A man driving a black vehicle fired multiple shots toward another vehicle outside a business in the 5700 block of Richmond Avenue on May 20, and three months later, Houston police still don't know who he is. No one was hit by the gunfire, but investigators are now publicly appealing for help identifying the shooter.
According to a post from Houston Police, the suspect was seen driving a black vehicle before firing multiple times toward a vehicle parked outside a business on that stretch of Richmond Avenue. The department's Major Assaults Division, which is tasked with investigating adult, non-family assault cases where the complainant survives — including drive-by shootings, deadly conduct, and road rage incidents, per the City of Houston — is handling the case. Anyone with information is asked to call HPD Major Assaults at 713-308-8800 or reach out to Crime Stoppers through its social media tip line.
The 5700 block sits in a commercial stretch of Houston's Mid-West area near the Galleria, home to longstanding local businesses including the workshop headquarters of Hamilton Shirts, a family-owned custom shirtmaker founded in Houston in 1883, according to Wikipedia. It remains unclear which specific business was targeted or whether the shooting stemmed from a road rage encounter or a more targeted dispute.
A Corridor With a Troubled History
The May 20 shooting was not the only gunfire reported on Richmond Avenue that day. Further west, in the 9300 block outside a strip center barbershop, a separate and fatal shooting led to murder charges against 45-year-old Emilio Fuentes Cuellar following an argument in a parking lot, according to the City of Houston Newsroom. That case is unrelated to the Richmond Avenue vehicle shooting near Hamilton Shirts, but the coincidence of two firearm incidents on the same corridor on the same day underscores ongoing safety concerns in the area.
Richmond Avenue has seen other violent incidents involving vehicles in recent years. In September 2022, a suspect fired multiple times into a vehicle in the nearby 5500 block, killing the female driver and wounding a passenger, as reported by KHOU. More recently, in January, an innocent passenger was shot and killed aboard a METRO bus traveling along Richmond Avenue near Beltway 8 when a gunman opened fire toward two other men on board, the station's report notes.
Why the Charges Could Be Severe
If identified and apprehended, the suspect could face serious felony exposure under Texas law even though no one was injured in the May 20 shooting. Discharging or exhibiting a firearm during an assault constitutes aggravated assault with a deadly weapon under Texas Penal Code Section 22.02, a second-degree felony punishable by 2 to 20 years in state prison and a fine of up to $10,000, according to FindLaw.
Prosecutors could alternatively pursue felony deadly conduct charges. Knowingly discharging a firearm at or in the direction of a vehicle or occupied building qualifies as a third-degree felony under Texas Penal Code Section 22.05, carrying 2 to 10 years in prison and a fine up to $10,000 regardless of whether anyone was physically hurt, per Justia.
Why the Public Appeal Came Months Later
It's unclear why HPD's Major Assaults Division waited roughly three months after the incident to release a public appeal for the suspect's identity. A 2024 independent committee report on Houston Police Department operations found that specialized units like Major Assaults and Family Violence face heavy incoming report volumes that frequently outpace available investigative staff, according to the Houston Chronicle, a resource strain that can delay follow-up on non-injury cases like this one.
Crime Stoppers of Houston is offering cash rewards of up to $5,000 for anonymous tips submitted through its 713-222-TIPS line, online portal, or mobile app that lead to an arrest or felony charges in Greater Houston cases, according to Crime Stoppers of Houston. The organization reported that in May alone, anonymous tips helped local law enforcement solve 52 criminal cases — including 11 assault cases — resulting in $37,300 in tip rewards paid out. Anyone with information about the Richmond Avenue shooter can also contact HPD Major Assaults directly at 713-308-8800.
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