Houston Police Department

April 21, 2005 -- Houston police homicide investigators have arrested a suspect in the fatal shooting of a man and wounding of two others at 8236 South Gessner about 2:25 a.m. on April 8.

Juan Jose Sermeno (H/m, DOB 2-24-83) was arrested in the 6300 block of Richmond on Wednesday (Apr. 20). He has been charged with murder in the 177th State District Court.

The deceased victim, Ruben Salomon, 24, of 4000 Hollister suffered a gunshot wound to the chest and was pronounced dead at Ben Taub General Hospital. The two other victims, Jose Rosa, 22, and Randy Antonio Alvarez, 21, were transported to area hospitals in good condition.

HPD Homicide Division Sergeants M. Scott and D. Ferguson reported:

Numerous people were walking to their cars or standing on the parking lot at 8236 South Gessner. The lot serves as an overflow parking area for a nearby nightclub. Witnesses reported seeing an argument or fight on the parking lot and an unknown Hispanic male taking out a handgun from his waistband and shooting into a group of people. Three off-duty Houston police officers working at a nearby nightclub heard the gunshots and went to investigate. As the officers crossed South Gessner and entered the parking lot, the suspect shot at them. HPD Sergeant A. Giraldo Sr. returned fire and the suspect ran to a waiting vehicle that sped from the scene. The vehicle was later found abandoned in the parking lot of the former Westwood Mall at Bissonnet and the Southwest Freeway. No officers were injured in the incident. Sergeant Giraldo, sworn in as an HPD officer in March 1995, is assigned to the South
Central Patrol Division.

Update JFC/RMM 4-21-05
JFC/RMM 4-8-05
Inc #053339905

For additional information, please contact the HPD Public Affairs Division at 713-308-3200.