What was supposed to be a late-night trip home from a southwest Houston nightclub turned into a gunpoint kidnapping, a beating and a desperate escape, according to Houston police.
Investigators say a Houston woman is now in custody, accused of helping abduct a man outside a club along South Gessner Road on June 1. The victim was allegedly forced into a vehicle at gunpoint, taken to a house where he was robbed and assaulted, then managed to escape and call police.
According to ABC13 Houston, the man had just left the nightclub and was getting ready to call a rideshare when a group of suspects pulled up and confronted him. He told the station that one man showed a gun tucked under his shirt before forcing him into the vehicle. Court documents reviewed by the outlet state that once the suspects got him to a house, they robbed and assaulted him, taking his phone, identification, bank cards, jewelry and even his clothes.
Police have identified one suspect as Carmen Gamboa, who was booked this week on felony charges. Investigators say several other people were involved in the abduction and remain on the run.
South Gessner's late-night trouble
That stretch of South Gessner Road has been on law enforcement’s radar for a while, thanks to a string of problems tied to after-hours spots and parking-lot chaos. A January raid that shut down an after-hours club tied to drunk-driving and parking-lot shootings was reported by Click2Houston, and an after-hours club raid was later summarized in local coverage. Those pieces noted that late-night venues along the corridor have repeatedly strained patrol resources and prompted inspections by both the Fire Marshal and HPD.
Legal status
Gamboa is facing felony charges, but formal counts and any bond information have not yet been released publicly. Court documents cited by ABC13 Houston describe the robbery and assault, and prosecutors will decide what to file as the investigation moves forward. Houston police say detectives are still working to identify and track down the other people involved.
How to help investigators
Authorities are asking anyone who may have information or video from the South Gessner area on the night of the incident to contact investigators. Residents can also report problem after-hours venues to HPD’s Vice Division. As Click2Houston noted, HPD’s Vice Division can be reached at (713) 308-8600 for tips about late-night club activity.
