HARRIS COUNTY, Texas — Harris County Sheriff's Office investigators are hoping the public can help them find a man charged with murder in connection with his neighbor's death a couple of years ago.
They held a news conference on Thursday morning to ask for help finding 47-year-old Luis Argueta.
"Luis Argueta is a coward," said HCSO homicide investigator David Crain. "He is allowing his wife, his son and his brother-in-law to accept murder charges for a case he was very much involved in."
Luis Argueta is one of four family members facing murder charges in connection with the death of Eddie Clark III. Investigators said Clark was on his way home when he was ambushed by the Arguetas on May 18, 2021, HCSO said.
It happened in the northwest Harris County neighborhood of Westminster Village.
Crain said he believes Luis Argueta is still doing construction work in the Houston area and may still be in contact with his family.
"What happened to Eddie Clark is everybody's nightmare. Luis Argueta is responsible for that nightmare and a citizen in Harris County knows where he is, and I would just plead with them to come forward with information," Crain said.
Crime Stoppers is offering up to a $5,000 reward for information leading to his arrest.
Watch the update HCSO gave on Thursday:
What happened
Authorities said the family confronted Clark as he was driving home in his neighborhood just after midnight. They believed he was responsible for a crime spree in the area, including minor vandalism to the family's home.
Clark was driving down Hilton Hollow when the Arguetas blocked him to prevent him from going past them. Authorities said Luis Argueta's son, then-19-year-old Joe Argueta, was armed with a pistol and another family member had a baseball bat.
"They chased after him and hunted him down," Crain said. "They believed that person was driving a dark-colored sedan, which matched what Eddie Clark III was driving. As he passed their home, they put their plan into action."
Joe Argueta told investigators he fired several shots at the car as Clark tried to drive away. Crain said investigators no longer believe Joe Argueta is the shooter. They now believe Luis Argueta was the one who shot Clark.
Clark was hit in the stomach and crashed his car into a nearby tree. He tried to run away but collapsed. He was pronounced dead at an area hospital.
RELATED: HCSO: Driver killed during confrontation with residents upset about crime in their neighborhood
Charges filed
Joe Argueta was detained and questioned at the scene. He was later charged with murder. So was his mother, Florinda Argueta, and his uncle, Margarito Alcantar. Luis Argueta was also charged with murder but he left the scene and, as of November 2023, hadn't been arrested.
How to help
Anyone with information about the case of the whereabouts of Luis Argueta is asked to contact the HCSO Homicide Unit at 713-274-9100 or call Crime Stoppers at 713-222-TIPS (8477).
HCSO statement
The sheriff’s office issued this release at the time of Clark's death: "The victim, Eddie Clark, lived in the Westminster Village Subdivision, and was on his way home when he was confronted by the Arguetas. Eddie Clark was driving a dark gray Dodge Challenger, not a black Dodge Charger. Eddie Clark was not known by the Arguetas and investigators did not receive any information that Eddie Clark was involved in the ongoing dispute."