A man trying to sell his cellphone inside a general business on the 2500 block of Southmore Boulevard instead found himself staring down a handgun on Tuesday, August 18, as the seller allegedly pulled the weapon, pointed it at him, and took off with the phone after firing a shot in his direction. The suspect then ran toward a nearby abandoned apartment complex, according to police, and has not been identified more than three weeks later.
The Houston Police Department Robbery Division is now asking the public for help tracking down the suspect, describing him as a bald Black male last seen wearing a black shirt, black shorts, and black sandals. According to Houston Police Robbery, the complainant met the suspect inside the business specifically to sell him a phone, only for the transaction to turn violent when the suspect produced the handgun, pointed it at the seller, and grabbed the device. As the suspect fled, the complainant heard a gunshot that investigators believe was fired toward his direction. The case has been logged under HPD case number 1046696-26.
A Felony Charge With Serious Stakes
Under Texas law, brandishing or firing a firearm during a robbery elevates the offense from a simple robbery to aggravated robbery, a first-degree felony, according to the Texas Constitution and Statutes. That classification carries steep consequences: a conviction on a first-degree felony in Texas can bring a sentence ranging from 5 to 99 years or life in prison, along with a fine of up to $10,000, per Justia Law. A deadly weapon finding in the case would also restrict the suspect's eligibility for community supervision if he is ever caught and convicted.
Crime Stoppers of Houston is offering a reward of up to $5,000 for information leading to an arrest or the filing of charges, and tipsters can reach the organization at 713-222-8477. Anyone who calls is assigned a code number instead of giving personal information, according to Crime Stoppers of Houston, allowing people to collect the reward without revealing their identity.
Southmore Boulevard's History of Violent Incidents
The 2500 block of Southmore Boulevard sits in Houston's Historic Third Ward and Museum Park area, a corridor that links Midtown to the Museum District and connects residential neighborhoods to U.S. Highway 59 and Highway 288, according to the Houston-Galveston Area Council. It's not the first time this stretch has drawn police attention this year. Back in April, a high-speed chase following a reported robbery ended in a multi-vehicle crash near Wichita Street and Southmore Boulevard, after suspects linked to multiple robberies attempted a carjacking on the same corridor before Highway 59 Robbery Chase Screeches to its conclusion and their arrest.
A Recurring Risk in Marketplace Meetups
The robbery underscores a persistent danger tied to informal buy-and-sell exchanges arranged online, particularly involving smartphones. Law enforcement agencies across Texas frequently warn that high-value electronics sold through face-to-face meetups remain top targets for armed ambushes, according to the Denison Texas Police Department, which urges citizens never to conduct such handoffs in unmonitored or isolated locations. The Houston Police Department advises residents arranging private sales to meet in well-lit public places, such as police station or government facility parking lots, since officers do not witness or mediate the transactions but public lots offer greater visibility and deterrence, according to the City of Houston. The University of Houston Police Department operates a 24-hour, publicly accessible lobby with active video surveillance at 4051 Wheeler Avenue, not far from the Third Ward crime scene, specifically designated as a safe trade location for online marketplace meetups, per the University of Houston.
The Southmore Boulevard case also arrives amid a broader decline in Houston violent crime. Robbery incidents in the city fell by roughly 19% in early 2025, following a nearly 5% rise in total violent crime recorded across Houston during 2024, according to data cited by AdensZip. More recent figures suggest that trend has continued: mid-2026 survey data from the Major Cities Chiefs Association showed Houston's violent crime, including homicides and robberies, dropping below pre-pandemic levels during the first half of 2026, with HPD investigating 95 homicides in that span compared to 154 during the same period in 2025, according to the Houston Chronicle.
For now, the suspect in the Southmore Boulevard robbery remains unidentified, and investigators have not said whether surveillance footage from the business or nearby properties captured his face or the direction he fled after reaching the abandoned apartment complex. Anyone with information is urged to contact HPD's Robbery Division or submit a tip to Crime Stoppers of Houston to remain eligible for the reward.
