Update on Incident at 8878 Hammerly August 13, 2007 - Charges have been filed against two suspects arrested in the fatal shooting of a man at 8878 Hammerly about 1:45 a.m. on August 6. Apolinar Liberato (H/m, DOB: 3-19-85) and Jaime Lee McCall (b/m, DOB: 4-7-88) are charged with capital murder in the 184th State District Court. Both are accused in the killing of Alejandro Cruz, 22,who suffered a gunshot wound and was transported to Spring Branch Medical Center where he was pronounced dead. . HPD Homicide Division Sergeants M. McStravick and J.W. Belk and Officers T. Andrade, M.J. Miller and T.W. Miller reported: Mr. Cruz and his passenger picked up two stranded motorists and drove them to a bar located in a shopping center on Hammerly. When Cruz parked his vehicle, the two stranded motorists exited the car, leaving Cruz and his passenger in the vehicle. Liberato and McCall, armed with handguns, approached the vehicle and ordered the passengers to get out and give them their valuables. A witness exiting a nearby club observed the robbery and ran back into the club to alert patrons inside to the robbery. Witnesses stated hearing one suspect direct the other to shoot Cruz. Several shots were fired and Cruz was struck once in the chest. Liberato and McCall then fled in a dark-colored four-door sedan, possibly a Nissan or a Mazda. It is believed a third individual of unknown description was driving the suspects’ vehicle. On August 7, officers observed a vehicle in the 2000 block of Wirt fitting the description of the one used in this capital murder case. Officers found several items and evidence related to this case in the vehicle, and arrested Liberato and McCall on various traffic offenses. Homicide investigators interviewed Liberato and McCall, who confessed to their crimes. Witnesses from the strip center club also positively identified Liberato and McCall as participants in the crime. Update: VHS/GO 8-13-07 For additional information, please contact the HPD Public Affairs Division at 713-308-3200. |