Shot and killed by a gunman who vanished into the night -- now a new effort is underway to find the person who murdered a local woman. It's been more than four months since Erika Moreno, 29, was shot in her car while driving though southwest Houston. Moreno tried to get away from the gunfire but was unable to. Her friends and family are making a new plea for help to find her killer.
Holding a small vase containing Moreno's remains, her cousin pleaded for someone to come forward with information on Moreno's killer. Police now say they believe the murder was a carjacking gone wrong.
HPD investigators say Moreno, 29, had gone out with friends on January 10, and at about 11pm she decided to go home to prepare for school the next morning. Investigators say as she was driving near the 5400 block of Birdwood at Renwick in southwest Houston, a black Tahoe with dark windows and black rims pulled up and somehow got Moreno to stop.
Police believe Moreno became suspicious and tried to drive off. That's when police say someone inside that Tahoe began shooting into Moreno's SUV. She put the vehicle in reverse to try to get away, driving into a grassy area, but she died there at the scene.
"No one deserves what happened to Erika," said Amanda Gonzalez, a family member of Moreno's. "No one deserves to be alone in their final hours, afraid, so close to home and never able to make it. You think about your loved ones and all you want at night is for them to be safe and sound. Unfortunately for her, she was taken. She was by herself, and it's been very hard to deal with that, and to know that something so tragic and violent happened to her."
Witnesses saw the suspects leaving in that black Tahoe with what's considered a 'police package.' Authorities believe the suspects may have been involved in other carjackings in the area.
Crime Stoppers has increased the reward for tips leading to Moreno's murderers. That reward now stands at $10,000. Anyone with any information is asked to come forward and call Crime Stoppers at 713-222-TIPS. You can remain anonymous.
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