Houston News Blog

​Not much is known about a man who was shot to death early Saturday morning, but it's a good bet that he didn't die thirsty.

Officers got a call about a shooting at 2054 Wirt in northwest Houston. When they arrived, they found a dead man in a parking lot.

The cops talked to witnesses who said that the victim had been inside a nearby bar when he was shot to death and then dragged out into the parking lot. The shooter is only described as being a Hispanic man.

Police say they haven't figured out a motive yet as to why someone would snuff out a man in a bar. They are still investigating.

Anyone with information about this case can call Crime Stoppers at 713-222-TIPS.

​No one had seen Marilyn Sue Gillespie for days. Then, not surprisingly in this homicidal town, she turned up dead.

Police say they fielded a call Friday morning about a possible dead person at 3333 Cummins Lane, near Lakewood Church. And sure enough, when officers arrived they found the 58-year-old Gillespie in her home, apparently riddled with stab wounds.

Gillespie was last seen alive three days earlier, police say. Her car, a 2006 green Subaru Tribeca with Kansas plates, is missing from the parking lot. Police are continuing to investigate.

Anyone with information about this case can call Crime Stoppers at 713-222-TIPS.

​It was a couple of hours before dawn on Friday along the 5700 block of Munson Lane, not far from Missouri City, when Willie Mae and Herman Pakoejoe's granddaughter awoke to the crack of gunfire.

She pulled the covers back, got out of bed, and went to her grandparents room to see what had happened. That's when, police say, she found them both lying on the floor, dead.

The girl quickly told relatives living nearby, who then called the police. When officers arrived, they determined that Herman Pakoejoe, 56, had shot his wife, Willie Mae, 60, and then turned the weapon on himself and pulled the trigger.

​Last week, we told you about a man suspected of killing his daughter. The tragic trend continued, as a mother is now suspected of slaying her son.

Police say that the mother of 40-year-old Kevin Ford shot her son Friday during a struggle over a pistol. The woman had grabbed the weapon to protect herself after hearing strange noises late at night in their home at 5300 Coke, northeast of Downtown.

At some point, police say, the two began battling over the gun, when it fired. The bullet whizzed right through Ford's abdomen and then hit his mother in the hip. Police say she will most likely recover from her injuries.

No one was immediately charged with a crime, but the Harris County District Attorney's Office will review the case.

​What kind of a man shoots his wife and daughter and then kidnaps his son? We're not sure, but police say 39-year-old Jamie Cole did just that.

Investigators claim that Cole and his estranged wife, Melissa Cole, 31, started arguing Thursday evening when he showed up at her place at 725 F.M. 1959 to drop off their two sons, ages 2 and 10.

During the fight, the couple's daughter, Alecia Castillo, 15, kept trying to intervene and calm things down. It would work for a while, but then the parents would just start at it again. As the row got more and more heated, Castillo tried again to break it up, but this time it didn't work.

Police say Jamie Cole shot to death Castillo and Melissa Cole, grabbed his 2-year-old and jumped in a car heading out of town. He was later arrested by state troopers in Wharton County and is charged with capital murder.

Police say the 2-year-old was unharmed.

​It was a bloodbath near Aldine Thursday as three people were shot to death and another two were critically wounded. This one had a little bit of everything: men busting into homes guns blazing, a police chase, a horrific car accident and then a lawman ending it all with a flurry of gunfire.

It all started at about 4:20 p.m., Harris County Sheriff's investigators say, when they got a call about a shooting on Landfair St. near Aldine. When deputies got there, they found a woman who had been shot. But she was not the only one. She told the deputies to go over to the house across the street.

At 14201 Landfair, deputies found two women who had been shot to death and a man who was badly wounded. He said that two guys had broken the door down and burst into the house shooting, authorities say. The gunmen then stole a truck and sped off.

Authorities broadcast a description of the car and it didn't take long for deputies to spot it. They chased the driver for a while, but then the gunman crashed and rolled his truck. As he tried to run away, authorities say, he fired several shots at the deputies. Unharmed and fearing for their lives, the deputies shot back, killing the man. His name is Jose Delarosa, investigators say. The names of the people he is suspected of shooting have not released.

As with all officer-involved shootings, the Harris County District Attorney's Office will investigate the case.

​Sixteen-year-old Jose Azua was simply slinging tacos at an outdoor stand Wednesday night in north Harris County when he came face to face with a guy holding a gun.

It wasn't long until the Harris County Sheriff's Office got a call about a shooting.

When deputies arrived, they found Azua had been shot to death. His body was still inside the taco stand, located on the 11400 block of Eastex Freeway.

Azua's mother told detectives that her son worked there part-time and that she stopped by the stand at around 9 p.m. to check on him. She was the one, authorities say, who first found Azua's body.

Investigators say robbery seems to be the motive but do not have any suspects.

​Sure we all like to think of the cops as kind of gullible, but it's nice to see they didn't fall for the ol' "Trust me officers, I didn't do it, it was the three guys in masks" routine.

Police on Tuesday arrested 30-year-old Maria Rangel Garcia De La Paz on suspicion of killing her live-in boyfriend, Jose Gonsales, 29, in their home at 10201 Telephone Road.

The two were both at home at about 4 a.m., police say, when De La Paz called 911 to say that Gonsales had been shot to death. When officers arrived, she told them that three men wearing masks burst in and killed Gonsales.

But De La Paz apparently couldn't stick to her guns, so to speak.

​Neighborhood association First Montrose Commons is changing the format of its usual monthly meeting, following the death of Myrna Ical, whose body was found January 18 near the southeast corner of First Montrose Commons.

As Jason Ginsburg, president and director of membership for the association, wrote in an e-mail, the group will host a security forum at the High School for the Performing and Visual Arts at 7 p.m. February 16 at 7 p.m. to discuss safety concerns.

As Ginsburg wrote:

To be blunt, the south end of First Montrose Commons is not a safe place. This is due to several factors, beginning with the presence of several large, empty tracts of land situated near the intersections of Richmond & Spur 527 and W. Alabama & Spur 527. These open areas provide refuge to a large group of disadvantaged people who are drawn to the Montrose and Midtown neighborhoods by various social aid organizations. Because many of these people are unemployed, they often spend the day and night loitering at or near the intersections, looking for ways to pass the time.

A number of them beg, while others sell drugs, engage in prostitution, or look for crimes of opportunity. Many drink alcohol, most litter, and more than a few use the Spur's heavy landscaping as a cover for everything from elimination to fornication. They are able to behave this way unabated because the intersections that they inhabit are virtual blind spots.

​It's said that revenge is a dish best served cold.

Well, we're not sure about the revenge part, but someone served up a body Tuesday night outside of Danny's Food Mart on Collingsworth in northeast Houston. This was the second murder outside of a convenience store in a week.

Police got a call about a shooting at 3814 Collingsworth a little before 8 p.m. But by the time they arrived, the damage had been done. Witnesses told police that someone wearing a mask walked up to a man just outside the grocery store and shot him in the head, authorities say. The masked man then ran away.

The 43-year-old victim, whose name is being withheld, was rushed to Ben Taub General Hospital, where doctors declared the man brain dead, police say. Investigators do not have a good description of the shooter and the motive remains unclear.

​Once again, the cops are short on details as it looks as if another man was shot and killed for no real reason at all.

On Friday afternoon, a 23-year-old man, whose name has not been released, and his fiancée were strolling down Club Creek Drive, near the Westwood Country Club, when out of nowhere a bunch of unknown guys walked up to them, police say.

There was a short argument, investigators say, before one of the men pulled out a gun and shot the victim several times. The bad guys then ran away.

Anyone with information about this case can call Crime Stoppers at 713-222-TIPS.

​While his family and police nervously waited outside, a man killed himself early Saturday morning in his home near the Sam Houston Tollway in southwest Houston.

The night started off with a fight between 36-year-old Wade Southerland and his wife, which later led Southerland's spouse to call 911, saying her husband was suicidal, police say. As officers walked up to the home on the 5700 block of West Ridgecreek, they heard a shot ring out into the night.

Police were able to get Southerland's wife and a young boy out of the house, but a 9-year-old girl remained inside with Southerland, police say. That's when the SWAT team was summoned.

As soon as the special unit arrived, however, it quickly turned into a waiting game. For hours, SWAT officers stood outside the home, unable to make contact with Southerland or the child inside.

It's well established that Houston has more than its fair share of murders. Most often, they involve a bunch of guys at a colorful bar early in the morning, or a drug deal gone awry. But so far this January, there have been a remarkably high number of dead bodies just turning up, with no known witnesses or very many clues to go on. By our count so far this month, there have been at least six such cases.

Oh wait, make that seven.

On Tuesday, a truck driver was chugging along near 11600 First Street, not far from Sheldon Lake State Park, when his rig broke down and he pulled over to the side of the road.

You'll never guess what he found lying there in a shallow ditch.

Daniel Lelay

courtesy of HCSO

​Joshua Lelay died in his brother's arms.

Though it's probably a fairly safe bet that his brother didn't whisper any parting words of comfort. After all, it was Joshua Lelay's brother who is suspected of killing him.

Harris County Sheriff's deputies rushed out to the 18100 block of Calcaterra, about 20 minutes northwest of Jersey Village, on Tuesday afternoon after getting a call about a possible stabbing. When they arrived, they found that 24-year-old Joshua Lelay had been knifed to death by his older brother, Daniel, authorities say.

Investigators claim that Daniel Lelay, 26, has a history of mental illness and that he killed his brother after hearing voices. He was booked into the Harris County jail with a $50,000 bond on the charge of murder.

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​If there were a class for crooks, the message would be taught in Crime 101: Don't dare the cops to shoot you, because they probably will.

One suspected drug offender, however, apparently missed that little lesson. And not surprisingly, he paid for it with his life.

On Friday, Houston narcotics officer R. Massey went over to a house at 6710 Letcher near Settegast to serve a search warrant and look for drugs. As he entered the home and announced himself, police say, Massey was greeted by a man waiving a shotgun and daring the officer to "come and get him."

So he did.

​Sadly, it wasn't a long week for Mr. Kirk Daley.

He and a few co-workers left work early on Monday, probably with a skip in their step, to go cash their tax refund checks at a convenience store in northeast Houston at 8103 Homestead Road. When Daley, 30, was finished and all cashed-up, he began walking back to his car when out of nowhere three unknown men started making toward him, police say.

No, they were not over-eager volunteers from the Salvation Army, though these three fellas did demand Daley's refund money -- reportedly $4,000. Police say that Daley did not want to hand over his newfound riches, however, and began struggling with the robbers. When Daley tried to flee, police say, he was shot.

The bandits rifled through Daley's pockets while he lay wounded on the pavement, police say, but oddly enough did not take the money. Channel 2 reports that Daley was a Jamaican immigrant who worked along the Houston Ship Channel and leaves behind two young children.

The suspects were last seen in either an old, gray Chevrolet or an Oldsmobile, police say.


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Anyone with information about this case can call Crime Stoppers at 713-222-TIPS.

​For weeks, Edward Matthews held on dearly to his life, until finally he couldn't hold on any longer and it slipped away.

And when it did, the police were ready to pounce.

On Wednesday morning, officers arrested 17-year-old Frederick Grant and charged him with murder. He is locked up in the Harris County jail on a $50,000 bond.

Matthews, 23, died Saturday after being rushed to the hospital two weeks earlier. He had been severely beaten about the head, police say.

Officers originally responded to a call about an assault at 1325 Greens Parkway near Greenspoint and found Matthews lying unconscious, police say. He was then taken to the hospital, where he eventually died.


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​Police discovered a body in a field a few blocks east of the University of St. Thomas Sunday.

The body belonged to 51-year-old Ruben Dario Ical, who also went by the name of Myra Chanel Ical. Ical died in an area known for picking up tricks and for buying drugs, police say.

Ical had no ID and was found half naked. Ical's body had numerous bruises, police say, along with several wounds received in the incident.

Investigators are waiting on the autopsy results to determine exactly how Ical died. Police say they have not yet found any witnesses to the killing.

Anyone with information about this case can call Crime Stoppers at 713-222-TIPS.

(Note: We've edited this item from its original version.)

​The list of anonymous bodies and unknown killers continues to grow, as Houston homicide detectives opened another case over the weekend.

On Friday at about 10:30 p.m., the cops got a call from a resident along the 3400 block of Tampa, a little east of Hermann Park, about a dead body in a nearby house. When officers showed up, they found a man lying on the living room floor. He was riddled with gunshots to his legs and torso, police say.

People living in the area told investigators that they heard gunshots and then saw four guys leaving the home. So far, police say, that's all they have to go on.

The name of the dead man is being withheld until the medical examiner is able to verify his identity.

If you have any information about this case, you can call Crime Stoppers at 713-222-TIPS.

​Virgil Fuselier had not shown up to work, and his brother was getting nervous. He called and called, but Fuselier did not pick up. Finally, he dialed up the cops.

It was a little after 10:30 p.m. on Friday when Harris County deputies drove out to the 9800 block of Kathi Ann Lane, just west of Aldine, to check on Fuselier. After they arrived, they entered the home and found Fuselier's body. The 38-year-old man had been stabbed repeatedly, authorities say.

Detectives say they do not have any suspects but are continuing to investigate.

Anyone with information about this case can call Crime Stoppers at 713-222-TIPS.

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​Another alleged thief bites the dust, thanks again to a heavily-armed citizen of Texas.

At about 3:30 a.m. on Sunday, Harris County Sheriff's deputies drove over to 307 Remington Creek in response to reports of gunfire. There, they found an 18-year-old guy, dead from a gunshot wound, authorities say.

Investigators claim that the teen and a friend were trying to steal a car parked in someone's driveway, when all of a sudden that someone woke up, grabbed his gun and started firing at the boys. The armed owner of the car missed one of the alleged robbers but hit the 18-year-old once, killing him on the spot, authorities say. The friend ran away and has not been found.

County officials have not yet released the names of the victim or the shooter. The gunman has not been charged, sheriff's deputies say, but the case will be sent to a grand jury.


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Photos by Jay Lee / Click here for a slideshow

​
Few fans were cheering louder than Shirley Rivera, mother of Baby Face Assassin, aka Rita Roxanne Rivera. Sitting on a fold-out chair only a few feet from the action, Rivera hollered every time her 27-year-old daughter took her turn on the rink. Rivera, who lives in Freeport, said she went to all her daughter's games last year -- her daughter's first season.

"She's always been as crazy as she is," Rivera laughed. When Hair Balls asked if she was afraid that her diminutive daughter might get injured, Rivera just said "Rita takes care of herself."

​Harris County medical examiners have two more bodies on their hands.

A little before 6:30 p.m. on Wednesday, say police, the cops got a call asking them to check on someone at 1926 Spillers Lane, in the Spring Branch West part of town. When the officers got there, they found a man and woman, both dead.

Police say it appears as though the woman was shot and then the male turned the gun on himself. Both victims were pronounced dead at the scene. Their names and ages have not been released.

Anyone with information about this case can call the Houston police homicide division at 713-308-3600.


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​You'd think that you would be jumping for joy if you successfully outran the cops in high-speed car chase.

Apparently, you'd be wrong.

In the early morning hours on Monday, police found the body of a man in a storage shed at 5815 Hirondel who appeared to have shot himself. He was also the same man who had out-run the police just hours earlier. Detectives say he was hiding in the storage area when he presumably took his own life.

The man, whose name has not been released, evaded police late Sunday night, authorities say. Hours later, officers were sent out to check on a report that someone was hiding in a storage shed. That's when they found the dead man and soon realized it was the same guy who escaped from the police earlier.

​Houston police are investigating the death of a woman found dead inside a business building on Friday night.

At about 10:45 p.m., police were dispatched to 3029 Broadway, which houses both a skin care and a construction business, phone records show. There, police found the woman's body. She appeared to have been shot, police say.

Investigators say they are waiting for the medical examiner to identify the woman and are continuing to work the case.

Anyone with information about this case can call Crime Stoppers at 713-222-TIPS.

​It's the kind of thing that sounds like it could be a mob hit ... or possible a pissed-off athlete.

But whatever the case, Houston police are trying to figure out who and why someone stuffed a dead body into a locker that was found in a field just south of George Bush Intercontinental Airport.

Riders with Texas EquuSearch, which provides horse-mounted search and recovery for lost and missing persons, came across a female body on Friday morning along the 6300 block of Greens Road. The locker, police say, looked like someone had dumped it in the field.

Equusearch says that the woman's name is Becky Hamilton, 52, of Huffman. She is the sister of a long-time volunteer for the organization.

Detectives say they are waiting on the results of an autopsy to determine exactly how she died.

​Houston can be a dangerous city. You can get shot just walking down the street.

On Saturday afternoon, two guys, ages 21 and 17, were ambling down the sidewalk at 9000 Long Point Road in northwest Houston when suddenly a pair of men sidled up next to them and starting shooting, police say.

As the gunmen ran away, the younger victim was able to hobble down the road, where he flagged down a cop. Both shooting victims, whose identities have not yet been released, were scuttled off to the hospital, where the 21-year-old was pronounced dead. The younger man was in stable condition, police say.

Police are looking for the two shooters, described only as Hispanic men. Investigators believe that they jumped into a 1998 silver GMC pickup truck with Texas plates AD6-0167 that was waiting for them.


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​If you try to take my shit, I can shoot your ass.

This is the compact all Texans make with each other, whether they want to or not. It is both an unwritten cultural law and a general principle that can be upheld in a court of law.

The notion may soon be put to the test, however, in the wake of an attempted burglary turned bloody on Saturday.

It was still twilight outside of 2904 Baer Street, a town-home in northeast Houston, when the 39-year-old male homeowner suddenly woke up to the clamor of his newly installed burglar alarm going off. He peered out of his patio door and saw a man, later identified as Marcel Simpson, running off with his TV.
 

​It was just an ol' fashioned drug deal gone wrong.

A little before 6:30 p.m. on Wednesday, an African-American husband and wife entered a home at 1028 Marjorie Street in north Houston to buy drugs. Once the dealers showed the goods, the husband walked back outside to supposedly get the cash.

He returned, police say, holding a duffel bag, when suddenly he pulled out a gun and began shooting. When his wife heard the shots, police say, she grabbed her gun and pointed it at one of the men in the house, Joshua Hubbard, 19, trying to get him to lay on the floor.

But Hubbard wouldn't hear of it, police say, and tried to disarm the woman, at which time he was shot in the head and killed. The man and wife then fled. Police are currently trying to track them down.


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Around 10 minutes later and 11 miles due east, police were dealing with another homicide.
 

courtesy of HPD

Leandro Lozano-Jiminez

​Suspected New Year's Day killer Leandro Lozano-Jiminez is on the loose, and Houston police say he's armed and dangerous.

It was only 56 minutes into 2010 when Lozano-Jiminez, 20, started arguing with Uvaldo Gallardo, 18, and his brother, Hugo Gallardo, 25, at 9618 Marlive, just south of the Stella Link Shopping Center in southwest Houston. The cops say the two brothers were trying to defend a friend who Lozano-Jiminez was picking on.

Suddenly, just as it looked like the fracas was dying down, Lozano-Jiminez yanked out a .40-caliber pistol and started firing, shooting both brothers in the chest, police say. Uvaldo Gallardo died at the scene, police say, and Hugo Gallardo was rushed to Memorial Hermann Hospital in an unknown condition.

Investigators say that Lozano-Jiminez, who is charged with murder and aggravated assault with serious bodily injury, is a known drifter around the Stella Link Valley area and may have been involved in a late-December burglary during which a .40-caliber handgun was taken. Anyone with information on his whereabouts is asked to call the police at 713-308-3600.