HOUSTON — Houston police are looking for a 19-year-old who is accused of shooting a repo man earlier this month.
Brandon Alexander Munoz is not in custody. Houston police said he's charged with aggravated assault with a deadly weapon.
The shooting
Just before 3 p.m. on Oct. 9, Benjamin Bolton, a tow truck driver who was contracted to do repossession work, was ambushed along Harrisburg Boulevard at 79th Street in Houston's East End after picking up a van.
"He had repossessed a van with the keys. He was in it, driving it because he had already repossessed another vehicle with his tow truck," his mother said during an interview with KHOU 11 News. "The people that owned it (the van) saw it and they followed him and one vehicle got in front of him and slowed him down. The other vehicle pulled up beside him and they just unloaded on him -- anywhere from 13 to 16 shots."
According to police, an off-duty officer witnessed the shooting and followed the vehicle from which the shots were fired. He alerted on-duty officers, who showed up and pulled the vehicle over. Investigators said the people in the vehicle told them they thought someone was stealing their van and someone opened fire on the man who was driving it.
Houston police said the three people who were detained after the shooting were later released while investigators wait for more evidence.
Bolton, 40, was shot eight times, including in the back, arm, side and pelvis.
"He lost his spleen. He had diaphragm damage ... liver was pierced, his stomach ... it's just like from head to toe a mess," his mother said.
Suspect charged
The Harris County District Attorney's Office ended up accepting aggravated assault with a deadly weapon charges against Munoz on Oct. 22.
Bolton is still recovering from the shooting, according to police. His mother said his medical bills are piling up. If you'd like to help the family, click here.
Munoz still hasn't been taken into custody and anyone with information on his whereabouts is asked to call the HPD Eastside Patrol Division at 832-395-1580 or speak anonymously to Crime Stoppers at 713-222-TIPS (8477).