Crime
Tara Arnold killed in Bangor private jet crash
The wife of a prominent Texas attorney was among those killed in a private jet crash Sunday evening at Bangor International Airport in Maine, according to officials and family statements.
Tara Arnold, 46, the wife of Houston-based personal injury attorney Kurt Arnold, died when a Bombardier Challenger 650 business jet crashed during takeoff at approximately 7:45 p.m.
The aircraft was departing Bangor after a scheduled stop for refueling and de-icing before a planned transatlantic flight to Paris. Arnold was traveling with several friends on a leisure trip.
Emergency responders arrived to find the aircraft severely damaged and overturned on the runway, with fire and heavy smoke visible at the scene. Video and photographs from the aftermath showed the jet resting upside down as firefighters worked to extinguish the blaze.
Preliminary flight data reviewed by investigators indicates the aircraft veered to the right during the takeoff roll before losing control.
The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) initially reported that eight people were on board, including crew members; however, officials later acknowledged that early information may have been incomplete.
Authorities have not yet released a final passenger and crew manifest or confirmed casualty figures pending family notifications.
The jet was reportedly registered to Arnold & Itkin LLP, the Houston-based law firm co-founded by Kurt Arnold.
The firm has acknowledged the loss and requested privacy for the families involved. The FAA and the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) have launched a joint investigation into the cause of the crash.
Tara Arnold was an accomplished attorney who had worked at Arnold & Itkin since its founding in 2005.
She earned her law degree from Tulane University and graduated magna cum laude. Early in her career, she worked in mergers and acquisitions at a large New York-based law firm before joining her husband’s practice, where she focused on complex litigation, including cases involving offshore and industrial accidents.
In professional biographies, Arnold credited her mother—also an attorney—for inspiring her to pursue a legal career. She frequently spoke about the responsibility attorneys hold in protecting clients’ futures and livelihoods.
Outside of her legal work, Arnold was known for her philanthropy and community involvement.
She and her husband were significant donors to the University of Texas, Kurt Arnold’s alma mater, contributing tens of millions of dollars to university and athletic programs. Friends and colleagues described her as deeply committed to service, family, and mentoring others.
Local officials and friends expressed condolences following news of her death. Harris County Precinct Four Commissioner Lesley Briones, who previously worked with the Arnolds, described her as “a phenomenal person, a bold leader, and someone with a genuine heart for service.”
The crash occurred amid severe winter weather conditions. At the time of the incident, temperatures at Bangor International Airport were near 1 degree Fahrenheit, with six to eight inches of snow on the ground and low visibility reported.
Air traffic control recordings indicate pilots and controllers discussed weather conditions and de-icing procedures shortly before the aircraft was cleared for takeoff. Within minutes, air traffic was halted after controllers reported an aircraft overturned on the runway.
The incident took place during Winter Storm Fern, which caused widespread travel disruptions across the United States, including thousands of canceled flights and declared states of emergency in multiple states.
The FAA and NTSB will continue their investigation, examining weather conditions, aircraft performance, runway conditions, and crew actions. Officials have stated that a full report is expected to take several months.
Crime
Angela Johnson and Her Son DeAngelo Johnson Killed After Shooting Inside Home in Chicago, Mother’s Boyfriend in Custody
CHICAGO — A 47-year-old mother and her 27-year-old son were fatally shot inside a residence in Chicago’s Austin neighborhood on the West Side late Thursday night, September 24, 2026, according to Chicago police.
The victims were identified as Angela Johnson, 47, and DeAngelo Johnson, 27. Police said a suspect, identified as Angela Johnson’s boyfriend, was taken into custody following the shooting.
The deadly shooting happened in the 800 block of North Parkside Avenue at approximately 10:43 p.m. Witnesses reported hearing gunshots coming from the basement of the residence and called 911.
When Chicago police officers arrived, they found the two victims suffering from gunshot wounds.
Angela Johnson was found in the basement with a gunshot wound to her chest. Police-radio traffic indicated she had been shot on the right side of her chest.
DeAngelo Johnson was found on the first floor with multiple gunshot wounds. Radio traffic indicated that he had suffered two gunshot wounds to his back.
Both victims were initially unresponsive and in critical condition. Emergency personnel performed CPR on DeAngelo Johnson before both victims were transported to Mount Sinai Hospital, where they were pronounced dead.
According to police-radio traffic, one victim was pronounced dead at approximately 11:18 p.m., while the male victim was pronounced dead around 11:21 p.m.
Investigators found extensive evidence inside the residence, including approximately 23 shell casings in a basement bedroom. Additional shell casings were reportedly recovered in other areas of the basement, including the stairway, main room and bedroom.
Officers initially recovered a firearm and shell casings from the basement bedroom. Police later located a second firearm inside the home, bringing the total number of recovered firearms to two.
Authorities have not publicly stated who owned the firearms or confirmed which weapon, if either, was used in the fatal shooting.
Police also reported that DeAngelo Johnson was wearing an empty holster when officers found him on the first floor. That discovery prompted an officer-safety alert as officers searched the residence for the missing firearm.
Chicago police said the shooting appeared to be domestic-related and identified the alleged offender as the mother’s boyfriend.
Radio traffic indicated that a person had been detained by approximately 11:26 p.m. The official police report later confirmed that the known offender was taken into custody.
Two witnesses were reportedly available to identify the alleged offender, and officers conducted a show-up identification procedure near the scene.
Police have not released additional information about potential charges against the suspect.
The investigation into the Chicago Austin neighborhood double shooting remains ongoing. Detectives are continuing to examine the circumstances that led to the shooting, the relationship between the people involved and the role of the two recovered firearms.
The deaths of Angela Johnson and DeAngelo Johnson are being investigated as a double homicide.