Texas Digest: National Guardsman dies in training at Fort Hood

FORT HOOD

National Guardsman dies in training

The Indiana National Guard says one of its soldiers has died during training at Fort Hood.

It says 29-year-old Staff Sgt. Andrew Michael St. John of Greenwood died Thursday night in a tactical vehicle accident. The Guard says the cause of his death is under investigation and no other details were available Saturday.

St. John served as an infantryman with the Indiana Army National Guard's 151st Infantry Regiment.

The Guard says he had been deployed previously to Iraq and Afghanistan.

SAN ANTONIO

Army commander relieved of duty

A commander who oversaw day-to-day operations at Army installations worldwide has been relieved of his San Antonio-based command due to "loss of trust and confidence."

An Army spokeswoman said in a statement last that Gen. Gustave Perna, commanding general of Army Materiel Command, relieved Lt. Gen. Brad Becker as head of the Installation Management Command.

The San Antonio Express-News reported that Becker was replaced by his deputy commander, Maj. Gen. Timothy McGuire.

Becker has been ordered to Washington where he will serve as a special assistant to the director of the Army staff.

The Army didn't explain its decision to replace Becker.

Installation Management Command is based at Joint Base San Antonio-Fort Sam Houston.

It provides housing and emergency services, protects endangered species in training areas and is responsible for several other programs at 75 posts in the U.S., Europe, the Pacific and Asia.

HOUSTON

7 people shot after fight at party

Police say seven people were shot after a fight broke out at a house party in east Houston early Saturday.

The incident occurred about 1:45 a.m. at an "instant house party" that formed after it was promoted on Snapchat.

The Houston Police Department said several people got into an argument and multiple people began shooting at one another. Police say three people were shot at the home where teens and adults were attending the party.

According to police, one car leaving the house was followed by another group in a tan van. Police say the group in the van fired into the car and another three people were struck.

Authorities say the seventh victim was in the hospital. None of the victims suffered life-threatening injuries.

EL PASO

Aug. 22 town hall to condemn white supremacy

Latino Victory Project Executive Director Mayra Macias and former Arizona lawmaker Gabby Giffords will kick-off a Texas tour with an Aug. 22 town hall in El Paso to condemn white supremacy and gun violence against Latinos.

U.S. Rep. Veronica Escobar, D-El Paso, will be among the speakers at the meeting. The Latino Victory Project is an advocacy organization working to empower Latinos across the country.

Giffords was severely wounded in a 2011 shooting and now runs a gun advocacy group.

The tour is to include events in Dallas, Houston and San Antonio in late August.

The Associated Press