Second Suspect Arrested in Capital Murder Case After 17-Year-Old Shot During Houston Robbery

HOUSTON – A second suspect has been arrested and charged with capital murder in the shooting death of a 17-year-old during an attempted robbery in east Houston, police said.

Christopher Brandon Dominguez, 21, was arrested Friday, Oct. 2, and charged with capital murder and unlawful possession of a weapon by a felon in the 209th Criminal District Court.

Diego Gene Torres, 18, was previously arrested and charged with capital murder in the 248th Criminal District Court in connection with the same shooting.

The victim’s name has not been released pending notification of his family by the Harris County Institute of Forensic Sciences.

Houston police were called about 1:20 a.m. Sept. 27 to the 10100 block of Mesa Drive for a report of a person down.

Officers found the 17-year-old unconscious behind the wheel of a vehicle. Investigators determined he had been shot multiple times, and paramedics pronounced him dead at the scene.

Detectives later determined the shooting occurred nearby in a parking lot at 9905 Mesa Drive.

According to the Houston Police Department, the victim and a vehicle carrying the suspects met in the parking lot before an attempted robbery. A struggle followed and the teenager was shot.

Despite his wounds, the teen attempted to drive away, police said. His vehicle eventually struck a pole in the 10100 block of Mesa Drive, where responding officers found him.

Surveillance video, license plate readers aid investigation

Homicide detectives used surveillance video and automatic license plate reader information to develop a description and location for the suspect vehicle, according to HPD.

With assistance from Southeast Patrol Division officers and the Patrol Support Team, police located the vehicle and detained Torres, who was driving it.

Police said Torres admitted his role in the fatal shooting during questioning. The Harris County District Attorney’s Office subsequently accepted a capital murder charge against him, and he was booked into the Harris County Jail.

The investigation continued, and detectives identified Dominguez as another suspect.

Members of HPD’s Special Response Team and Eastside Crime Suppression Team arrested Dominguez on Oct. 2. He was charged with capital murder and unlawful possession of a weapon by a felon.

Police have not provided additional details about each suspect’s alleged actions during the attempted robbery or identified who they believe fired the fatal shots.

Anyone with information can contact the HPD Homicide Division at 713-308-3600 or Crime Stoppers at 713-222-TIPS.