HOUSTON, Texas — Three men have been arrested and charged with capital murder after police said they were involved in a deadly robbery Wednesday morning.
According to those who live near Sunny’s Express on Bauman Road, the sound of rapid gunfire was caught on another business’s surveillance camera and heard for blocks Wednesday morning.
"My daughters called and said, 'Hey, somebody got killed at the gas station where you’re going,'” said neighbor Manuela Hernandez.
Houston police said a man and his nephew, who was in his 20s, stopped for gas on their way to work around 6:30 a.m. Wednesday.
At some point, an armed man approached the nephew with an AR pistol.
That’s when the uncle produced his own firearm and both sides started shooting. The nephew was fatally shot in the head while one of three suspects, two of whom were in a car, were also hit.
"Unfortunately, the uncle had to see his nephew die in front of him,” said HPD Det. Alexander Vinogradov.
HPD identified the three people arrested as Christian Nicholas Barrera, 19, Travante Purvis, 22, and Fernando Aguilar Jr., 24. Police could not provide a photo of Purvis as he was still hospitalized as of Thursday morning.
The victims' pickup truck was struck numerous times.
It was a shocking sight for emotional family members who showed up as police processed the scene.
"The theory the uncle had is that they saw the cash the nephew was carrying," said Vinogradov. "And, again, these guys were just going to work, they were hard-working people up early in the morning, going to work, getting gas and this is what happens.”
People who live in the area said another deadly shooting happened outside the same gas station just a few months ago.
"It’s dangerous to walk the streets," said neighbor Lety Garrello. "You come to get gas and, before you know it, they’re shooting at you.”
Police said the suspects drove to a hospital. The three have been charged with capital murder.
The nephew who was shot and killed has not yet been identified.
His family, some of whom returned to the parking lot late in the day, were not ready to talk.