Two die in area robbery and drive-by shooting

Slain convenience store clerk Joe Fernandes


Houston police are investigating the fatal shooting of a man at 390 Aldine Bender about 10 p.m. on Aug. 31.

The victim, Joe Fernandes, 54 of Sugarland, suffered a gunshot wound and was pronounced dead at the scene.

According to HPD Homicide Division Officers R. Figueroa three unknown male suspects dressed in dark clothing entered the Siesta Food Mart at 390 Aldine Bender and robbed the store clerk at gunpoint. At some point during the robbery, one of the suspects fatally shot the clerk.

Police say that from all indications Fernandes was cooperating with the robbers although the robbers could have been agitated that under the stress of the situation that he could not open the safe fast enough to suit the robbers.

The three suspects then left the store and got into an older model, gold or tan four-door vehicle parked on the side of the store in the 15900 block of Cotillion Drive.

The suspects were last seen driving southbound on Cotillion Drive.

A witness told police that the trio had been in the store for less than a minute. Police have not released descriptions of the suspects.

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

In a seperate incident, a woman was killed and two others injured in a drive-by shooting in Northern Harris County on Sept. 2.

Police say that the shooting took place around 2:30 a.m. in the 1000 block of West Mount Houston, just west of Interstate 45.

According to witnesses a black pickup truck pulled alongside another truck and someone inside fired a shot.

Two women and a man were hit by gunfire. One woman, whose name has not been released died at the scene. The other two were transported to Ben Taub General Hospital for treatment.

Police have not released a description of the suspects. A motive for the shooting is not known at this time.