On July 20, 2024, 14-year-old Abraham Choukair was found fatally shot in the driver’s seat of a parked vehicle at an apartment complex at 8800 Hammerly Boulevard in Houston’s Spring Branch area. Officers responded to reports of a shooting about 12:45 p.m.; Houston Fire Department paramedics pronounced the unresponsive teenager dead at the scene. Witnesses said Abraham had been talking with a Hispanic female in a black hoodie and a Hispanic male in a black hooded sweatshirt with white designs, blue pants, black sandals and carrying a black and white Nike backpack. Both were seen fleeing into the complex immediately after the shooting. Houston police released surveillance images of the male and sought the public’s help identifying him.

By September 5, 2024, the male was identified as 17-year-old Joshua Garcia and was charged with murder; he remained at large. On October 15, 2024, a 16-year-old female suspect was arrested and charged with capital murder; her identity has not been disclosed because she is a juvenile. Abraham’s family described profound grief and frustration and said they believed he may have been associating with the wrong crowd. The case has intensified local concern about juvenile gun violence, with county data cited showing a 76% rise in juvenile homicides from 2021 to 2023.

If anyone has information that could help locate Joshua Garcia or shed light on what happened that day, please contact the Houston Police Homicide Division or Crime Stoppers.