HCSO jail supervisor recognizes wanted shooting suspect as one of his own detention officers
HOUSTON, Texas (KTRK) -- A Harris County detention officer is accused of firing 14 shots at two women as they drove away from a Houston bar, and investigators say it was one of his own supervisors who helped identify him.
Jeremiah Jones, 28, is charged with two counts of aggravated assault with a deadly weapon following the May shooting outside Uptown Lounge on Richmond Avenue.
Last week, Houston police released images of the shooter on social media. According to court records, it didn't take long for someone to recognize him.
The shooting left a Mercedes G-Wagon riddled with about a dozen bullet holes and its back window shattered. The victim, who shared photos and video with Eyewitness News, told police the damage to the luxury SUV was estimated at $43,000. She declined to speak publicly for safety reasons.
According to court records, the two women had been at Uptown Lounge celebrating a birthday. After the bar closed, there was a dispute in the parking lot after Jones allegedly accused one of the women of hitting his car.
Investigators said surveillance video shows Jones walking to a Dodge Charger, reaching inside and retrieving a black handgun. Despite another man's efforts to restrain him, Jones allegedly raised the gun and fired directly at the G-Wagon as the women drove away. Investigators said approximately 14 gunshots can be heard on the video.
One of the women told police she remembered "ducking down" to avoid being hit as they fled. She said she believed Jones "could have killed both of them." She later told police she suffered nightmares and remained fearful after the shooting.
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The case remained under investigation until HPD released images of the suspect last week and asked the public for help identifying him.
That same night, according to court records, a Harris County Jail sergeant contacted investigators and said he believed the man pictured was one of his detention officers. The sergeant said several other sheriff's office employees also identified the suspect as Jones. Investigators then showed the sergeant surveillance video from the shooting, and he again identified the gunman as Jones.
Jones has worked as a Harris County detention officer since May 2024. The Harris County Sheriff's Office said he has been relieved of duty pending an internal investigation.
"As is standard procedure, the findings of the investigation will be reviewed through the agency's administrative disciplinary process to determine whether further disciplinary action, up to and including possible termination, is appropriate," the department said in an email.
Court records state Jones later spoke with investigators and admitted firing his gun at the women's vehicle. Police, however, said the account he gave them was inconsistent with what they saw on surveillance video.
Jones was arrested Monday morning and is expected to make his first court appearance on Monday evening.
