HOUSTON — A Houston family spent the day paying tribute and raising money to honor Osvaldo Casas, a 37-year-old father of two girls who was gunned down outside of his home early on Aug. 10.
Casas died in the arms of his pregnant wife, who is expecting a baby boy any day. She is hoping someone comes forward with information to find the suspects.
“He was a great man, a great father. He would work, come home and be with the family,” Judith Molina said. “[My daughter] tells me, who’s going to tell me yes, now?”
Molina had tried giving CPR to Casas when he collapsed in the front yard after being shot. Casas’ mom, Blanca Aguirre, is still having difficulty coping with the loss.
“Every night I come, parking here…sitting down where he collapsed, sitting down. I feel my son and I pray for him, he knows mommy is worried,” Aguirre said.
The shooting happened around 12:30 a.m. on Loper Street near Allen Genoa Road. That morning, Houston police said someone had vandalized the family’s car on Friday night.
Investigators initially said Casas was alerted by neighbors that the same vandalism suspects possibly returned the next night.
Surveillance cameras show Casas went to confront them and was shot.
Molina said detectives have been in touch with the family.
“They do have a lead and came by yesterday to talk to me, but they’re still working on the case,” Molina told KHOU.
Neighbors have also been sharing surveillance video with Houston police.
At this time, police do not have a suspect description.
On Saturday, Osvaldo’s family hosted a plate sale where they sold roughly 200 to 250 plates. According to family, Casas’ friends and total strangers have helped raise more than $25,000 through a GoFundMe page to help with expenses.
“It means a lot to me that we are able to give him a proper funeral,” Molina said.
Anyone with information about the shooting is asked to contact Houston police detectives.