HollyMatkinHouston, TX – A manhunt is underway for a suspect in a triple shooting incident that left one man dead on Friday night, police said.
The Harris County Sheriff’s Office (HCSO) released store surveillance footage on Saturday, in an attempt to find the involved men, KPRC reported (video below).
The incident occurred in the parking lot of the DJ Food Store at approximately 6:30 p.m., after 21-year-old Judas Deluna and two accomplices began harassing a woman, KTRK reported.
According to KTRK, Deluna was captured on camera as he went to his vehicle and grabbed a gun. He then opened fire, shooting one man several times.
Two other men, including the store owner’s son, 30-year-old Rahman Rupani, rushed outside to help the injured victim.
“As he was going outside he saw the injured guy, so he took his phone out to call an ambulance so somebody could come and get him to make sure he was fine,” Rupani’s sister, Muniza Kabani said.
Deluna turned his gun on them as they approached, hitting one man in the leg, and the other in the back.
Rupani, a married father of two, was pronounced dead at a hospital a short while later.
The other two victims have been hospitalized, and are in stable condition.
A warrant has been issued for the suspected gunman, who fled the scene with his accomplices in a black Lincoln Navigator.
Investigators later found the vehicle abandoned, and traced it back to Deluna.
Deluna is described as a heavyset Hispanic man. He was last seen wearing a black and red shirt, jeans, and white tennis shoes, KPRC reported.
The other two occupants in the vehicle were also described as Hispanic males. One was estimated to be between the ages of 40 and 50, with a medium to heavy build. He was last seen wearing a blue and white patterned jacket, a light-colored shirt and jeans.
The other man had a medium to heavy build, and was wearing a black jacket and a light blue shirt.
“I’d like to make a plea to the public that if they saw anything or heard anything, if they were in this area of Bammel North Houston that they call the Harris County Sheriff’s Office,” HCSO Captain Joe Ambriz told KTRK.
“He died a hero, protecting people he has no duty to protect,” Rupani’s younger brother, Karim Rupani said. “We need to find this guy. We just need closure. Help us out.”
Deluna is wanted for capital murder, and should be considered armed and dangerous, the HCSO said, according to the Houston Chronicle.
He was indicted for aggravated assault in 2015, after he threatened a woman with a firearm, but the charge was later reduced to misdemeanor terroristic threat. He was sentenced to 60 days in jail.
Deluna pleaded guilty to evading a HCSO deputy later in 2015, and was originally placed on probation. The case was reopened in 2017, however, after he violated his plea agreement conditions.
He was released on $10,000 bond on the reopened case on Dec. 12, 2017.
You can watch surveillance footage of Deluna and his accomplices below: