A man and a missing teenage girl were found hiding out in a vacant home in northwest Harris County, and what investigators uncovered is raising new concerns about how online gaming can be used to target kids.
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It all started on Thursday when deputies with Constable Mark Herman’s Office responded to a suspicious call in the 1000 block of Cold Snow Drive. The homeowner told authorities that a man and a woman were inside his house—even though it was supposed to be empty.
When deputies arrived, the pair tried to make a run for it but didn’t get far. The man was later identified as 26-year-old Tarik Exavier Jammer. The girl with him was just 15 years old and had been reported missing from California since May of last year.
According to investigators, the two met while playing an online video game. The girl was only 14 when she ran away from home to be with Jammer, and they’ve reportedly been in a romantic relationship ever since.
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Authorities say Jammer picked her up from the airport after she left California. He initially claimed she was 19—but that wasn’t true. She’s a minor, and police say they found explicit videos of her on his phone.
Jammer has now been charged with sexual performance of a child and is being held in the Harris County Jail on a $50,000 bond. A protective order has also been issued to keep him away from the teen.
The girl is now safe and in the care of officials as she waits to be reunited with her family.
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“This is a reminder for parents to stay alert,” CEO of Children at Risk Bob Sanborn said. “It’s not just Snapchat or Facebook—video games are another space where predators can easily connect with kids. It may seem harmless, but there’s a lot of contact and grooming that happens there, especially between young girls and older men.”
While Jammer told police they met on social media, investigators confirmed the connection started in a gaming chat.
The case is still under investigation, and authorities say more charges could be filed.
