Suspect in deadly SW Houston shooting, carjacking was on probation, court records show

HOUSTON, Texas (KTRK) -- The 20-year-old man, who police believe shot and killed an innocent driver in southwest Houston on Thursday and then carjacked another driver to get away, cut a deal to avoid prison two years ago and was still on probation, court records show.

Alexis Garcia was taken into custody in the Corpus Christi area late Thursday after a violent chain of events near Wilcrest and the Southwest Freeway around 6:30 p.m.

According to Houston police, Garcia was driving a gray Dodge Charger and initially got in a minor accident with a black Toyota Prius.

After the wreck, police said he then walked off and tried to steal a red Hyundai Elantra. When the Hyundai driver wouldn't give it up, Garcia fired into his car, HPD said. He died at the hospital.

Friday evening, family members identified the victim as 55-year-old Noel Lopez. He was a married father of two adult children, they told ABC13.

"He's a father. He's a grandfather. He's an uncle. He's a husband," a man, who gave the victim CPR, said. He did not want to be identified because he worried about his safety.

"It shows you that you can be minding your business and things still can happen," he said. "You gotta stay prayed up and stay out the way."

HPD said the person of interest then stole a witness' gray Audi SQ5 and took off. The drivers of the Prius and Audi were not hurt, police added.

In an update Friday morning, police said the stolen Audi was found in Corpus Christi, and officers found Garcia in a field nearby with a handgun.

Court records show that in May 2023, Garcia was charged with felony evading arrest and unlawful possession of a weapon. Two months later, he pled guilty and in return was given 4 years deferred adjudication while the gun charge was dismissed. He still had two years left on the probation. That was when he was 18, but online records show his criminal history dates back to when he was 15.

Garcia is being held in the Nueces County jail until he is extradited back to Harris County.

Anyone with information is urged to contact the HPD Homicide Division at 713-308-3600 or Crime Stoppers at 713-222-TIPS.