Search for justice: Timeline of Josue Flores murder case
HOUSTON, Texas (KTRK) -- Josue Flores was just 11 years old when he was stabbed to death while walking home from school in May 2016. Here's a look back at his murder and the Houston police search for the child's killer:
May 17, 2016
Josue Flores had so much life ahead of him. His family said he loved science and math, and was a good student at Marshall Middle School. While walking home from school on a Tuesday, he was stabbed to death by an unknown man.
Witnesses said Josue could be heard screaming, "Don't kill me, please!"
May 18, 2016
U.S. Marshals arrested Che Calhoun, who police said could be connected to the Flores murder because of a wallet they found at the scene. METRO police later said Calhoun was involved in a fight on the light rail line, and was even hit by an officer's Taser during that incident.
Calhoun was able to get away from officers, METRO said.
May 20, 2016
Charges were dropped against Calhoun after his alibi checked out, HPD said. That night, Calhoun was released from Harris County Jail to his loved ones. Meanwhile, across town, a candlelight vigil was held to remember the 11-year-old.
A reward was increased to $15,000 for tips in the case.
May 22, 2016
Calhoun broke his silence in an interview with ABC13. He explained that he only learned he was being sought by police while reading a news story about the Flores case. He said that prompted him to turn himself in.
"I just hope that the family really finds justice," Calhoun said.
May 23, 2016
A wake was held for Josue Flores in north Houston.
May 24, 2016
Mayor Sylvester Turner pleaded for tips in the Flores case, the same day his family and friends gathered for his funeral. Josue Flores was buried at Historic Hollywood Cemetery on North Main after a funeral at Holy Name Catholic Church in Houston.
June 3, 2016
HPD announced Andre Jackson was arrested at a Salvation Army shelter, and charged in Josue's murder. Investigators said Jackson had a jacket like the one seen on a suspect who appeared in a surveillance video released to the public.
June 6, 2016
A review of Jackson's social media posts showed he was a troubled man. Meanwhile, investigators revealed Flores was stabbed 20 times by his attacker.
May 17, 2017
The Northside community held a memorial to remember Josue on the one-year anniversary of his death.
July 18, 2017
More than a year after being charged in Flores' murder, the Harris County District Attorney's Office said charges would be dropped against Jackson. Prosecutors said DNA evidence was "at best inconclusive" and "in some ways exclude" Jackson as a suspect.
May 17, 2019
A judge approved a motion to return evidence to the prime suspect, Andre Jackson, in Josue Flores' murder investigation. Court records show Jackson's defense attorney first filed a motion to have his property returned in May 2018. It was not until March 2019, that a judge approved the motion.
May 29, 2019
Andre Jackson responded to Houston Police Chief Art Acevedo and detectives still naming him as a person of interest in the case, although charges were dropped against him in 2017. Jackson made a 10-minute YouTube video, claiming his innocence.
June 14, 2019
Investigators discovered new physical evidence in the case. They looked at advanced DNA technology to help them find Josue's killer.
June 18, 2019
Andre Jackson, the man who was accused of stabbing Josue in 2016, was arrested and charged a second time in the case. Mayor Sylvester Turner, Harris County District Attorney Kim Ogg and the Houston Police Department held a press conference announcing the new development in the case.
