Jose Hernandez

On a Sunday morning in Houston, Texas, Jose Hernandez, a 51-year-old Hispanic man, was preparing to go to the grocery store with his youngest child. His widow later recalled how the day was shattered by sudden, inexplicable violence, leaving her to raise their children alone.

Around 11:15 a.m. on September 11, 2016, Hernandez was outside his home in the 190 block of Goodson Drive in the northern part of the city. He had just placed his one-year-old son into his pickup truck when an unknown man approached him. According to investigators, the two men got into an argument. The confrontation escalated when the stranger pulled out a knife and stabbed Hernandez several times. As the attacker fled, Hernandez cried out for help. His young son was still inside the truck as several people rushed to his side.

Paramedics transported Hernandez to Ben Taub General Hospital, but he succumbed to his injuries a short time later. Doctors informed his family that he had bled to death. The Houston Police Department opened a homicide investigation into the unprovoked, broad-daylight attack.

Police released a grainy surveillance image of the person they believe is responsible. The suspect was described as a Black male between 18 and 25 years old, standing 5 feet 7 inches to 5 feet 10 inches tall, with a small afro. At the time of the stabbing, he was not wearing a shirt. As of September 2016, no arrests had been made in the case. The murder of Jose Hernandez remains unsolved. Crime Stoppers of Houston is offering a reward of up to $5,000 for information leading to an arrest.