On August 23, 2022, Edwin James King, a 22-year-old male from Houston, Texas, was fatally shot in Columbus, Texas. The incident occurred around 11:14 p.m. when Columbus Police Department officers responded to reports of gunshots in the area of Rampart and Bonham Streets. Upon arrival, they found King unresponsive near the roadway in the 1000 block of Bonham Street.
Colorado County EMS confirmed that King was deceased at the scene.
The investigation into King's death revealed that multiple gunshots were fired at him by an unknown suspect. The Columbus Police Department, with assistance from the Colorado County Sheriff's Office and Texas Ranger Company A, launched a thorough investigation. On September 14, 2022, Ruben Gutierrez, a 19-year-old from Columbus, Texas, was arrested in connection with the murder. Gutierrez was found in Crosby, Texas, and was taken into custody without incident.
Gutierrez was charged with the murder of Edwin James King and held on a $500,000 bond. The investigation continued, and on September 23, 2024, Gutierrez was found guilty of the murder and sentenced to 30 years in prison by Judge Jessica R. Crawford of the 2nd 25th Judicial District Court in Colorado County. Gutierrez waived his right to a trial by jury, and the court convicted him based on the evidence presented.
The case highlighted the collaborative efforts of multiple law enforcement agencies, including the Columbus Police Department, Texas Rangers, U.S. Marshals Gulf Coast Violent Offender and Fugitive Task Force, and other local agencies. The successful arrest and conviction of Gutierrez brought some measure of justice for the tragic loss of Edwin James King.
