Third suspect held in baby’s slaying
Police are still unclear on what led to shooting targeting dad, son
A third person believed to be a suspect in the June 14 shooting death of 10-month-old Messiah Marshall is in custody, Houston police officials confirmed Wednesday.
HPD did not release the man’s identity because he has yet to be charged in the infant’s slaying.
The confirmation of a third suspect follows the capital murder charge filed against 20-year-old Kravon Human. He was arrested Tuesday.
If convicted, Human faces life in prison or the death penalty. He is being held in the Harris County Jail without bail. The case, along with the shooting of another infant, has aroused community members. On Monday night, hundreds of concerned residents turned out for a meeting with city officials.
In this case, 10-monthold Messiah was gunned down on June 14 near Nob Hill Apartments on North Braeswood.
Nigel Marshall was taking out his trash and helping his son walk, when three men approached and began firing multiple rounds, according to police.
The father tried to protect his son from the bullets, but at least one hit the baby. He died at a nearby Valero gas station.
Prior to the shooting, Human did not appear to have a criminal record in Harris County.
The first suspect in the case, identified by authorities, Jared Balogun, 24, was charged last week with capital murder, after confessing to the killing to police.
Balogun was charged June 20 with aggravated assault related to an incident at the Nob Hill apartments nine days before
Messiah Marshall’s murder. He was already behind bars when charges related to the 10-monthold’s death were filed.
Prior to June 20, Balogun faced minor charges, such as marijuana possession and theft under $50.
During a news conference last week, when just Balogun had been arrested, police said they believed two other assailants were at large.
Police are still unclear about what led to the infant’s shooting but said the violence may have been in retaliation to a previous altercation with the boy’s father and possibly gang related.
During the meeting Monday night at the Rubenstein Jewish Community Center of Houston, residents voiced their fears about the rising violence.
“There’s a lot of concern that the apartments over the last five to 10 years have degraded to the point where they are not what our community represents,” said Alan Lipman, associate director of the community center.
There have been no arrests in the first shooting of an 11-month-old boy, who was injured while riding in the car with his mother and her 4-yearold daughter. Police have posted surveillance video showing a black Nissan Versa pursuing a damaged gray Nissan Maxima.
The mother, who asked to not be identified, said she was driving a gray sedan at the time of the shooting and was probably targeted by mistake. Crime Stoppers is offering a $10,000 reward for information.
“Neighbors are angry, and we are doing whatever we can to take action and make our voices heard, because we want our neighborhood back,” the mother said during the meeting Monday.