Rene Almeida

Do you know who murdered this Houston security guard?
Rene Almeida was a loving grandfather, a father of five, and a friend to many. At 51 years old, the Hispanic man was remembered by his daughter as the "nicest person" who "made friends with everybody." Neighbors at the condominium complex where he worked described him as kind and courteous. He had 15 grandchildren who were part of his loving family. He had only been on the job for about two weeks, working as a licensed, armed security guard for the Texas State Private Security Services Company, when his life was tragically cut short.

In the early morning hours of Friday, April 18, 2014, Almeida was on duty at the front gate of the Leawood Condominiums in southwest Houston, Texas. At approximately 12:25 a.m., a man arrived at the complex in the 9700 block of Leawood Boulevard on a black motorcycle. The man, described as tall and slender and wearing a black motorcycle helmet, attempted to enter the property. Following the rules of the complex, which only allowed invited guests with proper identification to enter, Almeida denied him access.

The refusal led to a confrontation. A scuffle broke out between Almeida and the man on the motorcycle. Investigators with the Houston Police Department believe the suspect wrestled Almeida's own firearm away from him during the struggle. The man then used the guard's gun to assault and shoot him multiple times. A resident who lived near the entrance gate heard about five gunshots, followed by a 30-second delay, and then the sound of someone speeding off. Another resident saw a motorcycle speed away from the scene.

When police and paramedics arrived, they found Almeida lying in the parking lot outside the guard shack. His work belt was at the scene, but his gun was missing. He was rushed to Ben Taub General Hospital, but he succumbed to his injuries before he could arrive. Residents were left shaken and heartbroken. "He risked his life to make sure that no one is getting in these apartments that is not suppose to be," one resident said. "That's just shocking. And it hurts my heart to know that somebody killed him."

The Houston Police Department's Homicide Division took charge of the investigation. Detectives began reviewing surveillance camera video and the visitor logbook kept at the security gate for leads. Shortly after the shooting, police detained one person for questioning, but no arrests were announced. In the years that followed, the case grew cold, but Almeida's family never gave up their fight for justice.

In November 2016, more than two years after the murder, Crime Stoppers and Almeida's family held a press conference to announce an increased reward for information. The family added $10,000 to the standard $5,000 offered by Crime Stoppers, bringing the total reward to $15,000 for any information leading to an arrest. A month later, in a painful effort to generate new leads, his family made the difficult decision to release a graphic video from the scene. His daughter explained, "It was a very hard decision for me to agree to give the video to the media, because I hate to see my dad that way, but I really hope it touches someone's heart to come forward and say something."

As of December 2016, the murder of Rene Almeida remains unsolved. The killer who rode away on a black motorcycle has never been identified. The Houston Police Department continues to ask for the public's help. A reward of up to $15,000 is still available. Anyone with information is urged to contact the HPD Homicide Division at 713-308-3600 or Crime Stoppers at 713-222-TIPS. Tipsters can remain anonymous.