Girl, 9, dies after mistakenly shot by robbery victim

By JUAN A. LOZANO
Associated Press

HOUSTON (AP) — Houston police say a man who had just been robbed at an ATM opened fire in an attempt to stop his attacker but instead shot a 9-year-old girl in a truck driving nearby. The girl later died at a hospital. Her family says Arlene Alvarez was on life support when she died on Tuesday, hours after the shooting Monday evening. Police say 41-year-old Tony Earls has been arrested and charged with aggravated assault, serious bodily injury. Earlier this month, Houston officials announced a $44 million plan to tackle rising violent crime. Arlene was the second 9-year-old shot and wounded in the nation’s fourth largest city within a week. Ashanti Grant was shot in the head during a road rage attack Feb. 8.