HOUSTON — A Houston family is desperate to know why their loved one was gunned down just steps away from his home.
It happened just after 7 p.m. Tuesday at an apartment complex on Schroeder Road in southeast Houston. According to police, a 59-year-old man was shot and killed during a game of dominoes.
On Wednesday, Laquietta Boone identified the victim as her uncle, Harry Boone Jr.
“He was like my best friend,” she said. “My uncle should still be here right now. We didn’t expect this, it is still shocking.”
Investigators said Boone was playing dominoes with friends when someone who wasn't involved in the game walked up and hit him on the head. A witness told police the men exchanged words before the suspect pulled out a pistol, fired and fled the scene.
Boone said she didn’t know her uncle to be a confrontational person, but she believes the suspect had tormented him before.
“He was outside socializing like he always does, and from what I was hearing the dude was like bullying him,” she said. “My uncle, you know he’s going to defend himself, and when he defended himself, that's when he was shot.”
On Wednesday, KHOU 11 cameras captured police back at the scene collecting information. HPD has confirmed there is an active investigation into the shooting.
The suspect has been described only as a black male in his 20s. Boone said her family has worked with police to try and identify the man.
“He's (the suspect) so young, and my uncle was his elder. It’s like you just killed your grandpa or your dad for no reason,” she said “Turn yourself in, that’s the best way I could put it, turn yourself in.”
Anyone with information in this case is urged to contact the HPD Homicide Division at 713-308-3600 or speak anonymously to Crime Stoppers at 713-222-TIPS (8477).