Suspect Arrested in Fatal Southeast Houston Shooting After Nearly Three-Month Investigation
HOUSTON, TX – A suspect has been arrested and charged in connection with the fatal shooting of a man in Southeast Houston that occurred last fall.
Dylan Villanueva, 29, has been charged with murder in the 488th Criminal District Court for the killing of 54-year-old John Crockett. The shooting happened around 10:45 a.m. on October 22, 2025, in the 7900 block of Comal Street.
According to detectives with the Houston Police Department Homicide Division, patrol officers were initially dispatched to a shooting call at the location and found Crockett inside a crashed vehicle suffering from gunshot wounds. Houston Fire Department paramedics pronounced him dead at the scene. Crockett was later identified as the victim.
Investigators determined that Crockett had been driving when the suspect approached his vehicle and made contact with him. During that encounter, the suspect shot Crockett and fled the scene on foot heading southbound. After being shot, Crockett’s vehicle continued forward and crashed into a telephone pole.
Following an extensive investigation that spanned nearly three months, detectives identified Villanueva as the suspect. At the time he was formally charged in this case, Villanueva was already in the Harris County Jail on an unrelated charge.
HPD Homicide Division Detectives C. Sharp, E. May, and D. Crowder are continuing to handle the investigation. Anyone with additional information related to this case is encouraged to contact the Houston Police Department Homicide Division or Crime Stoppers.
