HPD: Confirmed alibi leads to dropped charges in boy's stabbing
HOUSTON (KTRK) -- A bombshell development in the stabbing death of an 11-year-old boy -- murder charges have been dropped against the man accused of killing him.
Houston police say both eyewitness testimony and physical evidence have cleared Che Calhoun of charges in the murder of sixth grader Josue Flores. Detectives say Calhoun was in Pearland at the time of Flores's murder.
VIDEO: Store surveillance video of Che Calhoun
Speaking to media Friday afternoon, Quanell X called the investigation by the Houston Police Department a "Barney Fife" police job. Barney Fife was an incompetent satirical deputy in the "Andy Griffith Show."
"The Houston police should be ashamed of themselves," he said.
WATCH: Charges dropped against Che Calhoun
Calhoun's fiancee, Desirae Longoria, says he was with her at the time Flores was fatally stabbed.
VIDEO: Full press conference with Quanell X and family of Che Calhoun
"I just want it to be clear that he is not the person that killed this young man," Longoria said. "I want to tell the family that my condolences go out to you for your loss and we hope that ya'll find the person that did this to this young man."
Longoria says she told investigators from the beginning that Calhoun was innocent.
Calhoun bonded out of the Harris County jail late Friday. He was booked into jail earlier this week on assault and evading arrest charges. He had no comment when asked about having the charges dropped.
Eyewitness News has received a copy of the dismissal. It reads, in part, that "probable cause for arrest existed, but defendant has provided alibi to HPD that has been verified."
PHOTOS: Boy fatally stabbed while walking home from school
Calhoun was arrested on Wednesday, a day after Flores's deadly stabbing.
Detectives say Crime Stoppers is now offering a $15,000 reward in hopes of finding Flores's killer.
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Police say they still believe the stabbing was a random act of violence. What they are not certain of is whether they have the actual murder weapon.
The Harris County District Attorney's Office tells Eyewitness News that Calhoun is still being charged for assault and evading arrest stemming from an incident on the METRORail line.
Calhoun was allegedly in a fight with another person just blocks from the knife attack location the day before.
EXCLUSIVE: Witness heard boy yell "Don't kill me, please!"
METRO Police say they used a Taser on Calhoun, who was able to get away.
As he ran, he left behind a backpack with his photo ID inside. That ID, police say, was used to help several witnesses identify Calhoun as 11-year-old Josue Flores's attacker.
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At least three people told police that they saw Calhoun running from the spot where Flores had been murdered.
However, what we know now is that Che Calhoun is no longer a suspect in Flores' death.
The DA's office says, once again, he does still face a charge of assault and evading arrest.
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If you have any information in the death of Josue Flores, contact Houston Crime Stoppers by calling 713-222-TIPS or submitting your anonymous tips at http://crime-stoppers.org.
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