A 30-year-old man is facing a stack of felony charges after a Friday morning chain-reaction crash and alleged carjacking spree along the Gulf Freeway that left a woman dead, according to Houston police. The mayhem stretched from the Park Place Boulevard area near the 7900 block of Gulf Freeway all the way toward downtown before deputies were finally able to take the suspect into custody.
Crash, Gunfire And A Fleeing Suspect
Houston police say it all kicked off around 8:29 a.m. when a white SUV slammed into several vehicles on the northbound access road. Witnesses told reporters the driver jumped out, fired several shots into the air, then carjacked a black SUV and sped off north on I-45. Deputies say the same suspect later allegedly carjacked a second vehicle near Woodridge Drive and tried to take a third near downtown before Harris County Precinct 1 deputies arrested him without further violence, according to KPRC Click2Houston.
Suspect, Charges And Victim
The Houston Police Department later identified the suspect as 30-year-old Jason Arvin Velasquez. Investigators say he is facing multiple felony counts, including intoxication manslaughter with a vehicle, failure to stop and render aid causing death, several counts of aggravated assault with a deadly weapon, and alleged vehicle thefts at gunpoint. The same release identified the woman who died as 42-year-old Jessica Daughtery and said Houston Fire Department paramedics pronounced her dead at the scene. Velasquez was treated for minor injuries before being booked into the 232nd Criminal District Court, according to the Houston Police Department media release.
Witness Accounts And Aftermath
Bystanders described a scene that went from morning commute to chaos in seconds as drivers scrambled away and others pulled out their phones to record. One witness told ABC13 that the suspect pulled both a knife and a gun and fired shots as people tried to intervene. The husband of the woman who was killed told the station she had just dropped him off at work before the crash. Police are asking anyone with video or information to contact investigators, ABC13 reported.
Next Steps And How To Help
According to the Houston Police Department media release, Velasquez was first taken to an area hospital for treatment of minor injuries, then transported to the Harris County jail, where his booking was processed, and charges were filed in the 232nd Criminal District Court. As the investigation continues, HPD and local outlets are asking witnesses to call Crime Stoppers at 713-222-TIPS. Detectives are still working to determine whether the fatality was caused by the initial crash or by gunfire.
More Reporting And Updates
Hoodline gathered early on-the-ground details and witness accounts while police were still working the scene, including a first look at the fast-moving carjacking route and shutdowns. We will update this story as new court records and police disclosures come in, including any additional information about the suspect's movements, the victim, and the precise chain of events that turned a routine drive into a deadly morning on the Gulf Freeway.
