Jesse Metzger was a 31-year-old Black man from Spring, Texas, who was a husband, father, brother, and son. His family remembered him as a man who loved his kids, his wife, and his family. He had an infectious laugh and a creative talent for music and drawing. At the time of his death, Jesse and his wife, Paula, had three young children and were expecting their fourth. His passions included his friends, music, and motorcycles.
In the early morning hours of January 27, 2023, Jesse was riding his motorcycle after having dinner with friends. Shortly after leaving the restaurant, he called his friends to tell them he was concerned he was being followed by a white Jeep Cherokee. During a subsequent call, Jesse told them he had been shot just before the phone line disconnected.
Concerned, his friends went searching for him. They found Jesse near his motorcycle in the parking lot of a Home Depot off the North Freeway.
At first, they thought he had been in a crash, but first responders discovered he had been shot in the upper torso. Jesse Metzger was pronounced dead at the scene. Investigators determined that he had likely been shot while on the freeway before he pulled into the parking lot and collapsed.
The investigation led authorities to identify 36-year-old Aaron Grant as the suspect. Grant, a former Harris County Precinct 4 deputy constable who had resigned in 2020, was arrested in February 2023 and charged with murder. Investigators alleged that Grant had pulled his Honda SUV parallel to Jesse's motorcycle on the freeway and fired a single shot. The bullet struck Jesse in the arm and entered his body cavity, causing his death.
Aaron Grant was later tried and convicted for the murder of Jesse Metzger. A court sentenced him to serve 35 years in prison for the crime.
