HOUSTON — Houston police arrested a 51-year-old Cypress man in connection with the death of a 21-year-old Nepali student who was found shot to death in her apartment Monday evening.
According to court documents, Bobby Sinh Shah is charged with capital murder in the death of Muna Pandey during an armed robbery on Saturday.
Police said officers went to the complex Monday after employees there received a tip about a body in an apartment. Pandey was found dead with multiple gunshot wounds in her apartment on West Airport Boulevard in southwest Houston.
On Wednesday, the Houston Police Department released a surveillance photo of a man seen leaving the apartment on Saturday, who police later learned was Shah.
He was arrested on Wednesday evening during a traffic stop in northwest Houston and taken to the Harris County Jail.
RELATED: Friends identify Nepali student, Muna Pandey, who was found shot to death in her Houston apartment
Nepalese Association of Houston board member Drona Gautam told Pandey’s family back in Nepal about the arrest.
“Her mom was like, “Thank God, at least he’s arrested,' and asking for the maximum penalty for him," Gautam told us.
According to Gautam, Pandey was an only child who came to Houston in 2021 for school.
A makeshift memorial outside the door of Pandey's apartment on Thursday included flowers, photos and candles. “Fly high sweet girl” is among the messages left by friends.
“She came to this country for a better opportunity and she was thriving and she had a whole future ahead of her," said Tonantzin Rodriguez, a friend.
It's not clear if Pandey knew her killer but there were no signs of forced entry, according to Gautam.
“We don’t know what caused him to do this action – but we want justice for her memory and for all the women who die violently," Rodriguez said.
Shah was scheduled to appear in court late Thursday afternoon but waived his appearance. He is being held without bond.
Gautam said he’s working with the Nepal consulate to help coordinate travel for Pandey’s mother.
Friends in the Nepali community set up an online fundraiser to help Pandey's family with travel and funeral expenses. Here is their GoFundMe.
