3 masked men wanted in deadly shooting of Houston gas station clerk

HOUSTON (FOX 26) - Houston police say a store clerk was shot and killed during a robbery attempt early Monday morning.

Police say three men in masks entered the Valero on Reed Road at the South Freeway around 3 a.m. and fatally shot the clerk.

A family member identified the victim as 29-year-old Odai Qadous.

According to police, nothing was taken from the store. 

"They just came straight to him. Kill him, walk out—less than a second," Haitham Qadous, the victim's cousin said. "I told him several times, 'This location here is too dangerous. Just stay the hell out of here.' He never listened. Just- it happened, you know."

The victim's cousin says Odai was the same clerk working at the Valero on reed road when a truck rammed into the convenience store back on June 17. Police say those suspects were never caught.

Earlier in the morning, the victim's best friend was seen running behind the police tape, trying to get to his former roommate and friend from home. He says the two of them, Palestinians, immigrated to the U.S. from the West Bank about three years ago.

"Palestine—a lot of problems over there. We come here to live here. It's nice place. America's nice place. Everything safety, but now it's not safe," Montaser Najjar said. "I hope they get caught and they stop that, because that's cold blood, you know."

Investigators believe the suspects fled in a black 4-door sedan, possibly a Nissan.

Police are asking the public to review surveillance camera images of the suspects to help identity them. One suspect is seen wearing an alien mask and the other suspect is wearing a black mask.

This is a capital murder, which carries a minimum sentence of life imprisonment. Anyone with information is asked to call police or Crime Stoppers at 713-222-TIPS.