for some time, Earls was recently apprehended by officers from the HPD Southeast Patrol Division Crime Suppression Team, City of Houston News reported. Police are still searching for the male robbery suspect believed to have triggered the fatal chain of events. He is described as a dark-skinned black male with a thick build and full eyelashes.

Authorities encourage anyone with information on the unidentified robbery suspect to come forward. Tips can be directed to the HPD Homicide Division, or reported anonymously to Crime Stoppers, as efforts to bring full closure to the case continue.