A Sunday night stop at a Sharpstown gas station ended in tragedy for one Houston family when 17-year-old Ronald Xiloj Cua, a junior at Liberty High School, was fatally shot. The violence unfolded around 8 p.m. on April 26 at the Shell station near Fondren Road and Harwin Drive. One person was pronounced dead at the scene and two others later sought medical treatment, authorities said. Ronald's mother, Cecilia Xiloj Cua, who moved to Houston from Guatemala in 2023, told reporters she is heartbroken and wants justice. Family members and students planned a candlelight vigil at Liberty High on Saturday to honor him.
Police Release Images, Ask Public For Help
The Houston Police Department has released surveillance photos of two men detectives want to question and is asking the public for help identifying them. In a news release, the agency listed the crime scene as 5803 Fondren Road and assigned incident number 053500926. According to the Houston Police Department, the images were included in an April 29 update, and anyone with information is urged to call the Homicide Division at 713-308-3600 or Crime Stoppers at 713-222-TIPS.
What Investigators Say Happened
Investigators say the trouble started when a white Toyota pulled into the station and an argument broke out inside the vehicle. That argument escalated into gunfire that spilled into the parking lot before some people fled the scene. Not long after, two people showed up at a nearby hospital, one reportedly with a gunshot wound, and both were detained for questioning as part of the investigation, according to KPRC Click2Houston. Police say the Toyota is now in HPD custody while detectives process evidence from the vehicle.
Family Mourns, School Community Plans Vigil
"I must seek justice," Ronald's mother said, describing her son as a beloved grandson and brother. She told FOX 26 Houston that she immigrated from Guatemala in 2023 in search of a better life. The family said Liberty High's principal was expected to stand alongside students at a Saturday candlelight vigil as they grieve and wait for answers. Friends and classmates have set out memorials and are sharing what they know with investigators.
Neighbors Want Answers As Violence Persists
Neighbors say the killing feels like a grim chapter in an ongoing pattern of gun violence across parts of southwest Houston, rattling residents and renewing calls for prevention and accountability. As multiple incidents in recent weeks have shown, the area has been on edge. Anyone with information is urged to call the HPD Homicide Division at 713-308-3600 or Crime Stoppers at 713-222-TIPS, according to the department's news release.
Detectives say the investigation is active and ongoing. The names of the two people pictured in HPD's surveillance images have not been released, and authorities are asking anyone with tips to come forward. Investigators are reviewing surveillance video, interviewing witnesses and analyzing forensic evidence as they work to identify suspects and determine whether charges will be filed, KPRC Click2Houston reported.
