POLICE Department
Suspect Arrested in 1979 Fatal Shooting
June 24, 2016 - Authorities have arrested a suspect on the run for 36 years after being charged in the fatal shooting of one man and the wounding of another in the 9200 block of Buffalo Speedway about 2:20 a.m. on November 3, 1979.
The suspect, Leon Dudley (b/m, 69), is charged with murder in the 176th State District Court. A photo of Dudley is attached to this news release.
The victim, Stephan Tramble Chambers, 23, was transported to Ben Taub General Hospital where he was pronounced dead. A second victim, Charles Eugene Philleo, 25 at the time, was shot in the mouth but survived his wounds. Mr. Philleo died of natural causes on June 25, 1998.
HPD Homicide Division Cold Case Unit Senior Police Officer D. Shorten reported:
The suspect was driving a 1973 black over yellow Mercury four-door vehicle when he began arguing with a waitress in the parking lot of the above address.
He then produced a handgun and began shooting into the crowd that had gathered, striking victims Chambers and Philleo. The suspect then fled the scene.
Further investigation led to the identification of Dudley as the suspect in this case and, on November 7, 1979, he was charged with murder. However, Dudley had fled the area by bus and remained at large. Recently, HPD investigators and the Gulf Coast Violent Offender Task Force learned Dudley was living in Euclid, Ohio. The Collateral Task Force in Ohio was notified and arrested Dudley without incident.
An HPD Homicide Division Cold Case investigator traveled to Cleveland, Ohio, to interview him, however he declined to provide any additional information on the case.
Dudley has waived extradition to Texas and will be transferred to the Harris County Jail in the near future.
suspects Leon Dudley
KJS/JFC 6-24-16
Inc. #3498879
For additional information, please contact the HPD Public Affairs Division at 713-308-3200.
