April 29, 2021 - Charges have been filed against a suspect arrested in the fatal shooting of a man at 11744 Southwest Freeway (South U.S. Highway 59) service road about 1:45 a.m. today (April 21).  

The suspect, Zechariah Arrieyion Thompson (b/m, 23), is charged with murder in the 248th State District Court.  A booking photo of Thompson is attached to this news release.

The victim is identified as James Avery, 36.  

HPD Homicide Division Sergeant J. Horn and Detective M. Perez reported:  

HPD patrol officers responded to a shooting at a parking lot at the above address and found Mr. Avery unresponsive.  Houston Fire Department paramedics arrived and pronounced him deceased.  

A preliminary investigation determined Avery was seen yelling in the parking lot and behaving in an erratic manner, when an unknown male exited his vehicle armed with a gun and approached the victim.  Both men got into a physical altercation and the male fired at Avery, who was fatally struck.  

The suspect was described a black male driving a newer model, black Jeep Wrangler.  Surveillance photos of the suspect were released on April 21.  They are also attached to this news release.

Further investigation identified the suspect as Thompson and he was arrested and charged on Wednesday (April 28).