Police say Markus Mehundrew, 26, was sitting in a garage around 7:30pm on Sunday on West Airport near Brook Vallery with two other people when a suspect approached them and asked for drugs. When Mehundrew replied he didn't have any, the suspect apparently pulled out a pistol and fired several times. An eyewitness ran after the shooter but the gunman got away.
Mehundrew is described by his family and police as a devoted father and son. He had four children. He and his girlfriend moved to Houston about six months ago. He's an Army reservist with an honorable discharge.
Mehundrew's family came to town from Springfield, Illinois, to take him back home but also to look answers.
"He wanted to leave Springfield and come to Houston because he heard so many great things about your city and I'm pleading with anyone who knows anything that happened to my son to please come forward and let the police department know," said the victim's mother Maryann Phillips.
The suspect is described only as a black male, approximately 20 years old, about 5-foot-9, and weighing about 150 pounds. He was last seen wearing a gray T-shirt, green shorts and a white hat with a black star and the word Houston on it.
There is a $5,000 reward being offered for information leading to an arrest. Anyone with information in this case or the whereabouts of the suspect is urged to contact the HPD Homicide Division at 713-308-3600 or Crime Stoppers at 713-222-TIPS.
