Authorities have filed charges against Cesar Hernandez, 36, in connection with a fatal shooting that took place on August 21, 2022, around 2:25 a.m. at 10200 Telephone Road. Hernandez now faces murder charges in the 177th State District Court. A booking photograph of the suspect is below.
The victim, Jose Carlos Zapata, 42, was tragically killed in the incident. Houston Police Department (HPD) Homicide Division, reported the details of the case.
On the night of the shooting, HPD patrol officers arrived at the scene in response to a call. They discovered Zapata suffering from multiple gunshot wounds. The victim was crossing the street alongside a family member when the perpetrator approached from behind and fired several shots, hitting Zapata. The family member was unharmed, and the suspect fled the scene on foot.
The Houston Fire Department transported Zapata to a local hospital where he was pronounced dead on September 13, 2022. Following an extensive investigation, authorities identified Hernandez as the prime suspect. On March 21, the HPD Southeast Crime Suppression Team and patrol officers arrested Hernandez without incident, leading to the subsequent charges.