Lubbock wannabe terrorist found guilty.

An Amarillo jury has found 22-year-old Khalid Aldawsari guilty of attempted use of a weapon of mass destruction.

He faces up to life in prison. Aldawsari was accused of collecting supplies to build a bomb and authorities said they found writings that indicated his desire to carry out an attack.

Prosecutors stressed the "substantial" steps he made toward building a bomb, while the defense said that he didn't actually threaten anyone.

Sentencing has been set for October 9th. Aldawsari faces up to life in prison and up to a $250,000 fine.

The U.S. Department of Justice released a statement about the verdict on Wednesday:

According to court documents and evidence presented during trial, at the time of his arrest last year, Aldawsari had been researching online how to construct an IED using several chemicals as ingredients. He had also acquired or taken a substantial step toward acquiring most of the ingredients and equipment necessary to construct an IED and he had conducted online research of several potential U.S. targets, the affidavit alleges. In addition, he had allegedly described his desire for violent jihad and martyrdom in blog postings and a personal journal.

"While many people are responsible for thwarting Aldawsari's threat and bringing him to justice, we owe a debt of gratitude to all the members of the North Texas Joint Terrorism Task Force, and especially to the hundreds of hard-working and dedicated FBI agents, analysts, linguists and others," said U.S. Attorney Saldaña. "Their efforts, coupled with the hard work and excellent cooperation from the Lubbock Police Department and the Texas Tech Police Department, are the reason we were able to stop this defendant from carrying out a catastrophic act of terrorism."

"As this trial demonstrated, Aldawsari purchased ingredients to construct an explosive device and was actively researching potential targets in the United States. Thanks to the efforts of many agents, analysts and prosecutors, this plot was thwarted before it could advance further," said Assistant Attorney General Monaco. "This case serves as another reminder of the need for continued vigilance both at home and abroad."

"Today's guilty verdict shows how individuals in the United States with the intent to do harm can acquire the knowledge and materials necessary to carry out an attack," said SAC Rodriguez. "Our success in locating and preventing Mr. Aldawsari from carrying out an attack is a result of cooperation within the law enforcement and intelligence communities, particularly, the North Texas Joint Terrorism Task Force, the Texas Tech Police Department, the Lubbock Police Department, and the Lubbock County Sheriff's Office, but also a demonstration of information sharing across FBI divisions, as well as assistance from the community. I want to thank the dedicated agents, officers and analysts, the computer forensics team and linguists that worked diligently on this investigation as well as prosecutors serving in the U.S. Attorney's Office in the Northern District."

The government presented evidence that on Feb. 1, 2011, a chemical supplier reported to the FBI a suspicious attempted purchase of concentrated phenol by a man identifying himself as Khalid Aldawsari. Phenol is a toxic chemical with legitimate uses, but can also be used to make the explosive trinitrophenol, also known as T.N.P., or picric acid. Ingredients typically used with phenol to make picric acid, or T.N.P., are concentrated sulfuric and nitric acids.

Aldawsari attempted to have the phenol order shipped to a freight company so it could be held for him there, but the freight company told Aldawsari that the order had been returned to the supplier and called the police. Later, Aldawsari falsely told the supplier he was associated with a university and wanted the phenol for "off-campus, personal research." Frustrated by questions being asked over his phenol order, Aldawsari cancelled his order, placed an order with another company, and later emailed himself instructions for producing phenol. In December 2010, he had successfully purchased concentrated nitric and sulfuric acids.

Aldawsari used various email accounts in researching explosives and targets, and often sent emails to himself as part of this process. He emailed himself a recipe for picric acid, which was described in the email as a "military explosive" and also emailed himself instructions on how to convert a cell phone into a remote detonator and how to prepare a booby-trapped vehicle using household items. Aldawsari also purchased many other items, including a Hazmat suit, a soldering iron kit, glass beakers and flasks, a stun gun, clocks and a battery tester.

Excerpts from a journal found at Aldawsari's residence indicated that he had been planning to commit a terrorist attack in the United States for years. One entry describes how Aldawsari sought and obtained a particular scholarship because it allowed him to come directly to the United States and helped him financially, which he said "will help tremendously in providing me with the support I need for Jihad." The entry continues: "And now, after mastering the English language, learning how to build explosives and continuous planning to target the infidel Americans, it is time for Jihad."

In another entry, Aldawsari wrote that he was near to reaching his goal and near to getting weapons to use against infidels and their helpers. He also listed a "synopsis of important steps" that included obtaining a forged U.S. birth certificate; renting a car; using different driver's licenses for each car rented; putting bombs in cars and taking them to different places during rush hour; and leaving the city for a safe place.

Aldawsari conducted research on various targets and emailed himself information on these locations and people. One of the documents he sent himself, with the subject line listed as "Targets," contained the names and home addresses of three American citizens who had previously served in the U.S. military and had been stationed for a time at Abu Ghraib prison in Iraq. In others, Aldawsari sent himself the names of 12 reservoir dams in Colorado and California and listed two categories of targets: hydroelectric dams and nuclear power plants. He also sent himself an email titled "Tyrant's House," in which he listed the Dallas address for former President George W. Bush. Aldawsari also conducted research that indicated he considered using infant dolls to conceal explosives and the possible targeting of a nightclub with an explosive concealed in a backpack.

This case was investigated by the FBI's Dallas Joint Terrorism Task Force, with assistance from the Lubbock Police Department and the Texas Tech Police Department. The prosecution is being handled by Assistant U.S. Attorneys Jeffrey R. Haag, Denise Williams, James T. Jacks and Matthew J. Kacsmaryk and Trial Attorney David Cora from the Counterterrorism Section of the Justice Department's National Security Division.

and you thought your job was tough ...

Window washers work on the Chase Building in downtown Amarillo ...

Jet Blue Pilot found mentally competent to stand trial EXCLUSIVE PHOTOS

FOR PRINT RIGHTS CALL 806-336-7583 

AMARILLO, TEXAS -- The JetBlue pilot accused of causing a mid-air flight fiasco ending with the plane making an emergency landing in Amarillo has been ruled competent to stand trial.

After viewing a sealed doctor's report, U.S. District Judge Mary Lou Robinson declared Clayton F. Osbon, 49, presently competent to stand trial.

He was also pounding on the cockpit door, the records showed.It was on March 27 when a JetBlue airliner was diverted to Rick Husband Amarillo International Airport after Osbon, a pilot, become disruptive, yelling about the Sept. 11 terrorist attacks and racing inside the cabin, according to court records.

The Transportation Security Administration (TSA) said the co-pilot become concerned Osbon was exhibiting erratic behavior during the flight. The captain, according to TSA, then exited the cockpit during flight.

As a result, the co-pilot locked the door and when the captain attempted to enter the cockpit, he was subdued by passengers, TSA said.

The plane, with 141 passengers and crew members, was en route from New York City to Las Vegas. No one was seriously hurt.

Amarillo built Osprey crashes in Florida

Hurlburt Field, Florida (CNN) -- An Air Force CV-22 Osprey crashed Wednesday during a routine training mission north of Navarre, Florida, injuring five crew members aboard, a military official said.

The crash occurred about 6:45 p.m. at Hurlburt Field's Eglin Range, said Amy Nicholson, chief of public affairs at the airfield.

The five injured crew members were taken to an area hospital, Nicholson said. The extent of their injuries was not immediately known.

The cause of the accident is under investigation, she said.

The Army began developing the Osprey in 1982, though the program was nearly scrapped in 1989 when then-Secretary of Defense Dick Cheney sought to cancel it because of ballooning costs.The Osprey was assigned to the 1st Special Operations Wing, the Air Force said. The tilt-rotor aircraft can fly like an airplane and land like a helicopter.

Questions were raised about the safety of the Osprey after two crashes, including one in 1992 at a Marine Corps air base in Virginia that killed the crew.

In late 2000, the Marine Corps grounded the Osprey fleet after two crashes -- one in Arizona that killed four crew members and 15 passengers, and another in North Carolina that killed the crew.

A redesign was ordered on the Osprey, and it resumed flights in 2002.

The Air Force began using Ospreys in 2008 after testing the aircraft in 2006. They were first deployed by the Marines in Iraq in 2007 after 18 years and $20 billion in development.

The MV and CV-22 Osprey is assembled in Amarillo, Texas

Passengers suing Jet Blue over pilot wig-out.

Ten passengers filed a lawsuit Wednesday against JetBlue Airways, claiming they feared for their lives when a pilot had to be physically restrained after running through the cabin yelling about Jesus and al-Qaida during a New York-to-Las Vegas flight in March.

The lawsuit, filed in state Supreme Court in Queens, claims the airline was "grossly negligent" in allowing Capt. Clayton Osbon to fly.

A flight attendant's ribs were bruised as passengers tried to restrain Osbon, but no one on board was seriously hurt. The March 27 flight was forced to make an emergency landing in Amarillo, Texas.

Osbon faces a hearing Friday morning in Amarillo to determine if he is mentally competent to stand trial. He faces federal charges of interfering with a flight crew. If convicted, he could be sentenced to up to 20 years in prison.

An airline spokesman did not immediately comment Wednesday on the lawsuit.

According to the lawsuit and a federal indictment, witnesses on Flight 191 say Osbon ran through the cabin in a wild rant. The first officer locked him out of the cockpit and passengers wrestled Osbon to the floor. 

The lawsuit also claims he was "yelling about September 11th, Iraq, Iran, Afghanistan, al-Qaida and terrorists." 

Other comments, according to the suit, included: "we're all going down", "you better start praying right now", "I'm going to show you Iraq and Iran right now", "there's a bomb on board" ''the plane will never make it to Vegas." 

The lawsuit claims JetBlue knew or should have known he was unfit to be entrusted with the aircraft as pilot. 

The 10 plaintiffs, all from the metropolitan New York area, are seeking unspecified damages for emotional distress.

Lawyer cyclist killed just outside of Amarillo

Amarillo Lawyer Jeff Tankersley was killed Sunday afternoon when a vehicle struck him while he was riding his bicycle down South Dowell Road.

The driver of the vehicle was 20-year-old Brent Kyle Browning.

Tankersley had already passed away when law enforcement arrived at the scene, and Browning did not sustain serious injures, officials said.

Troopers are investigating to see if drugs, alcohol or texting and (or) reckless driving were factors in the accident.

Details of the incident have not yet been released; Pronews 7 will post updates as they are received.

Editors note: Considerable confusion still surrounds the details of this tragic incident. There were reports overheard on the scanner (and from those on the scene)  the driver of the vehicle was possibly texting while driving and that a 20 year old woman in the vehicle was transported to the hospital with serious injuries that occurred when the cyclist crashed through the windshield. 

APD told the press this was the case - but DPS press releases say nothing about another person being injured. 

Pair charged with murder linked to home invasion -somehow.

AMARILLO, TEXAS -- Two people were arrested after being charged with a murder linked to a home invasion on Friday afternoon, police said.

26-year-old Jessica Medina and 29-year-old Timothy Francisco Lopez were both arrested on a charge of Murder.

On Friday afternoon, 26-year-old Gabriel Castillo was killed after he reportedly, along with another person, attempted to burglarize a home, police said.

Just after noon on Friday, police said a caller told them two masked men were found inside a backyard office trying to steal a safe in the 2900 block of South Highland. Police said the caller, who owned the backyard office, confronted the men.

The men then fled on foot and one of them pointed what was believed to be a pistol at the office owner, police said.

That's when, according to police, the office owner fired at the suspect because he was in fear for his own life.

Police said the suspects fled the scene at a high rate of speed. The vehicle was driven by a third person, police said.

Later, police said they received a call from the 2400 block of Rule on a person who had been shot and was not breathing. Police said that person was one of the suspects from the burglary on South Highland.

Castillo was pronounced dead at the scene, police said.

A Justice of the Peace ordered an autopsy and police are continuing their investigation. The preliminary autopsy results indicated Castillo died from a gunshot wound to the right hip area, police said.

Anyone with information on this incident is asked to call Special Crimes at 378-9468.

Photos from Cruise Night 6-3-2012 Region 16 Education Center

Click to enlarge:
Photographed at Region 16 Education Center, Amarillo Texas on June, 3rd 2012.  Sponsored by the Panhandle Council of Car Club - Cruise Night take place at 5PM on the first Saturday of every month. It's free and open to the public.

This Saturday there was a large turnout - but impending bad weather cut the event short.

Photos by Steve Douglass

Police investigate hit & run as possible crime

AMARILLO, TEXAS -- Amarillo Police are investigating a motor vehicle vs. pedestrian accident that left a man with life-threatening injuries.

Police were called to the 2400 block of South Crockett at 1:03 a.m. Sunday morning on that accident.

Once on scene, they found 22-year old Hector Alejandro Gonzalez had been struck by a vehicle that had fled the scene. 

That vehicle, a Toyota FJ Cruiser was later found in the 5900 block of Shawnee. The driver, 19-year old Collin Lee Johnson, was arrested on scene for Failure to Stop and Render Aid and Intoxicated Assault. He was booked into the Potter County Jail.

Police say apparently Gonzalez and Johnson were part of two different groups that went to Austin Park to fight. They say the incident is being investigated as an assault because the accident may have been part of that disturbance. Alcohol is a factor in this incident.

The case is being investigated by the Traffic Investigation Unit and the Detective Division of the Amarillo Police Department.

APD releases details on Memorial Day aggravated assault on Columbine/Gardenia

On 5-28-12, at 8:40 PM, officers were sent to 1318 Columbine on a reported aggravated assault. Officers found two men injured and being treated outside that home.

 One was an Asian male age 36. An officer said that this man appeared to be unconscious and may have suffered some type of head injury.

 The second man, an Asian male age 17, had multiple facial lacerations. Initial information provided to officers was that brass knuckles were used in the fight in which the men were involved. One witness later mentioned clubs and sticks.

 Both men were being treated by paramedics and the unconscious man was transported to a local hospital. Officers found that the two men had been at a party at 1424 Gardenia. There was some type of verbal dispute or argument, and a fight involving the two men and an unknown number of other people broke out. The two men sustained their injuries during the fight.

 The initial information is that the fight happened inside the home. The two injured men apparently drove from the Gardenia address to the home on Columbine. Officers and investigators went to the Gardenia address and found several people still there, but others involved may have left before officers arrived. The officers secured consent and searched the home.

 At least three people were taken to the APD to be interviewed. Everyone was later released without charges and there have been no arrests. The most severely injured man’s condition was initially described as life-threatening. Investigators later learned the injuries were probably not life-threatening. They are in the process of verifying the man’s current condition at the time of this release. No names have been released pending additional investigation.