Smoke shop clerk gunned down in violent robbery in NW Harris County

HOUSTON (KTRK) -- Deputies are looking for the gunman who shot and killed a smoke shop clerk while robbing the store on FM 529 near Satsuma in northwest Harris County.

Deputies say the suspect began firing as soon as he walked into the store. The clerk, identified as 44-year-old Ziauddien Sharique Khan, was hit multiple times and later died.

Investigators have only a vague description of the shooter, but say he could be linked to other smoke shop robberies. He got away with an unknown amount of cash.

"I've talked to our robbery division. They have had multiple robberies of the smoke shops on the west side of the county within the last several weeks," said Sgt. Ben Beall with the Harris County Sheriff's Office. "We're hoping to get with them and hopefully tomorrow, we can develop a little bit better suspect information."

Authorities will be examining surveillance video as part of their investigation.

"Here is this guy, highly qualified technical experience, but support his family, he is still working here and there is this guy who thinks it's his right to steal from other people," said Khan's friend, Latafath Hussain.

Authorities describe the suspect as a Hispanic male in his mid-20s with tattoos on both forearms.

Kahn leaves behind three children who were to start school Monday. Kahn had asked for the day off so he could be there with them as they start their new school year.

Anyone with information regarding the smoke shop robberies or the murder of Khan is asked to contact the Harris County Sheriff's Office homicide unit at 713-967-5810 or call Crime Stoppers at 713-222-TIPS.