HOUSTON – Charges have been filed against a man accused of shooting at another man who was just trying taking a quick bathroom break at an abandoned strip mall in midtown Houston, records show.
Willie Edward Clemons, 58, was charge with aggravated assault from the incident on March 27 at 2911 Fannin Street.
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What happened
According to Houston police, the victim said he was driving when he urgently needed to use the restroom. He pulled over into what appeared to be an empty strip mall parking lot and got out of his vehicle.
As the victim began to relieve himself, he heard a gunshot but initially didn’t think it was directed at him. Moments later, he heard another shot and the sound of glass shattering.
The victim reported seeing the suspected shooter, identified as Willie Edward Clemons, whom he described as an older man wearing a “durag” or “bandana” with long hair hanging out the back.
Realizing he was being shot at, the victim got back into his car. He reportedly saw Clemons fire another shot toward him before Clemons got into his own vehicle and attempted to flee.
The victim told detectives that he followed Clemons onto the North Freeway, hoping to capture the suspect’s license plate number.
While on the freeway, the victim called 911 and told police details about Clemons’ vehicle and plate number. The chase continued until the victim exited the freeway, at which point Clemons also exited onto a side street and disappeared from sight.
The victim later met officers at a parking lot in the 8100 block of the North Freeway. The officer at the scene noticed that the victim’s rear passenger window and smaller rear quarter-panel window were shattered, and a bullet had gone through the rear passenger door and backseat area of his vehicle.
Police traced the license plate to Clemons, who has a prior felony theft arrest from 2014 and holds a concealed handgun license.
Anyone with information on Clemons’ whereabouts is urged to contact Houston police.