Police say two men shot and killed 37-year-old Yolanda Lara, leaving her two children without a mother.
"My mom was everything to us," daughter Nely Lara said. "She was all we had. She was both mom and dad to us for like the past year. She was everything."
Lara was working at the Monroe Game Room on August 30 when police say two men attacked a security guard, robbed the business and killed Yolanda Lara.
Police have arrested Obed Rodriguez, 20, and charged him with capital murder. They say he was the man seen on surveillance images in a red baseball cap.
But Rodriguez's partner, who remains unidentified, is on the run.
"The only thing that we keep repeating to ourselves is, 'why?' Why did you have to? You got the money, why did you have to do that?" the victim's niece, Mayra Lara, said.
Tonight, the Monroe Game Room was closed Saturday night. A memorial sits in the entrance, honoring a loving mother who worked a dangerous job to support her family.
"She had to work because she had to keep up with everything, because she was the only one," Nely Lara said.
"Any little clue that you give to police would be helpful so we can get to the bottom of this," Mayra Lara said.
Anyone with information on the second suspect's identity or whereabouts is urged to contact HPD or Crime Stoppers.
The suspect's left arm is heavily tattooed. He has either a scar or birthmark on the back right side of his neck, and he appears to be a light-skinned Hispanic or white male.
Crime Stoppers will pay up to $5,000 for any information called in to the 713-222-TIPS (8477) or submitted online at www.crime-stoppers.org that leads to the filing of felony charges or arrest of the suspect(s) in this case. Tips can also be sent by text message. Text TIP610 plus your tip to CRIMES (274637). All tipsters remain anonymous.
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