Man interrupted dinner date to kill parking lot scammer over $40, police say
Police say a person who interrupted a dinner date to kill a parking zone scammer was arrested on homicide costs Tuesday.
Erick Aguirre, 29, was arrested north of Corpus Christi, Texas Tuesday, the New York Times reported. He’s charged in reference to the April 11 demise of 46-year-old Elliot Nix in Houston. He was jailed on a $200,000 bond after an arraignment Thursday.
Aguirre and his date, Melanie Castillo, arrived in separate automobiles for a date at a restaurant known as the Rodeo Goat on the evening of the taking pictures, in keeping with the Occasions.
As soon as they parked, a person approached them to pay a $20 parking charge every automotive. Aguirre paid, and the couple went on to the restaurant. Once they bought to the Rodeo Goat, a employee informed them the seeming parking attendant was really a “scammer.”
Castillo, who voluntarily gave an announcement to police two days after the taking pictures, reportedly mentioned Aguirre “sprinted” again to the automobiles whereas she waited exterior the restaurant.
A witness from a close-by smoke store informed police he noticed Aguirre pull a pistol from his automotive. Subsequent, he heard a gunshot, noticed Aguirre return to the automotive with the gun, then noticed Aguirre return to Rodeo Goat, in keeping with the Occasions’ assessment of court docket paperwork.
Castillo, the lady on the date, mentioned Aguirre informed her he “simply scared the man.” The pair went contained in the restaurant, solely to depart shortly after when Aguirre prompt going someplace else.
“She was devastated to be taught of the demise,” Castillo’s legal professional, Rock DeToto, informed the Occasions. He added that Castillo was “shocked to see a photograph of herself on the information and to listen to that she was an individual of curiosity.”
“The penal code in Texas, and in 49 different states, and in most civilized international locations, doesn’t provide you with any authorized foundation to shoot and kill somebody who ripped you off,” authorized analyst Brian Wice informed KPRC.
“This might have been theft by false pretense. However no matter whether or not or not it was, the penal code, to not point out widespread sense, says that you may’t use lethal drive.”
South Central officers discovered Nix unresponsive after they responded to a taking pictures name at 1300 Chartres Road Tuesday, in keeping with a statement from HPD. Houston Fireplace Division paramedics transferred Nix to an area hospital in crucial situation the place docs pronounced him useless.
Harris County Sheriff’s Workplace data point out a court docket date has been set for June 27.
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