Mother of slain girl asks Abbott campaign to remove political ad

Who's involved

• Wendy Álvarezmother of Arlene Álvarez
• April Aguirrefamily friend and victim's advocate featured in the ad
• Greg Abbottgovernor whose campaign ran the ad
• Gina HinojosaDemocratic candidate for governor
• Tony Earlsshooter convicted of manslaughter

The facts

• Arlene Álvarez, 9, was fatally shot in southeast Houston on Valentine's Day 2022.²
• Arlene was an innocent bystander when a man shot at an armed robber.²
• Tony Earls was found guilty of manslaughter and sentenced to 20 years by a Harris County jury.²
• Abbott's campaign promoted the ad in an Oct. 21 announcement.²
• The ad features April Aguirre, who said she became a victim's advocate after Arlene was killed.²
• The ad has aired on TV and streaming services.²
• Wendy Álvarez said in an Oct. 26 social media post she did not agree to have her daughter used in a political campaign.²
• Aguirre was not paid by a political entity for her participation, according to Wendy Álvarez.²

Who said what

These are statements and claims made by the people involved. They are reported, not verified.

• April Aguirre Hinojosa supports public safety cuts and policies that put criminal illegal immigrants and murderers back on the street.²
• Abbott campaign Arlene's death was a result of liberal policies that allow violent criminals to roam freely.²
• Gina Hinojosa and her campaign Abbott is prioritizing photo-ops over supporting law enforcement.²