Reward in New Orleans officer's murder at $100K after pledges by city of Houston and Tilman Fertitta
HOUSTON, Texas (KTRK) -- As Det. Everett Briscoe's body headed home to New Orleans after he was shot to death during a leisurely visit to Houston, city leaders, law enforcement and billionaire Tilman Fertitta announced the reward to find the fallen officer's killers has gone up to $100,000.
Fertitta, who chairs the Houston Police Foundation, expressed frustration not only with Briscoe's death, but with what he calls crimes continuing to be committed repeat felony offenders. He pledged enough money to make the reward six figures after Houston Mayor Sylvester Turner earlier announced it at $40,000.
The Landry's Inc. owner also separately pledged $1 million to the police department to bolster rewards in similar unsolved cases.
Earlier Tuesday, Briscoe's body in a flag-draped casket was loaded into a hearse and escorted back to Louisiana.
WATCH: HPD escorts New Orleans officer's body from Houston
The 41-year-old was off-duty when he was gunned down Saturday afternoon while eating dinner on the patio of Grotto Ristorante on Westheimer Road in the Galleria area.
Briscoe was part of the Zulu Social Club, a New Orleans organization known for its elaborate Zulu parade each year during Mardi Gras.
The day he was killed, Briscoe was among a group of Zulu members who traveled from New Orleans to Houston to meet with other Zulu brothers who now live in the area.
While eating at the restaurant with his friends, two men approached them with guns drawn, police said on Saturday.
According to witnesses, everybody in the group complied with the suspects' demands, but one of them still fired, hitting Briscoe and another victim, identified as Dyrin Riculfy.
Elroy James, president of the Zulu Social Club, said that Riculfy remains in the hospital in critical condition. James adds that the suspects did not take any property from the men.
Briscoe was pronounced dead shortly after officers arrived at the scene.
"We had just been in Houston for two hours. So, it's certainly strange to me that we had not even gotten out of our travel clothes, most of us, and this occurs," James said.
Briscoe, a 13-year veteran, leaves behind his wife and their two sons who are 10 and 16 years old.
FULL VIDEO: HPD, Mayor Turner and Tilman Fertitta speak on an increased reward to find Det. Briscoe's killers
Surveillance video from nearby businesses showed the two men who are believed to be the suspects. One was seen wearing a black hoodie and blue jeans. The other was wearing black pants, with a white hoodie. They left the scene in a gray or silver Nissan Altima that had paper tags.
Anyone with any information is asked to contact HPD Homicide at 713-308-3600 or call Crime Stoppers at 713-222-TIPS. Officials are offering a reward of $10,000 leading to their arrests.
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