Dallas, TX
Texas Seven prison escapee will get new Dallas trial in killing of Irving police officer, court rules
Texas Seven prison escapee Randy Halprin will get a new trial in Dallas County because the judge at his 2003 capital murder trial harbored antisemitic views, the state’s highest criminal court ruled Wednesday.
Halprin, who is Jewish, is one of seven inmates who escaped from the John B. Connally Unit near Kenedy in December 2000 before fatally shooting Irving police Officer Aubrey Hawkins during a Christmas Eve robbery. Halprin was convicted and sentenced to death for his role in Hawkins’ killing, but he has denied being one of the men who shot the officer.
Texas’ Court of Criminal Appeals previously halted his execution because of allegations former state District Judge Vickers Cunningham who presided over Halprin’s trial was prejudiced against him.
The ruling takes a step toward “broader trust in the criminal law by throwing out a hopelessly tainted death judgment handed down by a bigoted and biased judge,” Halprin’s attorney Tivon Schardl said in a statement.
“By upholding the Constitution’s requirement of fair and equal treatment, the Court of Criminal Appeals promoted faith in the criminal law,” he said. “It also reminded Texans that religious bigotry has no place in our courts.”
When reached over text Wednesday afternoon, Cunningham said “I’m in court right now.” An employee at his law office declined to comment and said Cunningham would have no comment. Cunningham has previously denied the allegation, saying the accusations were “lies from my estranged brother and his friends.”
In their 5-4 opinion, the justices found Cunningham had a history of using derogatory language toward Jewish people; made “offensive, antisemitic remarks” about Halprin during his trial; and ridiculed Jewish donors to his failed campaign for district attorney.
“The uncontradicted evidence supports a finding that Cunningham formed an opinion about Halprin that derived from an extrajudicial factor — Cunningham’s poisonous antisemitism,” the ruling reads.
In a concurring opinion, Judge Bert Richardson said the case isn’t just one where the action of a trial judge may look bad or there’s the appearance of impropriety. “This is a case,” he wrote, “where a person’s lifelong hatred and prejudice against Jews made him unfit to preside over this case.”
Cunningham’s brother, Bill Cunningham, told The Dallas Morning News in 2018 that Vic Cunningham was a lifelong racist. The then-judge said he wasn’t a bigot but confirmed a trust fund set up for his children has a stipulation that includes rewards for marrying a person who is white, Christian and the opposite sex.
Since Halprin’s execution was stayed, another district judge reviewed and weighed in on the case, recommending his conviction and death sentence should be tossed. After a three-day hearing, Tarrant County prosecutors also agreed Halprin’s right to a fair trial was violated. Dallas County District Attorney John Creuzot recused his office from the case.
A spokeswoman for the Dallas County district attorney’s office declined to comment. The Tarrant County DA’s office did not immediately respond to an email.
“It is indeed unfortunate that Aubrey Hawkins’ family, our officers, our department, and our city will have to endure the reopening of old wounds and relive the horrors of what transpired,” Irving police Chief Derick Miller said in statement. “Waiting almost 24 years for justice has already been a long and difficult journey, and it appears that we must now prepare to wait a bit longer.”
The chief added: “We remain steadfast in our commitment to seeking justice for Aubrey Hawkins and his loved ones, and we hope that the legal process will ultimately lead to a resolution that honors his memory and the sacrifices made by all involved.”
All members of the Texas Seven were sentenced to death except for Larry Harper, who died by suicide to avoid capture. Four were executed. Patrick Murphy remains on death row.
Before the escape, Halprin was serving a 30-year sentence for beating a child in Tarrant County.
Schardl, Halprin’s lawyer, said Halprin will likely be sent to Dallas for the proceedings in the 283rd District Court. Creuzot has not sought the death penalty since taking office in 2019.
The Dallas Cowboys were initially in the mix for Las Vegas Raiders superstar pass rusher Maxx Crosby ahead of NFL free agency, and were believed to be one of the finalists in trade talks. However, he was ultimately traded to the Baltimore Ravens for two first-round picks.
Now, the NFL world has been turned on its head with the Ravens deciding to pull out of the trade agreement with Las Vegas.
On Tuesday night, NFL insider Adam Schefter was among the experts discussing what went wrong between the Raiders and Ravens, revealing that Cowboys team physician Dr. Daniel Cooper, one of the premier knee specialists, played a role in the Ravens’ evaluation of Crosby.
Schefter discussed how Dr. Cooper was among the doctors who reviewed scans on Crosby’s knee, which ultimately spooked the Ravens and triggered the end of the deal.
“The Baltimore Ravens essentially failed him on their physical, and my understanding is there were multiple doctors that reviewed his MRI scans,” Schefter said. “There were doctors that examined him, including Dr. Daniel Cooper, the Dallas Cowboys doctor that performed surgery on Patrick Mahomes and Malik Nabers.
“Many teams and players rely on Dr. Cooper’s expertise, and Dr. Cooper was one of the doctors who reviewed the images where the Ravens then felt compelled to back out of this trade.”
It’s hard not to connect the dots that Dr. Cooper’s involvement in the medical review of Crosby led to the team deciding against re-engaging in trade discussions. Though that could change, currently, the Cowboys are expected to move forward with Pro Bowl EDGE Rashan Gary, who the team agreed to acquire from the Green Bay Packers for a 2027 fourth-round pick on the first day of legal tampering.
It will be interesting to continue monitoring the situation and its fallout, which has left the Raiders in a terrible position.
But, with the Raiders now forced to re-examine the money they committed to free agents on Wednesday evening, they may have to pull out of one of their own agreements, which could open the door for the Cowboys to reopen their pursuit of a linebacker like Nakobe Dean or Quay Walker.
The 2026 NFL calendar year officially begins on Wednesday, March 11, at 4:00 p.m. ET, so get your popcorn ready, because it’s going to be a wild ride.
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Dallas Cowboys Nation’s hopes of landing superstar pass rusher Maxx Crosby were dashed last weekend when it was announced that he was being traded to the Baltimore Ravens. However, less than 24 hours before the new year, the trade has fallen apart.
On Tuesday night, the Las Vegas Raiders announced that the Ravens have backed out of the trade.
“The Baltimore Ravens have backed out of our trade agreement for Maxx Crosby,” the statement read. “We will have no further comment at this time.”
The news sends a major ripple for the league, with the Crosby sweepstakes once again open. Before his trade to the Ravens, the Cowboys were considered one of the teams closely monitoring the situation and a team that made a legitimate offer for Crosby.
At this time, there is no word on why the trade between Las Vegas and Baltimore fell through. When the trade was first reported, the Raiders were set to receive a 2026 and 2027 first-round pick from the Ravens.
Now, his future is in limbo. Before he was traded to the Ravens, it was believed that the Cowboys, Chicago Bears, and Los Angeles Rams were the top candidates to land him. In fact, the Cowboys were “considered runner-ups” in the sweepstakes.
Dallas’ Original Trade Offer
According to ESPN’s Jeremy Fowler, the Cowboys initially offered the No. 12 overall pick in the 2026 draft, a 2027 second-round pick, and an unnamed veteran player.
“Dallas kept a hard line throughout. The franchise wasn’t willing to part with two first-round picks, hoping its 12th pick in April’s draft, plus a future second-rounder, would be enough to entice Las Vegas. Dallas was also willing to package a veteran player to sweeten the deal, but Vegas wasn’t interested in that. The Raiders prioritized picks,” Fowler wrote.
Last season, Crosby recorded 73 total tackles, 28 tackles for a loss, 20 quarterback hits, 10 sacks, two forced fumbles, and an interception.
We’ll have to see if Dallas ends up being his new home, now that the team has a second chance to make something special happen, but there will be some serious competition. The 2026 NFL calendar year officially begins on Wednesday, March 11, at 4:00 p.m. ET.
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DALLAS – Severe thunderstorms are forecast to return to North Texas late Tuesday, bringing threats of damaging hail, high winds and localized flooding. While the primary concerns are wind and hail, a few tornadoes cannot be ruled out.
Tuesday Forecast
Dallas weather: Mar. 10 morning forecast
We have another chance of severe storms starting Tuesday afternoon. Meteorologist Ali Turiano has your forecast and everything you need to know ahead of the storms.
Scattered showers and storms are expected to develop as a dryline to the west moves into the region. Storm conditions are expected to intensify as the day progresses.
The greatest concerns remain damaging winds and large hail. The leading edge of the storm front will likely be the most intense, with the potential for straight-line winds and brief spin-up tornadoes.
LIVE Radar: Dallas-Fort Worth
Dallas Storms: Timing and Impact
The highest potential for severe weather in the Metroplex is from 2 p.m. to 6 p.m., though lingering activity could continue until 2 a.m. Wednesday. Residents are advised to seek shelter immediately if a warning is issued for their area.
7-Day Forecast
A final round of storms is expected Wednesday, primarily between noon and 7 p.m., according to the National Weather Service. These storms carry a threat of half-dollar-sized hail and damaging winds.
Behind this system, North Texas will dry out and briefly cool off. Sunny skies return Thursday with a high in the mid-60s. Temperatures will then warm into the upper 70s on Friday before a sunny weekend with highs in the low 80s.
The Source: Information in this article comes from the National Weather Service and FOX 4 forecasters.
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