Holly MatkinHouston, TX – A Texas man is behind bars on a murder charge after he allegedly shot a scammer who was pretending to be a parking attendant, then nonchalantly returned to his date.
The incident occurred near the Rodeo Goat restaurant on April 11, KPRC reported.
Investigators said 29-year-old Erick Aguirre and his date arrived at the restaurant separately and parked their vehicles in a lot located at Saint Emanuel Street and Lamar Street.
They were heading to the restaurant when they were approached by 46-year-old Elliot Nix, who told the couple he was a parking attendant and that they owed a $20 parking fee for each vehicle, KPRC reported.
Investigators said Aguirre walked over to a nearby store and returned with $40, then handed it to Nix and proceeded across the street and into the restaurant.
Rick DeToto, the attorney representing Aguirre’s date, said the couple soon learned Nix wasn’t a parking attendant at all, KPRC reported.
“There was a waiter who knew that the guy was scamming people for parking, and he advised them, ‘Hey, that guy is scamming you for parking,’” DeToto said.
An employee at a nearby smoke shop later told police he saw Aguirre exiting the restaurant and running to his vehicle, NBC News reported.
The worker said Aguirre grabbed a handgun out of the car and took off after Nix, but said both men were out of his view when Aguirre actually caught up with him.
The employee said he heard a gunshot ring out shortly before 8 p.m., NBC News reported.
He said he then observed Aguirre “nonchalantly walking back to his car with the gun in his hand,” according to court documents.
Aguirre placed the gun back inside his vehicle and headed into the restaurant, where his date was waiting for him.
He allegedly told her “everything was fine” and that he had just scared the scammer, NBC News reported.
The couple headed towards a table, but ultimately decided to go elsewhere because Aguirre appeared to be uncomfortable, according to court documents.
Police said they later found Nix lying on the side of Chartres Street, suffering from a gunshot wound, KPRC reported.
He had been shot in the back, Harris County Assistant District Attorney Michael Hanover told The Washington Post.
Nix was rushed to a local hospital, where he succumbed to his injuries, KPRC reported.
Investigators released photos of the couple in an attempt to identify Aguirre, according to NBC News.
When Aguirre’s date saw the photos two days later, she realized what had occurred and contacted police.
“She wanted to do the right thing,” DeToto told NBC News. “She wanted to make sure that she came forward and told the police what she knew.”
Police said the woman is not considered to be a suspect and that she will not face any charges in connection with Nix’s murder, The Washington Post reported.
“My client was shocked to see a photo of herself on the news and to hear that she was a person of interest,” DeToto said. “She was devastated to learn of the death of the complainant. She was simply having dinner with the defendant and was unaware of the shooting.”
Aguirre, who was already on probation for aggravated assault at the time of the shooting, has been arrested for murder, KPRC reported.
He was apprehended in Aransas County on April 25 and was subsequently extradited to Harris County, The Washington Post reported.
Aguirre’s bond was set at $200,000.
He faces up to life in prison if he is convicted, The Washington Post reported.
Sandy Malone