June 15, 2023 - A suspect wanted and charged in the fatal shooting of a juvenile male at 8000 Cook Road about 6:25 p.m. on December 28, 2020 is in custody.

The suspect, Josue Barrera, 20, is charged with capital murder in the 338th State District Court. A booking photo of Barrera is attached to this news release.

The second suspect, a 16-year-old male, was previously arrested and referred to the Harris County Juvenile Probation authorities on a charge of capital murder. Booking photos of juvenile suspects are not releasable.

The victim, Ruben Pineda, 15, was pronounced deceased at the scene.

HPD Homicide Division Officers C. Lamont and L. Lange reported:

Officers responded to a shooting call at the above address and found the victim lying in an apartment complex parking lot. He had been shot in the torso and responding paramedics pronounced him deceased.

A preliminary investigation indicated there were two suspects. One was described only as a tall, skinny black male in his late teens, wearing a blue hooded sweater, black pants and a shiny blue belt. The other suspect was described only as a Hispanic male, also believed to be in his late teens, wearing a navy blue sweater, faded denim jeans and white shoes.

Further investigation identified the Hispanic male suspect as Josue Barrera and, on January 26, he was charged for his role in the shooting. The other suspect was identified as a juvenile and, on March 18, 2021, he was arrested.

Subsequent investigation developed information on Barrera's whereabouts and, on Wednesday (June 14), he was arrested by officers with the HPD Downtown Patrol Division without incident.