Family of street vendor murdered in E. Harris Co. struggling for answers

HOUSTON (KTRK) -- An east Harris County street vendor had only a cheap cell phone and a small amount of cash on him when he was murdered, according to family members. The gunmen are still on the run.

Felix Orozco, 54, was gunned down in an apparent robbery last Friday in the 600 block of Hollywood in the Cloverleaf area. His body was lying just a few feet from the snow cone and snack cart he peddled to make a living.

"That broke my heart because he didn't deserve to die this way," said Carmen Gutierrez who knew Orozco and his family from church where he often volunteered.

"I put myself in their position. It is a cruel thing," she added.

Orozco was the middle brother of three. He had three children and a wife in Guatemala and was the only person supporting them, Gutierrez said.

The brothers lived together in a mobile home in East Harris County. All three were street vendors known as a "paletero." Enrique Orozco said they are now too scared to go back to work on the same streets where Felix was murdered.

Witnesses told Harris County Sheriff's Office investigators they heard gunshots and saw two men take off in a SUV from the scene. Now, a cross marks where Orozco lost his life.

The case is being investigated by the Harris County Sheriff's Office Homicide Unit. Anyone with information is asked to call the Homicide Unit at (713) 274-9100 or Crime Stoppers at (713) 222-TIPS (8477).