Person of interest in Austin judge's shooting expected in Houston courtroom

Wednesday, November 11, 2015
Man accused in shooting of Austin judge expected in Houston court
A man accused in the shooting of an Austin judge is expected today in a Houston courtroom.

The man who police say is now the main person of interest in the weekend assassination attempt of an Austin-area judge is expected in a Houston courtroom.

Chimene Onyeri has been accused in the shooting of Judge Julie Koceruk.

But, there is another twist to the story. Houston Police has also charged Onyeri with a murder in southwest Houston that occurred last May.

Jacobi Alexander was killed while he was walking in a common area of his apartment complex. His father Terry Sutton said he remembers day very well.

"Really to be honest, I felt like it was going to go unsolved murder," said Sutton. "I mean that's really disturbing because if someone has the (explicit) to go to a judge try to mess... that's a dangerous person."

Tuesday morning, Houston and Austin police combed through the home the younger Onyeri shared with his dad, Innocent Onyeri. The elder Onyeri says he was shocked by the accusations and the charges.

"I don't feel happy. What's more, I am confuse," said Onyeri the father. "I don't have any idea what is going on."

Tuesday afternoon, Houston police charged Chimene Onyeri with the murder of a man that happened just blocks from his southwest Houston home last May. Even though the murder at Falls of Bellaire, an apartment complex, is unrelated to the Austin case, sources tell Eyewitness News that ballistics from both scenes matched. That link could be crucial as the investigation continues.

ABC-13 has also learned that Onyeri was due in Koceruk's court soon. In 2012, Onyeri was charged with fraudulent use of identifying information. According to court documents, Onyeri was pulled over by a Rollingwood officer. He was a passenger. Investigators found gift cards that were linked to bank accounts not belonging to Onyeri and other identifications. ABC-13 learned Judge Koceruk signed off on three years probation for the crime he eventually pleased guilty to. Then, in July of this year, Onyeri was accused of committing more fraud. Court papers to revoke his probation, which were also signed by Judge Koceruk, state Onyeri fraudulently used debit cards near Lake Charles, LA. Friday, Judge Koceruk was shot in what police are calling an attempted assignation.

The elder Onyeri insists his son stayed on the couch all weekend.

"He had nothing to do with that," said Innocent Onyeri. "All throughout the weekend he was here. His lawyer (for another case) even asked him was he here? Friday Saturday? He was here. He was here."

Austin detectives spent hours collecting evidence from the Onyeri home. Back at the state capital, the Austin Police Chief promised justice.

"When you attack a judge simply for doing his or her or her job, which I think eventually that's what this is going to end up being the case in this case. It's really an a attack on the fabric of society," said Chief Art Acevedo.

Records show Onyeri has an extensive criminal history, including a credit card and identity fraud case pending in Kocurek's court. His father admits his son is currently on probation, but insists most of his problems stem from the friends surrounding his son.

"Chimene should be careful of the company he keeps."

Judge Kocurek is still recovering in an Austin area hospital.