Mark Hasse, Texas prosecutor, shot dead near courthouse; suspects sought
By
(CBS) KAUFMAN COUNTY, Texas -- Authorities in Kaufman County, in the
Dallas-Fort Worth area, are looking into past criminal cases and those that were
on the calendar of Chief Prosecutor Mark Hasse, who was shot dead Thursday
morning in a parking lot across from the county courthouse, CBS
DFW reported.
Kaufman Police Chief Chris Aulbaugh told the station that Hasse's shooting
appears to have been a targeted attack and that authorities have no elevated
concern for the general public.
The motive is unknown, but investigators are looking at Hasse's cases, which
have included drug dealers and organized crime.
Officials responding to the scene where authorities say
Mark Hasse was shot and killed near the North Texas county courthouse where he
worked on Jan. 31, 2013
Officials confirmed that Hasse, 57, was shot in the parking lot of the
department of motor vehicles. He was transported to Texas Health Presbyterian
Hospital, where he was pronounced dead.
Officials said Hasse was walking to his office, from the parking lot,
Thursday morning when he was assaulted by an unknown person and "shot multiple
times." He was a Kaufman County District Attorney since July of 2010.
Authorities believe that at least one person -- possibly two -- were involved
in the shooting. State troopers have confirmed that an all points bulletin has
been put out for two males, wearing all black clothing and some type of vests,
possibly tactical, CBS DFW reported.
Chief Aulbaugh said, "We had some witnesses that saw an individual fleeing
the area on foot and getting into a vehicle." That vehicle is described as a
possibly dark brown or silver-colored sedan, similar to a Ford Taurus, with no
license plates.
"This is a horrible situation, just a tragedy," County Judge Bruce Wood told
CBS News' Anna Werner. "We'd see him in the hallways every day, and he was just
an outstanding person and a very well-respected prosecutor."
"This takes it to a whole new level -- your police and your front-line people
is understandable, but this? This takes it to a whole new level," Judge Wood
said.
Hasse's boss, Kaufman County District Attorney Mike McClellan, said Hasse has
prosecuted hundreds of cases. He was asked by CBS News' Werner what hurt the
most about the killing.
"That I can't get the guys who did it. Because I would really love to,'' said
McClellan.
Attacks on U.S. prosecutors are rare. Contacted by CBS News, the National
District Attorneys Association knew of only seven examples between 1967 and
2004.
Investigators are asking that anyone with information about the shooting,
suspects or the vehicle call police. Kaufman County Crime Stoppers is offering a
$10,000 reward for information leading to an arrest and conviction in the
case.
A local Kaufman business is also offering $10,000 to anyone providing
information in the case.
Officials from the Kaufman Police Department, Sheriff's Department and the
Texas Rangers are all working the case."
"First Mark Hasse, Now Mike McLelland; Has The Aryan Brotherhood Declared War On Texas Law Enforcement?
One investigator compared the situation to the drug-gang violence in Mexico. The door had been kicked in. Shell casings were peppered all over the floor. Nearby, the bullet-riddled bodies of Texas district attorney Mike McLelland and his wife Cynthia Woodward McLelland were discovered by police on Saturday in Kaufman County, east of Dallas.
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"Two 'Dangerous' Inmates Escaped From Texas Jail
By CHRISTINA NG | ABC News – 3 hrs ago
Texas authorities are using helicopters and dogs to search for two "dangerous" Texas inmates who escaped from jail this morning by squeezing through a gate, leaving behind their black and white prison suits on the railroad tracks behind the jail.
Authorities believe Brian Tucker, 44, and John King, 39, escaped from Hopkins County Jail in Sulphur Springs, Texas, at around 8:30 a.m. today.
"Both are considered dangerous," Deputy Alvin Jordan of the Hopkins County Sheriff's Office told ABCNews.com.
Area schools are on lockdown and businesses are on high alert, according to police.Tucker was awaiting trial in jail for capital murder charges and King had been indicted for evading arrest.
"They were put out on rec yard to have outside rec and undoubtedly squeezed through the gate and took off," Jordan said. "We did find their black and whites about 100 yards behind the facility."
Tucker and King were both segregated from other inmates because of the types of crimes they have committed, according to Jordan.
It is unknown what the men are wearing, whether they may have used some kind of transportation after leaving the jail yard and whether they are still together, Jordan said.
Asked if there is any reason to believe they could be armed, Jordan said, "At this point, unless they picked up anything from here to where they're at, the weapons part is unknown."
Their only known connection at this time is that they were inmates at the same time in the same jail with no known previous ties.
Authorities are warning people to be careful and call 911 if they see the men.
"If they're spotted, make sure they lock their doors, call 911 and tell us what area they're in," Jordan said. "Don't try to let them approach you."
Tucker is 5-foot-7-inches and about 170 pounds. He has brown eyes, brown hair and multiple tattoos. King is 5-foot-8-inches and 165 pounds. He has black hair, hazel eyes and multiple tattoos."
Also Read
http://abcnews.go.com/US/dangerous-inmates-escape-texas-jail-schools-lockdown/story?id=18862519
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"EU no descarta que narco mexicano esté detrás del asesinato de un fiscal
Autoridades tienen evidencias de que grupo
supremacista estableció relaciones de negocios con cárteles.
Notimex
Publicado: 02/04/2013 15:50
Publicado: 02/04/2013 15:50
Dallas. Autoridades que investigan en Texas los
asesinatos del procurador del Condado de Kaufman y de su esposa, el sábado
anterior, no descartan que los cárteles mexicanos de la droga pudieran
estar involucrados en los homicidios.
La sospecha sobre los cárteles fue mencionada por el gobernador
de Texas, Rick Perry, como una de las dos principales líneas que los
investigadores siguen en el caso del asesinato del procurador del Condado de
Kaufman, Mike McLelland, y de su esposa Cynthia.
El gobernador ubicó a grupos supremacistas y a los cárteles
mexicanos de la droga, como las amenazas más directas para los funcionarios
de las corporaciones policiales de Texas.
No obstante, Perry dijo que “aún es muy temprano en la
investigación”, al informar que las pesquisas están a cargo del Departamento del
Sheriff del Condado de Kaufman, a unos 60 kilómetros al sureste de Dallas.
En las pesquisas también participan agentes de los Texas
Rangers, el cuerpo de élite de la policía estatal, de la Oficina federal de
Investigaciones (FBI) y del Servicio del Alguacil de Estados Unidos.
Aunque no existe aún ninguna pista en firme, las autoridades
indagan la posibilidad de que miembros de la pandilla supremacista Hermandad
Aria de Texas pudieran estar detrás de los asesinatos.
Tampoco se descarta que los cárteles mexicanos
pudieran ser los responsables del doble homicidio, que se registró justo dos
meses después de que el subprocurador del condado de Kaufman, Mark Hasse, fuera
muerto también a tiros el pasado 31 de enero.
Las autoridades han identificado al norte de Texas,
principalmente las ciudades de Dallas y Fort Worth, como un popular centro de
contrabando de drogas operado por cárteles mexicanos.
También se tienen evidencias de que la Hermandad Aria de Texas,
a pesar de su historia racista, ha establecido relaciones de negocios con los
cárteles.
Las autoridades creen que los esfuerzos antidrogas de la
Oficina del Procurador del condado de Kaufman pudieran haber afectado las
operaciones del narcotráfico.
La junta de gobierno del Condado de Kaufman designó la noche de
este lunes como procuradora interina de esa jurisdicción a Randi Fernández,
quien laboraba como subprocuradora a las órdenes de McLelland.
Fernández estará a cargo de la Oficina del Procurador hasta que
el gobernador Perry designe a alguien para ese cargo dentro del plazo de 21 días
que le otorga la ley."
"West Virginia Sheriff Shot and Killed Outside Courthouse"
http://abcnews.go.com/US/west-virginia-sheriff-shot-head-courthouse/story?id=18872633
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http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Aryan_Brotherhood
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