Rodney Eugene Houston, 63, was found mortally wounded after a shooting at the Relax Inn on East Gentry Parkway in Tyler, Texas, in the early hours of July 4, 2026. Police were called about 4 a.m.; Houston was discovered with a possible gunshot wound while asleep inside a white Chevrolet Suburban parked outside a room, transported to Christus Trinity Mother Frances Hospital, and later pronounced dead.

Investigators quickly focused on 37-year-old Arthur McCain. According to arrest documents and witness statements, McCain arrived at the motel distraught and was going door to door searching for his girlfriend, allegedly kicking doors. Witnesses say McCain approached the Suburban, punched Houston while he was seated, and a nearby witness who tried to intervene was threatened and retreated. That witness saw Houston fall outside the vehicle, helped him into her room, and called for an ambulance.

McCain was located at the Budget Inn on West Erwin Street with his girlfriend. Officers found a .22-caliber revolver hidden under a mattress and a .22-caliber shell casing in McCain’s pocket; a witness later identified him in a six-person lineup.

If anyone was at the Relax Inn that morning or has information about what happened between the Suburban and the motel rooms, please share what is known.