Ronald Ray Burns, 42, was shot and killed on August 31, 2024, in northwest Harris County near Houston. Deputies initially responded to a reported vehicle crash in the 5000 block of West FM 1960 near Veterans Memorial Drive and found Burns critically wounded in the roadway; he was taken to a hospital and later died. What first appeared to be a traffic incident was later treated as a homicide tied to an alleged robbery.

Investigators determined Burns was the victim of a robbery and shooting and said additional perpetrators were believed to be involved, though authorities did not describe how Burns encountered his attackers or what, if anything, was taken. On September 16, 2024, detectives arrested 18-year-old Janiah Edmonds and booked her on a capital murder charge; officials did not publicly say she fired the weapon.

Burns, born August 3, 1982, in San Antonio and known to family as Lil Ronnie and Lil Terrace, was married and a father of four. If anyone has information about the robbery or the people involved, please contact the Harris County Sheriff’s Office Homicide Unit at 713-274-9100 or Houston Crime Stoppers at 713-222-8477?