What began as a quiet wait at a northwest Houston METRO stop has now turned into a capital murder case. Court records filed Friday charge 49-year-old Houston resident Troy Giggins with capital murder in the death of 23-year-old Nicholas Hood, who was found fatally shot near a METRO bus stop in northwest Houston. Giggins is in custody and was scheduled to appear in Harris County court on Feb. 23, as reported by ABC13 Houston.
Court documents reviewed by local reporters list the capital murder charge and Giggins' booking details but do not spell out an apparent motive, according to ABC13 Houston. That outlet reports that Hood's body was discovered in a grassy area near a METRO bus stop on Aug. 16, 2025. The same records show Giggins was already in custody and due in court later in the month.
How the case unfolded
Early coverage described Hood standing at a North Main Street bus stop and talking on FaceTime with his girlfriend when someone approached. The call suddenly went silent, and the girlfriend later used his phone's location to find his body nearby, according to girlfriend tracks phone to body. Coworkers at a nearby barbershop remembered Hood as a friendly regular who sometimes offered free haircuts to unhoused clients.
What "capital murder" means in Texas
Under Texas law, capital murder is an aggravated form of homicide that can expose a defendant to the state's most severe penalties, including life without parole or, in some circumstances, the death penalty. FindLaw and state statutes list specific conditions, such as a killing committed during another felony, that elevate a homicide to a capital offense.
Investigation and next steps
Police say the investigation remains active and have not publicly identified a motive. Authorities have asked anyone with information to contact the HPD Homicide Division at 713-308-3600 or Crime Stoppers at 713-222-TIPS, according to ABC13 Houston. The Feb. 23 hearing is expected to set early pretrial deadlines and clarify whether prosecutors plan to move forward on the capital charge.
Neighbors and barbershop patrons said Hood's killing left the north Houston block on edge, and the new charge is likely to reopen tough questions about what led to the deadly encounter, block left shaken reported. More details could surface after Giggins' upcoming court appearance and any new filings from prosecutors.
