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Update on Incident at 6700 West Airport

December 7, 2005 -- Houston police are investigating the fatal shooting of a man in the 6700 block of West Airport Boulevard on December 5, 2005 about 5:30 a.m.

The victim is identified as Eric James Smith, 34, of 12500 Sandpiper Drive. He was a Hurricane Katrina survivor from New Orleans. Smith suffered a gunshot wound to the head and was pronounced dead at the scene.

The wanted vehicle is a 2006 Buick Rendezvous, Texas LP# 207- DMS white in color.

Click here for photo #1 of similar vehicle.
Click here for photo #2 of similar vehicle.

HPD Homicide Division Sergeant E. Gonzalez and Officer R. Martinez reported:

Mr. Smith was robbed of his vehicle at the parking lot of a gas station located on the 6900 block of West Airport. Mr. Smith went to the window of the store and told the clerk he had just been car-jacked. He walked away from the window and called 911 to report the car-jacking. While on the phone with the police call taker (as he walked in the 6700 block of West Airport), he was robbed again and fatally shot.

On December 5, 2005 at approximately 9 p.m., HPD officers stopped a stolen vehicle that was involved in a different shooting. These suspects may have been involved in several robberies in the same area and around the same time of this murder. It is unknown if these crimes are connected; however the suspects and Mr. Smith were all from the same housing project in New Orleans.

Anyone with information in this case is urged to contact the HPD Homicide Division at 713-308-3600 or Crime Stoppers at 713-222-TIPS.

Update: JGA/NJM 12-7-05
JFC/RMM 12-5-05
Inc #183456105

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