Sketch released for shooter linked to killing teen heading home from Astros game
HOUSTON - The teen who was tragically shot while traveling home from a Houston Astros game on Tuesday has died, according to his father. And police released a composite sketch of the shooter Friday.
Investigators say the shooting occurred near McCarty Street and the East Freeway around 11 p.m., but the incident began on Chartres Street.
David Castro, 17, was one of two passengers in a pickup truck driven by his father. Police say his father Paul was driving on Chartres Street when he and the suspect exchanged hand gestures.
During a press conference with HPD Detectives Friday, authorities released a composite sketch of the shooter and asked the public to assist in finding him.
Paul Castro, David’s father also spoke during a press conference urging the public to help take the suspect off the streets.
"A person that behaves the way he did is a threat to all of Texas is not afraid to use violence like that again," Castro said.
He also took a moment to speak about the pain this incident has caused his family saying it’s unimaginable.
"You don’t bury a child. It’s a nightmare," he said.
Castro also broke down the "hand gestures" he made saying towards the suspect saying they were not malicious but really just him trying to explain to the other driver he already let three other cars in front of him and the cars behind him were getting impatient. Regardless, Castro argued it does not warrant what happened to his son.
"Is there any world we live in where an exchange of hand gestures excuses the execution of another human being?" Castro said. "That person [the suspect] is dangerous to the community."
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Police say the suspect followed Castro's pickup truck onto the East Freeway and then onto McCarty Street. That’s where, authorities say, the suspect fired several shots into the truck. The teen in the pickup truck was shot in the head.
Castro reported that he drove to an area near Highway 59 and McGowen Street and called 911.
The Houston Police Department released surveillance photos of a suspect’s vehicle and asked for the public's help finding the person responsible.
HPD homicide detectives obtained this surveillance photos of the suspect vehicle,. (Photo: Houston Police Department)
Police say the suspect vehicle is believed to be a white Buick, four-door sedan with a sunroof, driven by a black male suspect.
Detectives say the suspect driver was not at the Astros game but instead first encountered Castro’s car on the highway. The suspect was seen driving aggressively, weaving in and out of traffic prior to that, however.
Police say the suspect they are looking for is Black or Hispanic standing about 5’10 with a muscular build.
The rims have seven holes, while most have nine and the headlights appear to have a yellow light.
We’re told tips are pouring in to assist with the investigation but the more information HPD receives, the more it will help narrow things down and make an arrest.
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Anyone with information on the suspect or the wanted vehicle is urged to contact the HPD Homicide Division at 713-308-3600 or Crime Stoppers at 713-222-TIPS.