Deaf Houston man shot and killed during robbery

A deaf man named Matthew Harris was shot and killed on Sunday, April 5 at a gas station in Houston, Texas. He was 28 years old and a football player at Gallaudet University. 

A friend and former roommate of Harris, Jeremiah R. Sammons, told “The Daily Moth” that Harris went to a gas station to buy cigarettes and beer and did not realize that the gunman was trying to rob him. 

Houston police told KHOU 11 News that the shooting happened in an empty parking on Greens Road where there is a gas station and a strip mall. This is in the northern part of Houston. The shooting happened just after midnight. 

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Police said according to multiple surveillance videos, an unidentified man approached Harris and then shot him. The suspect then took Harris’ belongings and his shoes and then got into Harris’ Cadillac sedan and drove away. 

When police arrived, they saw that Harris had a gunshot wound in his abdomen and was still alive when he was transported to the hospital to undergo surgery, but died. 

Harris’ vehicle was found nearby but the suspect is still at large. KHOU 11 showed images of the suspect, who is unidentified. 

Sammons, the friend, said that Harris’ body was flown to Lynchburg, Virginia on Thursday and the funeral took place last weekend. Harris leaves behind two children. The family said in a statement on an obituary that in lieu of flowers people can make donations in his name to Tharp Funeral Home, Gallaudet Athletics, or National Deaf Association (more likely referring to the National Association of the Deaf). The link to the obituary is in the transcript. 

Today Houston police retweeted a Houston Crime Stoppers request for help to find the suspect. Crime Stoppers said in a statement that the suspect is responsible for “Capital Murder” and that the family of the victim is is requesting help to find the person responsible for the murder. Crime Stoppers is offering up to $5,000 for information leading to the identification, charging, and/or arrest of the suspect. Their contact information is in the link in the transcript.

KHOU 11: https://www.khou.com/article/news/crime/man-accused-of-shooting-victim-to-death-stealing-his-shoes-car/285-112f7164-2a95-466c-9787-550f44aa003c

Houston Police gives report to KHOU 11: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fY8H9pOteMA

Crime Stoppers Contact Info: https://mailchi.mp/crime-stoppers/capital-murder-hpd-448734-20-600-blk-greens-rd

Obituary: https://tharpfuneralhome.com/funeralpress/matthew-harris/3823/