Police are looking for a female bank robber in south Austin today, following the robbery of A+ Credit Union (1402 W Stassney Lane) on Saturday afternoon. The suspect entered the bank on foot, demanded cash, and left on foot as well, with an undisclosed amount of cash. Anyone with information about this incident is asked to call the Robbery tip line at 512-974-5092, Crime Stoppers at 472-TIPS or text "Tip 103" + your message to CRIMES. You may be eligible for a cash reward of up to $1,000 if your tip leads to an arrest or charges being filed. more ›

It's not just the coffee that packs a punch! Tuesday afternoon, a woman rushed into the Starbucks at Congress Avenue and 6th Street, stole a tip jar, and assaulted a customer for her wallet. Richard Chambers, another customer, stopped the woman outside the store and held her until police arrived. No one was seriously injured and the suspect was taken into custody. Austinist thinks Starbucks owes this guy a venti iced white mocha, breve and with caramel drizzle! more ›

The assault and robbery that we reported on last week has new developments: The Statesman reports that tip from the public (that's you!) helped police identify Steven Lawrence Keller as the alleged attacker, and he was arrested on Saturday on unrelated charges, but quickly charged for the robbery and assault as well. more ›

Last Saturday, Merri Gale was brutally attacked outside Liberty bar on E. 6th St. The assailant came from behind and punched her in the face, knocking her out, and proceeded to grab her purse and flee. Investigator are baffled as to why such force was needed to snatch a purse. Gale is not in great shape - according to KVUE, her upper lip is held together with stitches, she's black and blue, and she's got a handful of loose teeth. Thank goodness Liberty recently installed security cameras. Update: The images we obtained from KVUE are tiny, but we're now able to share the actual security video - take a look and see if you recognize the man. Warning, it's actual footage of the assault. Follow the jump to watch. more ›

Kill Bill star found dead in Bangkok. Obama attempts to heal relationship with Muslim world: "America and Islam are not exclusive." New York thief given gifts of compassion by store owner. Trial begins in North Korea for two American journalists. Still no answers for Flight 447. Texas GOP making us proud once again. So much for credit card reform. more ›

Earlier today Diedre Blackburn of Round Rock pled guilty to going with her 16-year-old son on a short bank robbing spree in December 2007 and January 2008. In all, they robbed four banks in the town of Round Rock. Her son, Charles Blackburn Jr., is now 17; he has already been tried as an adult, convicted for two of the robberies, and sentenced to 30 years in jail. Ms. Blackburn today was sentenced to 35 years in jail for her part in the crimes. [KEYE via Twitter] more ›

Photo by mirsasha on flickr In June an APD officer sped 139 miles/hour through a funeral procession on Mopac; he resigned in November. Ford recalling over a million trucks and SUVs because of a faulty engine sensor. The Austin Energy Alt-Car Expo is coming next October. Texas Legislative Conference (who?) names Lt. Gov. Dewhurst as Texan of the Year. New state law set to go into effect January 1 charges $5 per each strip club... more ›

Image of criminal couple (Bonnie and Clyde) from WikipediaThe media often portrays criminals as warped master-minds, or at least uncaring creeps. A less popular, but more true to form characterization would be just-plain-stupid. Aspiring criminal master-minds, the husband and wife team of Alan and Basilia Gonzalez, were able to round up "four to six accomplices" according to KXAN, but we wouldn't go so far as to call it an organized burglary ring. A moniker like... more ›

Still from Lions for LambsWe were under the impression that "No Country for Old Men" was opening this weekend, and we just found out it's only coming to "big" cities today—Austinites have to wait till next weekend. Miffed, we're only slightly placated by the other offerings at hand, though Philip Seymour Hoffman is hard to turn down... Lions for Lambs: Meryl Streep is a reporter, Tom Cruise is typecast as a neocon congressman, Robert Redford... more ›

Four suspects have been arrested for the Wachovia Bank robbery yesterday. Probable murder-suicide in San Marcos; the couple was found by their teenage daughter last night. Student group at Texas State wants the right to carry guns around campus and to classes. This evening KEYE becomes the first Austin TV station to show local news in hi-def. It will still look the same on our old-school TV. Johns Hopkins calls Johnston High School (and... more ›

Longhorn football player James Henry has been suspended indefinitely from the team after being charged with felony counts of retaliation and tampering with physical evidence. Police say the charges are in connection with the alleged armed robbery involving former Longhorn football player Robert Joseph. Court records indicate that Henry, 19, confronted witnesses on behalf of Joseph, who was arrested June 27th on aggravated robbery charges. Police say that Joseph called Henry from jail the... more ›

Tonight, unless an unlikely eleventh-hour reprieve is granted, Texas will execute its 400th inmate since the state resumed the practice in 1982. Johnny Ray Conner32-year-old Johnny Ray Conner was convicted for murdering Houston resident Kathyanna Nguyen during a grocery store robbery in 1998. Nguyen, the store's owner, had been trapped behind the counter and was surrounded by a bulletproof enclosure; the killer reached his gun through the change slot and shot her in the head.... more ›

In what's gotta be one of the worst ways ever to spend one's 18th birthday, UT freshman football player Andre Jones was arrested and thrown to Travis County Jail today. His bail is currently set at $40,000. Jones, who now faces felony charges of aggravated robbery with a deadly weapon, was delivered even more bad news in the form of a statement issued by Longhorn coach Mack Brown. From the Statesman Bevo Beat: “We are... more ›

Austin police are on the lookout for a UT football player-turned-fugitive considered to be "armed and dangerous." An arrest warrant was issued yesterday for 17-year-old Andre Jones, a freshman defensive tackle from El Paso known by some as "Big Dre." Jones faces first-degree felony charges of aggravated robbery with a deadly weapon. Allegedly, Jones and his teammate, Robert Joseph, held up two victims at an East Austin student apartment residence last Friday. Joseph reportedly pointed... more ›

So far this year, eighteen people have been murdered in Austin. Six of those murders remain unsolved. One of these unsolved murders occurred in a drainage ditch under 30th Street in a bustling campus area busy with all day (and night) bike, car and foot traffic. The victim was a 50-year old blind man named Randall Hays. Robbery is believed to be the motive in this murder and he wasn't stabbed or shot, but... more ›

This Saturday at 5pm, a rally will take place on the front steps of the State Capitol to show support for a man that many believe sits on Texas' death row as an innocent. The event will have speakers, live music and food for all supporters who come out. more ›

It just doesn't get darker than this. The Paramount Theatre's summer classic film series continues this week with some rough 'n tumble gangsta films and crime classics, featuring stars from Marilyn Monroe to Warren Beatty to Barbara Stanwyck to Al Pacino. People may say our society's been getting more violent, but you'll definitely be shaking in your seat at these old-school thrillers. Want to win tickets to Scarface? Or to the White Heat / Bonnie... more ›

It's always awesome when Austinites earn national recognition — unless it's coming from the Federal Bureau of Investigation. Back in May, a 20-something-year-old woman robbed a Northwest Austin Wachovia bank, while sporting a UT cap and a rather confident smile. The sassy lady evidently had such a good go of her first robbery that she took her one-woman-act to the west coast. According to the FBI's "WANTED" poster, the "Ponytail Bandit" is believed to have also robbed banks in Roseville, California, and Lynnwood, Washington. In all three cases, her M.O. remained the same: shoulder-length blonde ponytail pulled through the back of a baseball cap, she'd simply saunter into the building, demand money from a teller, and walk out. She's also characterized by a rather unique waiting line stance: arms crossed and shoulders slouching forward ever so slightly, the stick-thin Ponytail Bandit bears a striking resemblance to one Montgomery Burns. Those with info on this fugitive are invited to ring the FBI at 202-324-3000.

A father and son were walking home from church last night in the Capital Plaza area (around Cameron Rd. and Reinli) when they were robbed. After taking everything the immigrant family had on them, the robbers shot and killed the teenage boy, in front of his father. If you were in the area behind Popeye's Chicken and the Austin Cornerstone Church last night around 10pm and witnessed anything, please call 477-3588 (the homicide tip... more ›

Austin remains the nation's fifth safest large city, according to the latest annual rankings published by Morgan Quitno Press. The Lawrence, Kansas-based research firm placed Dallas and Houston on the other side of the spectrum -- both are among the country's most dangerous, at sixth and tenth, respectively. Meanwhile, our northern neighbors in Round Rock should be happy to know that they're still living in of the overall safest cities, despite dropping to thirteenth... more ›

San Francisco is proud host of a new reality show called "How to Get the Guy" that's unfortunately not a descendant of Will and Grace, Queer Eye, The L Word, American Idol etc. Also a biodefence lab is coming to the East Bay and SFist teaches wine pairing. Getting on the wrong train sucks. Getting on the wrong train and becoming the victim of what will later be described as a "stabbing spree" really sucks.... more ›

One of our cracker-jack staff recently sent us an email describing a dramatic scene out in Westlake. He reported (at 11am and 1pm) that the Wells Fargo Bank in Westlake @ 360 and Bee Caves has been completely roped off. There are fire trucks, ambulances, EMS people, and a half dozen squad cars. It looks like a possible bank robbery/hostage situation. We do not have any more information or photos at this time. more ›

*This post comes from new Austinist contributor Matthew DeWitt.* It’s topical downer time at Cine Las Americas this weekend, with De Nadie (No One) likely to take home honors for Most Depressing Viewing Experience. The film takes a unique look at the immigration controversy—Central Americans crossing through Mexico to get to the U.S. Many don’t even make it to the US border, succumbing to exposure, starvation, robbery, or (at best) arrest and deportation by... more ›

Independent gubernatorial candidate Kinky Friedman took the stand on behalf of convicted killer Max Soffar. Soffar is convicted of killing three people during a Houston robbery at the Fair Lanes Windfern Bowling Center. His first conviction and death sentence were overturned on appeal. Friedman met Soffar while writing an article for Texas Monthly magazine. The author interviewed Soffar and exchanged letters with him during the inmate's years on death row. Kinky testified that he... more ›

*Picture from APD taken from AAS site* Austin Police are looking for the suspect pictured above who robbed the First State Bank at 12730 Research Blvd. this morning. The suspect entered the bank around 9:35am and demanded money from a teller. He left on foot shortly thereafter. [Statesman] The suspect is described as a white male, 50 to 55 years old, with a thin build, blue eyes and a weathered complexion, between 5 feet... more ›

The US Supreme Court ruled 5-4 in Roper v. Simmons earlier this year, abolishing the death penalty for convicted killers who were under 18 at the time of their crimes. more ›