Houston Man Charged After Shooting, Robbery in Club Parking Lot

HOUSTON, Texas — A 40-year-old man has been arrested and charged in connection with a shooting and robbery that occurred outside a Houston nightclub earlier this year, according to police.

Ricardo De La Cruz is charged with Aggravated Robbery with a Deadly Weapon and Aggravated Assault with a Deadly Weapon in the 182nd State District Court.

The incident happened on February 9, 2026, at approximately 2:15 a.m. in the parking lot of a club located in the 8300 block of the Southwest Freeway.

According to investigators, the victims had just exited the club and were in the parking lot when De La Cruz approached them regarding a loud noise complaint. A verbal altercation followed, during which police say De La Cruz produced a firearm, shot one of the victims, and then stole personal items from both individuals before fleeing the scene.

A Houston Police robbery detective later identified De La Cruz as a suspect during the investigation. Charges were formally filed on March 11, and a warrant was issued for his arrest.

On March 16, officers with the Houston Police Southwest Crime Suppression Team located De La Cruz and took him into custody on the outstanding warrants.

He was transported to the Harris County Jail, where he was booked on the aggravated robbery and aggravated assault charges.