Authorities have announced the arrest of a second suspect linked to a fatal shooting in the Galleria-area parking garage. Justin Guzman, 22, voluntarily turned himself into Houston police, after a warrant was issued for his arrest on murder charges relating to the death of Anthony Sanders, a 30-year-old father. As reported by Click2Houston, Guzman appeared in Probable Cause Court following his arrest.
The evening shooting occurred on June 3 at the parking garage located at 5015 Westheimer Road. According to ABC13, cinematography captured Guzman, flanked by his attorney Romy Kaplan, exiting an Uber to face his accusers. Kaplan contends that Guzman was acting in self-defense when confronted by Sanders, who allegedly approached with a knife—and possibly a firearm. "It's a self-defense case," Kaplan said. "My client was defending his right to live."
In contrast to Kaplan's claims, early court documents indicated that Sanders was unarmed at the time of the skirmish. Guzman's co-accused, Marko Cinan, age 23, was previously arrested on June 25 by the Houston Police Department's Narcotics Tactical Team. Cinan, who is likewise charged with Sanders' murder, remains held on a $1 million bond. Guzman, meanwhile, has had his bond set at $750,000, as stated by Click2Houston.
Details surrounding the incident paint a picture of an altercation gone deadly. Ronyel Sanders, the victim's parent, related how a vehicular dispute escalated, blocking his son's attempt to disengage. "I guess both parties had disagreements. They got back in their car. Anthony's car was behind theirs," he conveyed to ABC13. "They didn't allow him to leave. Brake checked him, put their car in reverse, and tried to smack his car."
Emotions in the aftermath are complex, with the Sanders family expressing gratitude toward Houston police for their prompt investigation, while simultaneously grappling with their grief. "We're here for justice. Justice for Anthony," Frank Sanders, Anthony's father, told ABC13. Guzman is expected to have his day in front of a judge today, with Kaplan affirming the intention to assert a vigorous self-defense argument.
