Police seek more suspects in drive-by shooting that killed 8-year-old boy
HOUSTON (FOX 26) - Houston police are seeking help from the public to help track down one or two additional suspects in a drive-by shooting that resulted in the death of an 8-year-old boy and injured his 5-year-old sister. The first suspect in the case was arrested on Thursday.
Houston police arrested Devonte Lockett, 18, at around 6 p.m. Thursday, a mile down the street from the nail salon parking lot on Scott Street where he is accused in the murder of 8-year-old Tristian Hutchins. Hutchins’ 5-year-old sister was injured in the drive-by shooting.
Police are working to track down other suspects who were in the car with Lockett.
“We still have...one-to-two other shooters involved in this case and someone that was driving that vehicle, and we need people to come in,” says Houston Police Department Chief Art Acevedo. He also says information provided to Crime Stoppers of Houston helped lead to the arrest of Devonte Lockett.
Police say while he’s not admitting to the murder of little Tristian Hutchins, they know Lockett is one of the shooters who fired at the car where the 8-year-old was sitting in the back seat on March 1 while his mother was in a nail salon.
“While the suspect was somewhat cooperative in questioning last night, he did not admit to being involved in young Tristian Hutchins' murder,” adds Chief Acevedo.
Lockett is no stranger to violent crime, according to Chief Acevedo. He says Lockett is a known gang member who led police on a dangerous chase in early 2017 and was charged with felony evading, felony possession of a controlled substance and carrying a firearm.
Chief Acevedo says in late 2017, Lockett suffered a wound to the face in a drive-by shooting.
“Lockett was wounded in a drive-by shooting at 1100 Webster,” explains Chief Acevedo. "He recovered from the wound to his face. You can see that wound in his current booking photo.”
As for young Tristian Hutchins, his mother attended the police news conference but didn’t want to appear on camera. She did post on social media about a candlelight vigil that will take place on Friday in memory of her little boy at 6:30 p.m. at Emancipation Park. On Saturday, she’ll have to bury him.
During the news conference, Houston Mayor Sylvester Turner asked for prayers on Friday for Tristian’s family as his 5-year-old sister continues to recover from the shooting and police continue the investigation.
“I do want to underscore the importance of the community stepping up and providing us with needed information,” says Mayor Turner. “It is that information that led us to this point.”
The police chief says there is reward money for information that people are able to provide about who else was in the car with Devonte Lockett when young Tristian was murdered. Anyone with information can leave an anonymous tip by contacting Crime Stoppers of Houston by phone at 713-222-8477 (TIPS).