James Cody Avery, 36, was shot and killed in Houston on April 21, 2021, at about 1:45 a.m. The shooting happened in the parking lot of a Symphony Inn & Suites motel near the Southwest Freeway feeder and Wilcrest Drive. Witnesses reported Avery was yelling and acting erratically when 23-year-old Zechariah Arrieyion Thompson exited his vehicle, approached Avery and a physical altercation followed. Thompson fired at Avery, who was pronounced dead at the scene by Houston Fire Department paramedics.

Surveillance images captured Thompson at the scene. He was identified as the suspect, located after a week-long search and arrested on April 28, 2021. The Houston Police Department Homicide Division investigated the case, led by Sergeant J. Horn and Detective M. Perez, and Thompson was charged with murder in connection with Avery’s death.

What did anyone in the area that night see or hear that might fill gaps in the timeline leading up to the shooting?