Benefit held for Houston man that saved teenager

HOUSTON (FOX 26) - Who do you think of when you hear the word hero? For Juan Escutia, the name Moyses Arreguín will from here on out come to mind.

“We are losing a dad, we are losing a cousin, we are losing a son, we are losing a godfather, we are losing a hero. I can say that. I can say he is a hero because that is what he did. He became a hero by doing that,” says Escutia. The two were basically like cousins. Escutia’s mother was Arreguín’s godmother. The two were very close.

“He was trying to save someone right, he was trying to save a teenager. He was being a good Samaritan. He was the type of person that would take off his shirt for anybody,” says Escutia.

On Sunday evening, a BBQ fundraiser was held to help Arreguín’s family out. He leaves behind a wife and two young children. The 29-year-old died just days before in the very spot where a memorial is now set up in his honor.

“He, he is angel for us, he gave his life for my son trying to help him and there is nothing I can do, nothing I can say that can repay what he did for us,” says Cecilia Mejia, who held the fundraiser. She says late Friday night her 16-year-old was out in the driveway, when several people came up to him, robbing him at gunpoint. Arreguín saw his neighbor in distress and ran to his aid. He was able to save him and get the suspects to leave, but not before being shot.

Police are looking for three suspects, two are younger Hispanic men between the ages of 16 and 20, both with a slim build. They fled the scene in a dark 4-door sedan.

Police are asking folks that live nearby to check their surveillance cameras and ask that anyone with information call police or Crime Stoppers at 713-222-TIPS.