News Summary
In a tragic incident on June 9, 2024, four men have been charged for their involvement in the shooting that left 18-year-old Nehemiah Lima dead and a 15-year-old wounded at a graduation party in southeast Houston. The suspects, linked to gang activity, face serious charges including murder and aggravated assault. The community is calling for justice and increased safety as ongoing investigations reveal connections to multiple other shootings in the area.
Houston
Four men have been charged in connection with a deadly shooting that occurred on June 9, 2024, in southeast Houston. The incident resulted in the death of 18-year-old Nehemiah Lima, who was fatally shot at a home on Moss Rose Street, close to the Gulf Freeway. The suspects, identified as Jared Edu Garcia (20), Brian Azahel Garcia (18), Jair Gael Garcia (21), and Francisco Jathziel Garcia Juarez (26), are all facing charges of murder and aggravated assault with a deadly weapon.
Alongside the tragic loss of Lima, a 15-year-old boy was also shot during the incident and was hospitalized as a result, but fortunately, he survived his injuries. The Houston Police Department (HPD) spent several months investigating the shooting before identifying the four men as suspects. Formal charges were filed on May 7, 2025, following the presentation of the case to the Harris County District Attorney’s Office.
At the time of the new charges being filed, Brian Garcia, Jair Garcia, and Juarez were already in custody on unrelated charges. Jared Garcia was arrested on May 8, 2025, by HPD SWAT and Southeast Crime Suppression Teams.
Details of the Incident
Eyewitness accounts indicated that a fight broke out during a graduation party before the shooting occurred. Witnesses also suggested that the suspects may have been targeting another individual at the party rather than Lima. Information gathered from an individual suggested that a relative believed he was the intended target, and this person confirmed to police that he recognized the Garcia brothers from the party. He reported hearing approximately 30 gunshots during the incident.
Further investigation established that the alleged target and the suspects had been part of the same gang for several years. Additionally, on October 6, 2024, the same suspects had reportedly fired shots at a residence in an attempt to hit the same target, but instead injured his father, who was hospitalized. The intended target was not present during that incident.
Connections to Other Shootings
The HPD has connected shell casings found at the scene of the graduation party shooting to at least four other shooting incidents in the area. One notable incident occurred outside Pasadena Memorial High School on February 28, 2025, where two teenagers were shot during a fight.
Community Response
Authorities have urged anyone with additional information regarding the shooting or the suspects to come forward. Community members can contact the HPD Homicide Division at 713-308-3600 or provide tips anonymously to Crime Stoppers at 713-222-TIPS. The investigation is ongoing, and law enforcement is committed to addressing the surge in violence in the community.
The tragic loss of Nehemiah Lima, coupled with the shooting of the young boy, has sparked concern among residents in Houston, putting a spotlight on the issue of gun violence and gang-related activities in neighborhoods across the city. As the investigation moves forward, the community is seeking justice for the victims of this incident and safety for its residents.
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Additional Resources
- KHOU: Moss Rose Shooting Murder Arrest
- Google Search: Moss Rose Street shooting Houston
- ABC13: Walter Howard Gunman Charged
- Wikipedia: Gun violence in the United States
- Fox26: Buxley Street Shooting Update
- Encyclopedia Britannica: Violence
- Click2Houston: Charges Filed Against Armed Man
- Google Scholar: Gun violence Houston
