A February 9 parking lot robbery along the Southwest Freeway ended in gunfire, and 40-year-old Ricardo De La Cruz is now in custody. Houston police say De La Cruz pulled a gun and shot one person during the holdup, then stole personal items from two victims. He is charged with aggravated robbery and aggravated assault with a deadly weapon.
Police say they filed charges and made an arrest
Houston Police Robbery detectives say they filed charges against De La Cruz on March 11, which led to a warrant being issued. According to investigators, the Southwest Crime Suppression Team found him and took him into custody on March 16. He was then transported to the Harris County Jail, and the Robbery Division has the case logged under HPD 178815-26, per Houston Police Robbery on X.
What happened in the parking lot
The Robbery Division reports that the holdup unfolded in a business parking lot in the 8300 block of the Southwest Freeway (outbound). According to the same post, the suspect "produced a firearm and shot one of the complainants" before taking personal items from both victims. Those details were outlined in the update from Houston Police Robbery on X.
This stretch has drawn recent attention
The Southwest Freeway corridor has seen other robbery activity in recent weeks. On March 9, Hoodline reported that HPD had already posted a wanted notice tied to an aggravated robbery in the 8200 block of Southwest Freeway. That earlier report helps explain why detectives have been so public about seeking tips in the area, per earlier Southwest Freeway heist.
What the charges carry
Under Texas law, aggravated robbery and aggravated assault with a deadly weapon are elevated felonies when a weapon is used or a victim is seriously injured. The state’s penal code spells out the elements of aggravated robbery and the deadly-weapon enhancements in Texas Penal Code §29.03, and the elements of aggravated assault in Texas Penal Code §22.02, including the potential for significant penalties.
How to tip investigators
Officials are asking anyone with information related to this case to contact Crime Stoppers at 713-222-8477 or submit an anonymous tip through Crime Stoppers’ website or mobile app. Local detectives have also urged witnesses to call the HPD Robbery Division directly. The original post includes the division’s contact information and the case number for reference, according to Crime Stoppers of Houston.
