A late-night call near downtown Houston turned into a homicide investigation on Saturday after a man was found unresponsive and later pronounced dead at the scene, according to authorities.
Houston police say officers were dispatched around 11 p.m. to the area of Chartres Street and Congress Avenue, just east of the central business district. When they arrived, they found a man down on the ground. Houston Fire Department personnel checked for signs of life and declared him dead on site. Investigators soon saw enough to treat the case as a suspicious death and called in HPD’s Homicide Division.
What police say
Investigators have already identified one person of interest who will be interviewed in connection with the case, and officers say there is no ongoing threat to the public, according to FOX 26 Houston. The outlet reported that the victim appeared to be experiencing homelessness, though officials have not released the man’s name. Police say the investigation is very much active as detectives track down leads.
Scene and next steps
KPRC Click2Houston reports that HPD’s South Central Division officers were the first to respond to the scene before homicide detectives took over. The Harris County Institute of Forensic Sciences will examine the body to determine the official cause and manner of death. Detectives said they were canvassing the surrounding blocks for witnesses and any evidence that might clarify what happened. Authorities have not released additional details while they await the medical examiner’s findings.
How to help
Anyone who was in the area of Chartres and Congress around 11 p.m. Saturday and saw anything unusual is urged to contact the HPD Homicide Division at 713-308-3600 or Crime Stoppers at 713-222-TIPS, according to the Houston Police Department. Investigators say they will share more information as the case develops.
