Arrest made in 11-year-old Houston kid's fatal stabbing
HOUSTON -- There was a major development late Friday night in the Josue Flores murder investigation. A suspect was arrested and charged with murder, and Houston Mayor Sylvester Turner said they're confident they have the right person.
Mayor Turner, along with acting Houston Police Department Chief Martha Montalvo and Harris County DA Devon Anderson held a press conference this morning to discuss the case.
ABC7 sister station KTRK-TV was the first to report about the arrest of 27-year-old Andre Jackson. Investigators said he's the man seen in video running near the scene where Flores was fatally stabbed back on May 17.
Flores was walking home from Marshall Middle School when he was attacked.
Jackson has now been charged with murder in the case. He was in the U.S. Marine Corps and was discharged in 2011, according to HPD.
KTRK-TV did not have details as to what evidence led police to Jackson. What KTRK-TV does know is that both Harris County District Attorney Devon Anderson and Montalvo believe Jackson is who they have been looking for all this time.
Investigators were at a north side Salvation Army Friday, collecting evidence a day after HPD released clear surveillance images of a man with unique shoes and jacket who could be seen on video running near the crime scene within minutes of Flores' murder.
"The community needs to be recognized," Montalvo said at a press conference. "They provided a lot of tips."
Turner said his office was working with law enforcement to help make the Northside community feel secure after weeks of uncertainty.
"It was senseless, it was brutal, it was cold blooded, and someone needs to pay the price for it," Turner said. "We do not want something like this to occur again in Northside or any area of Houston again."
Jackson is expected to appear in probable cause court Saturday. The DA's office said Jackson is eligible for five-to-life in prison. He is being held on $100,000 bail.
A $45,000 reward was being offered in the case. Before Jackson was arrested, authorities had mistakenly arrested another man who was said to have been seen running from the crime scene. But his alibi and other evidence proved he was not the suspect and charges against him were dropped.
