Houston police homicide investigators said evidence has determined fatal shootings in the 7000 block of Ashburn on October 13, 2012, and the 8900 block of Duane on November 8, 2012, are related and they are asking for the public's help in providing identities of the suspects responsible.
Ballistics evidence collected at both scenes indicates the same gun was used in the killings of John S. Martinez, 45, on October 13 and Criss Gerald Knight, 50, on November 8.
Grieving members of the Knight and Martinez families joined HPD homicide investigators in urging anyone with information on the identity of the suspect(s) responsible to contact Crime Stoppers and be eligible for a reward up to $5,000 in each case.
After visiting his brother, Martinez returned to his home on Ashburn at about 10pm. He parked his truck in his driveway and was walking to his front door when he was confronted by three unknown males. He was then shot and robbed. The suspects sped away in an unknown vehicle.
Knight was driving his Ford F-250 pickup truck when his path was blocked by an unknown vehicle at the intersection of Duane at Clover. It is believed a passenger in Knight's truck got out of the vehicle, walked in front of it and then shot Knight. Witnesses said the shooter got into an unknown vehicle, possibly a black pickup truck, and fled. Knight's truck continued north on Duane, went through a fence, struck two parked cars and then stopped in the front yard of a residence at 8935 Duane.
"He was a living father, a brother, uncle. He had kids that loved him and a family that just really misses him," said Bryan Knight, a brother of Criss Knight.
Widow Norma Martinez said, "My husband John Martinez was a hardworking, loving, godly person. He was there to help anyone who needed help. He was not only a wonderful husband, a great father, but he was a brother and a son and a friend."
The motive in the Knight murder still isn't known, but investigators believe he may have known his killer.
Anyone with information in either or both of these cases is urged to contact the HPD Homicide Division at 713-308-3600 or Crime Stoppers at 713-222-TIPS.
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