Cornelius Cotton, a 28-year-old African American male, was found shot to death in his pickup truck at the Crestmont Village Apartment Homes in Houston, Texas, on September 6, 2015. The incident occurred around 2 p.m., and residents reported hearing four gunshots. Upon arrival, police discovered Cotton with gunshot wounds to his shoulder and head. Despite the efforts of HFD paramedics, Cotton was pronounced dead at the scene.
The initial investigation did not yield any witnesses, and the Houston Police Department urged anyone with information to come forward.
Further investigation and tips from Crime Stoppers led to the identification of Tyson Murphy, a 20-year-old African American male, as a suspect in the murder of Cornelius Cotton. Murphy was already in the Harris County jail on an unrelated charge when he was charged with capital murder for his role in Cotton's death. The charges were filed on October 26, 2015, and Murphy was subsequently arrested. The case was handled by the HPD Homicide Division, with Sergeant C. Hassig and Officer T. Ferguson leading the investigation.
The murder of Cornelius Cotton was a tragic event that left the community in shock. The HPD continued to seek information from the public to ensure that justice was served. The case highlighted the importance of community cooperation in solving violent crimes and bringing perpetrators to justice. The arrest of Tyson Murphy provided some closure to the case, but the impact of Cotton's death on his family and the community remained profound.
