Texas
Texas attorney raises concerns as investigation continues into 2 home explosions on North Side
SAN ANTONIO – Barriers on Preston Hollow Drive have been moved back, but part of the North Side street is still blocked off. This is where the National Transportation Safety Board is leading the investigation into two home explosions.
The explosions happened on Tuesday night. In total, five people were hurt. The latest update on Thursday revealed three of those victims were still in critical condition.
While the focus right now is on what caused the blasts, Texas attorney Michael Lyons is already looking ahead and raising concerns about what comes next.
“This is a recurring issue that exists in not just Texas,” Lyons said. “Gas infrastructure can be really dangerous.”
“I handle a lot of cases involving gas explosions nationwide,” Lyons said. “When there’s a gas explosion, my phone usually rings.”
At this time, Lyons, who is a partner at the Dallas firm Lyons & Simmons, is not directly connected to this case. But he has represented families here in the city with very similar stories.
“We tried the case in February of 2025 that resulted in a big verdict against CPS (Energy),” Lyons said.
He’s talking about Virginia Rymers and her son Robert. KSAT previously reported they survived a 2021 natural gas explosion at their East Side home but became severely injured as a result.
On Thursday, KSAT built a map showing all the house and apartment explosions we’ve covered since 2020.
One of Lyons’ biggest concerns is making sure the homes are not demolished on Preston Hollow Drive before the investigation is complete. A spokesperson with San Antonio’s Development Services Department confirmed to KSAT on Thursday that “nothing will be done until the investigation is completed.”
“The city and the taxpayers ought to know what happened and why and who is responsible,” Lyons said.
CPS Energy sent KSAT an updated statement just before 10 p.m. on Thursday, where a spokesperson for the utility said for the first time, “Electric and gas services in the Preston Hollow subdivision are clear and safe.”
Marc Whyte, the District 10 councilman, said his office and the city are currently working on creating a website to give out updates on the investigation as they become available.
CPS Energy will keep its customer response unit at the Northeast Senior Center through Sunday.
CPS Energy said if any customers at any point smell gas, they should leave the house immediately and call CPS Energy at 210-353-HELP (4357) or 911.
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Copyright 2026 by KSAT – All rights reserved.
No. 1 seed Texas (51-12, 16-8 in SEC play) and No. 3 seed Texas Tech (61-8, 21-3 in the Big 12) begin their three-game series at 8 p.m. ET Wednesday in Oklahoma City. Each
Texas
Brazoria County deputy shoots, kills Texas State University student after car chase, report says
BRAZORIA COUNTY, Texas – A Texas State University student was shot and killed by a Brazoria County Sheriff’s deputy early Monday morning after an attempted traffic stop in Lake Jackson.
The news was first reported by The University Star, Texas State’s student-run newspaper.
In a Tuesday statement to KSAT, the university identified the student as John Gabriel Mendoza Jr., 18. He was a freshman who studied management, according to the school.
“We extend our heartfelt condolences to his family, friends, classmates, and all those affected by this tragedy,” the university said in its statement.
Deputies attempted a traffic stop on a vehicle just after midnight Monday near Farm-to-Market 2004 and This Way Street in Lake Jackson, the sheriff’s office said.
The driver of the vehicle, who was identified as Mendoza by The University Star, did not stop, deputies said. The deputies then chased after the vehicle for approximately a mile into a neighborhood located in the 100 block of Indian Warrior Trail.
According to the sheriff’s office, the driver went inside a home’s garage and parked before a deputy approached the vehicle, the release said.
The deputy then pulled out his firearm and shot into the vehicle. The sheriff’s office said the gunfire struck the driver.
The University Star reported that Mendoza was the one shot. He was taken to a hospital, where he was later pronounced dead.
The deputy who pulled the trigger has since been placed on administrative leave in accordance with the Brazoria County Sheriff’s Office policy.
KSAT reached out to the Lake Jackson Police Department and the Brazoria County Sheriff’s Office for more information, but neither agency has responded at this time.
The shooting investigation is being led by the Texas Rangers, according to a Brazoria County Sheriff’s Office news release.
This is a developing story. Check back for updates.
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Copyright 2026 by KSAT – All rights reserved.
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