January 14, 2012 - Charges have been filed against a suspect arrested in the fatal stabbing of a man and the wounding of a woman at 15707 Eastex Freeway (North U.S. Highway 59) service road about 9:50 p.m. last Saturday (Jan. 12).

Joseph Duran (H/m, DOB: 1-4-61) is charged with murder in the 209th State District Court.  No photo of Duran is available at this time.

Jose Armando Ramirez, 45, of Houston, suffered multiple stab wounds and was transported to Lyndon B. Johnson General Hospital were he was pronounced dead.  The female victim, Irma Duran, 51, also of Houston, was transported to Memorial Hermann Northeast Hospital where she was treated and released.

HPD Homicide Division Sergeants H. Garcia, M. Jewell and Senior Police Officers B. Evans and H. Chavez reported:

Mr. Ramirez and Ms. Duran were staying at the Palace Inn at the above address when they heard a commotion outside.  Ms. Duran looked outside and saw the suspect, her ex-husband, flattening the tires of two vehicles.  She then told Ramirez, who went outside and was immediately assaulted and stabbed by the suspect, Duran.  Duran also stabbed his ex-wife in the chest before two witnesses were able to tackle and hold him.  

While another witness provided first aid to Ramirez, suspect Duran then broke free of the other witnesses and fled the scene in a silver Dodge Crewcab pickup truck with a blue tarp covering the bed.  

Further investigation determined Duran had been wounded by his own knife when tackled by the witnesses.  He was later transported to a local hospital where he remains in police custody while being treated.



KJS/JFC  1-14-13
Inc. #004814713