HOUSTON – A suspect already facing charges in connection with a carjacking that left a victim shot and killed at a southwest Houston gas station has now been charged with murder, the Houston Police Department announced.
The suspect, Alexis Garcia, 20, was initially named as a person of interest and charged with two counts of theft (Unauthorized Use of a motor vehicle), aggravated assault with a deadly weapon, and unlawful carrying of a weapon in the incidents on May 29.
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It was determined by investigators that Garcia also shot and killed Noel Venero Lopez, 55, during the carjacking incident.
Details of deadly carjacking
The shooting happened at around 6:30 p.m. Thursday night near 11700 Southwest Freeway.
Officers were first dispatched to the intersection of West Bellfort and the Southwest Freeway frontage road, when a suspect driving a gray Dodge Charger crashed into a Toyota Prius driven by Isgandar Mustafev.
“The light was green, and I was going, but he hit me like this, a T-bone,” Mustafev said. “My car has big damage.”
READ: Suspect in connection with deadly carjacking in southwest Houston arrested in Corpus Christi
Following the accident, the driver of the Charger fled on foot. He ran down the service road and confronted a driver in a red Hyundai at the intersection of Wilcrest Drive. Court records revealed the Charger had been stolen previously.
While attempting to steal the vehicle, he fired several shots, striking the driver.
The victim managed to drive under the freeway and crashed into a pole at a Shell gas station.
Emergency responders transported the driver to Ben Taub Hospital, where he was pronounced dead from apparent gunshot wounds.
After failing to carjack the Hyundai, Garcia approached a second vehicle, a gray Audi, and successfully carjacked it. The driver of the Audi escaped unharmed.
KPRC 2 obtained footage from a witness showing Garcia stealing the Audi in the middle of the street.
Several shell casings were found at the location where the shooting happened.
“This is a tragic situation,” Lt. Larry Crowson said. “You have someone just going home from work, and they end up shot and killed. It’s very traumatic for everyone involved.”
Authorities have not disclosed why the suspect fled the scene following the violent crash, but they are exploring a couple of theories, including him possibly having outstanding warrants or driving under the influence at the time of the collision.
Garcia abandoned the car he was driving, which investigators hope will provide insight into his motives.
He was later found in the middle of an empty field and taken to a local hospital for medical clearance before being held at a detention center in Corpus Christi, Texas.
Since then, Garcia has been extradited and remains in the Harris County Jail.
