A routine Uber drop-off at a northeast Houston apartment complex on November 3 turned violent when driver Ezekiel Gonzales was shot near Bennington and Homestead. He was taken to a hospital, where he is expected to recover. Gonzales told a local TV station he was confronted by two men as he returned to his car and was struck while trying to flee. Neighbors and bystanders rushed to help until emergency crews arrived, and authorities later arrested one man in connection with the case.
According to ABC13 Houston, Gonzales said the Nov. 3 encounter began after he dropped off a woman and stepped behind a dumpster to relieve himself. He told the station that two men approached him, one frisked him and the other pointed a gun. After pushing the smaller suspect, Gonzales said he ran roughly 50 feet before turning and seeing the smaller man fire. "Next thing I know, there's a hole in my chest," Gonzales said. ABC13 reports that one of the bullets tore through his back and struck a lung, that bystanders tended to his wound, and that Brandon Caldwell was arrested and charged with aggravated robbery with a deadly weapon and is being held without bond, while the other suspect remains unaccounted for.
Family Fundraising And Recovery
Gonzales' family set up a GoFundMe on Nov. 6 seeking help with medical bills and living expenses while he recovers. The fundraiser's description says the bullet struck his lung and heart and describes him as "on the road to recovery." Neighbors and others have posted donations and messages of support as the family navigates mounting expenses.
Legal Stakes Under Texas Law
Prosecutors charged Caldwell with aggravated robbery with a deadly weapon, an offense that is treated as a first-degree felony under Texas law. According to Justia, aggravated robbery may be charged when a deadly weapon is used or serious bodily injury occurs and can carry penalties ranging from five to 99 years in prison plus fines. Whether additional charges or enhancements are filed will depend on the outcome of the ongoing investigation and prosecutors' decisions.
How To Report Tips
Anyone with information about the shooting is asked to contact Crime Stoppers of Houston at 713-222-TIPS (8477) or submit an anonymous tip through their online portal. Call 911 in an emergency. Crime Stoppers' site explains how tips are handled and how callers can remain anonymous if they are eligible for a reward. We will update this story as investigators and prosecutors release additional information.
