Ashton Russell, 35, of Houston, Texas, died on December 7, 2023. Houston police responded to a report of an injured person and found Russell unresponsive; despite attempts to revive him he was declared dead at the scene. Authorities treated the death as suspicious and a suspected homicide rather than a natural death.

Investigators reported Russell had been in a dispute with an acquaintance and examined that connection as a possible motive. Police identified and later took a suspect into custody on charges related to Russell’s death; investigators collected witness statements and other evidence and developed a timeline pointing to a violent confrontation.

Russell’s family, friends, and colleagues described him as compassionate and devoted to his work. If anyone has information about the dispute or the events of December 7, please share what you know with investigators.