Byron Thomas

Byron Thomas, a 33-year-old Black man from Houston, Texas, was a father who left behind an 8-year-old daughter named Angela. Known to friends by nicknames including "B Soulja" and "Big Daddy," he was remembered as an "amazing boyfriend" with a personality that "made the world smile." He worked as a driver for Penske and was killed just one day after his 33rd birthday.

On the evening of July 16, 2020, Thomas was sitting in his car in the parking lot of his west Houston apartment complex on the 14100 block of Rio Bonito. At around 7:45 p.m., a light-colored sedan pulled up behind him. A man, described by authorities as Hispanic and wearing a surgical mask, got out of the sedan, approached Thomas’s vehicle, and opened fire, shooting him multiple times. The shooter then fled the scene. Thomas was flown by LifeFlight to Memorial Hermann Hospital, where he was pronounced dead.

The Harris County Sheriff’s Office launched an investigation into the homicide. At the time, investigators were not sure if Thomas knew his attacker or what had led to the shooting. They immediately began searching for surveillance footage from the area that might have captured the incident or the suspect.

A suspect, Marcos Abrego, was later arrested and charged with the murder of Byron Thomas. The case went to trial, and in March 2023, a jury found Abrego guilty. He was sentenced to life in prison for the murder. Prosecutors Brett Batchelor and Elizabeth Liberman were credited for their work on the case.