Arlington, TX

A Grand Prairie police officer shot and killed a teenager who pulled a gun and fired at them after a break-in at the Palace of Wax. Two others were arrested late Thursday. Detective John Brimmer said that when confronted, one teen surrendered, but that another pointed a handgun at an officer and fired. The shot missed, but the officer returned fire, hitting the unidentified 18 year old in the head. The Palace of Wax manager called police around 8:30pm to report that 3 young men had entered through the employee entrance and were trying to get into her office. Police said 2 of the suspects were former employees. Police arrived and chased the suspects on foot to the nearby Motel 6 where the confrontation and shooting occurred. The officer involved has not been identified, but has been placed on administrative leave pending an investigation.

More details are emerging regarding the car accident I told you about yesterday. 19 year old Cory Hill, a recent Seguin High School graduate, was killed. 3 other teens, Dizhwar Sindy, 18; Steven Vaituulala, 16; and Nabil Bader, 19 were injured and taken to John Peter Smith hospital in Fort Worth. Their conditions have not been released. The driver, Michael Reynolds of Grand Prairie, also 19, was arrested and faces charges of intoxication manslaughter and 2 counts of intoxication assault with a motor vehicle. Police reported that Reynolds was “heavily intoxicated”.

Highpoint Church volunteered to host a funeral for Cecil Sinclair, brother of one of their employees, but backed out when they found out Sinclair was gay. Sinclair, 46, was a Navy Desert Storm veteran. He was awaiting a heart transplant, when he died of an infection. Members of the church had been praying for him for the last 6 years.  While preparing a slide show presentation for the service, some of the photos clearly showed that Mr. Sinclair was homosexual and the church abruptly cancelled the service. The funeral, scheduled for Thursday, was cancelled on Wednesday night, leaving family members scrambling to find another venue.

Arlington, Arlington TX, Grand Prairie, Palace of Wax, teenager shot, car accident, Cory Hill, Seguin High School, Dizhwar Sindy, Steven Vaituulala, Nabil Bader, Michael Reynolds, drunk driving, Highpoint Church, Cecil Sinclair, gay man, cancelled funeral