Ogg on latest developments in Arlene Alvarez case: 'We are focusing our efforts on finding the suspect'

A $30,000 award has been offered for information leading to the arrest of a bank robbery suspect whose escape allegedly resulted in the shooting death of a 9-year-old girl last Valentine’s Day, Houston-based media outlets reported.

Arlene Alvarez lost her life after she was struck by gunfire in the parking lot of a southeast Houston bank. 

The De Zavala Elementary School fourth grader and her family were reportedly headed to dinner at her favorite restaurant, Spanky's Pizza. 

Authorities asserted that the shots were fired by a man who was believed to have been robbed at the facility’s ATM but determined he was targeted by the unidentified culprit.

Houston NBC affiliate KPRC reported that a Harris County grand jury no-billed Tony Earls, the purported robbery victim.

Harris County District Attorney (DA) Kim Ogg vowed that her office will get to the bottom of the case on behalf of the girl’s family, the station reported.

“Our hearts go out to the Alvarez family because Arlene’s death is a tragedy that is unimaginable,” Ogg said, per KPRC. “We are focusing all of our efforts on finding the suspect who set this chain of events in motion and bringing him to justice.”

Houston ABC affiliate KTRK reported that 41-year-old Earls initially faced an aggravated assault charge, but since the grand jury declined to indict him, his case can’t be tried again.

"The grand jury, a random group of ordinary people in Harris County who answered their jury summons, heard the evidence in this case as presented by our prosecutors, heard all of the possible charges – from murder to manslaughter to aggravated assault to criminally-negligent homicide,” Ogg said, the station reported. “That grand jury also heard possible defenses.”

According to KPRC, authorities described the suspect as a tall, medium to dark-skinned male, with a medium to heavyset build.

Investigators added that he wore a mask and gloves at the time of the incident and may have committed a similar act in the past, the station reported.

KPRC reported that the cash award is a combination of $5,000 offered by Crime Stoppers of Houston and a $25,000 donation from Landry’s owner Tilman Fertitta.

Authorities are urging anyone with information to contact the Houston Police Department (HPD) Homicide Division at (713) 308-3600 or Crime Stoppers at (713) 222-TIPS, per the station.