Crime
AMBER ALERT Canceled: 3-year-old Legend Sanford and 4-year-old Kannon O’Neal located and safe
UPDATE: Both missing children have been located and are in safe condition and unharmed. This case will remain under investigation.
TYLER, TX — An Amber Alert has been issued for two young siblings reported missing from Tyler. Authorities are urgently seeking the public’s help in locating 3-year-old Legend Sanford and 4-year-old Kannon O’Neal.
On Friday, December 13th, at approximately 7:10 AM, officers from the Tyler Police Department responded to a report of two missing children at the Evergreen Apartments, located at 4123 S Park Drive in Tyler.
The reporting party, the children’s guardian, stated that the boys were last seen at the apartment complex around 10 PM on Thursday, December 12th.
Legend Sanford was last seen wearing a blue Paw Patrol shirt and black, red, and white pants. Kannon O’Neal was last seen in a black shirt and black pants with blue and red stripes.
According to investigators, the children were seen leaving the apartment complex around 1 AM Friday morning, heading east on Sybil Lane. Surveillance footage later captured the children being picked up by a dark-colored SUV, believed to be a Mazda CX-3 four-door model.
Tyler Police Department officers, detectives, and other emergency personnel are actively searching the area and reviewing surveillance footage to locate the missing boys. Authorities are working under the assumption that the children could be in imminent danger.
Anyone with information regarding the whereabouts of Legend Sanford or Kannon O’Neal is urged to contact the Tyler Police Department immediately.
- In case of an emergency, dial 911.
- For other information or tips, call 903-531-1000.
Time is critical in cases like this. If you see the children or a vehicle matching the description, do not hesitate to contact authorities.
MOBILE, AL – A man charged in connection with a fatal shooting outside an Alabama bar is claiming self-defense, as new details emerged during a preliminary hearing on Tuesday.
On February 1, officers from the Mobile Police Department responded to a reported shooting at the Alabama Bar & Lounge.
Upon arrival, authorities discovered that Hunter Lins and another man had been shot following an altercation outside the establishment.
Lins was transported to the hospital, where he later succumbed to his injuries. The second victim, whose identity has not been disclosed, survived.
Matthew Sanders was subsequently arrested and charged with murder and first-degree assault in connection with the incident.
During Tuesday’s preliminary hearing, Sanders’ attorney, Jeff Deen, argued that his client acted in self-defense after being attacked. Deen claimed that surveillance footage supports this assertion, showing Sanders being “jumped on” before the shooting.
However, Lins’ stepsister, Kelsie Harvell, refuted that claim, asserting that the shooting was not an act of self-defense and could have been entirely avoided.
A homicide detective testified that multiple witnesses reported an argument between Sanders and Lins inside the bar near the pool table.
- A bartender allegedly instructed only Sanders to leave the bar.
- Lins followed him outside, reportedly to apologize.
- Once outside, a physical altercation ensued between Sanders and Lins, with Lins’ brother, known as “Rusty,” also getting involved.
- According to Rusty, he attempted to break up the fight, but Sanders retrieved a firearm from his vehicle and opened fire.
Deen countered this narrative, claiming that Sanders was attacked by the two brothers and was defending himself.
“He got jumped on at a bar. He left when he was told to, but then a crowd followed him outside and continued the fight,” Deen said. “I’m sorry someone got shot, but he brought it on himself.”
During testimony, the detective noted that Lins had a beer bottle during the altercation but discarded it before being shot, leaving him unarmed and defenseless.
Harvell questioned Sanders’ justification for self-defense, stating, “If he was able to open his car door to grab a gun and shoot two people, why wasn’t he able to get in the car and leave?”
Additionally, the District Attorney’s Office revealed that after the shooting, Sanders allegedly posted a video on Snapchat waving a gun and saying, “I told y’all to leave me alone… and to quit playing with me.”
Investigators later confirmed that the firearm seen in the video was the same weapon recovered at the crime scene.
During the hearing, Sanders’ defense requested a bond reduction, which was denied by the judge. He remains incarcerated at Metro Jail with a $250,000 bond.
The case is now moving to a grand jury for further review.