Miguel Michael Vasquez, a 37-year-old Hispanic male, was tragically killed on April 4, 2021, in Houston, Texas. Vasquez was leaving Dave and Buster's at the Marq-E Entertainment Center with his 10-year-old daughter when he was approached by Nicholas Thomas, a 23-year-old male. Thomas demanded Vasquez's watch, put him in a chokehold, and then shot him. Vasquez ran to off-duty officers working security for help but later died at a hospital.
His daughter was not harmed during the attack.
The investigation into Vasquez's murder revealed that Thomas may have targeted him for the watch he was wearing. Surveillance video from the Marq-E Entertainment Center and a shell casing found in the parking lot played crucial roles in identifying Thomas as the suspect. Four days after the murder, Thomas's 3-year-old son accidentally shot himself with the same gun used in the murder, which ultimately led to Thomas's arrest. The bullet from the accidental shooting matched the shell casing found at the scene of Vasquez's murder.
Thomas was charged with capital murder and was seen on surveillance video approaching Vasquez, putting him in a chokehold, demanding his watch, and shooting him. The vehicle seen in the surveillance video matched the one registered to Thomas's girlfriend's mother. Thomas was arrested and charged with murder. His DNA was also found on Vasquez's watch, and his fingerprints were found on Vasquez's car. Phone records also proved that Thomas was in the area at the time of the murder.
The trial for Thomas's murder case ended with a hung jury, but prosecutors quickly retried the case. On November 18, 2023, Thomas was convicted of murder and sentenced to life in prison without the possibility of parole. Vasquez's family, who described him as a hard worker and provider, expressed relief that Thomas was off the streets but acknowledged that the pain of losing Vasquez remained. Vasquez left behind his wife and two children.
