On January 3, 2017, 38-year-old Martin Pineda was fatally shot while taking out the trash at his apartment complex in the 2900 block of Corporate Drive in Houston, Texas. The incident occurred around 8:45 p.m. Houston Police Department officers responded to reports of a shooting and found Pineda with a gunshot wound to the abdomen. He was transported to Memorial Hermann Southwest Hospital, where he was pronounced dead.
Surveillance footage from the apartment complex captured a stolen white GMC pickup truck entering the premises. One individual exited the vehicle and approached Pineda, shooting him at least once before fleeing the scene. The truck was later recovered, and investigators found a McDonald's receipt inside, dated the day after the shooting. This clue led authorities to obtain surveillance footage from the fast-food restaurant, identifying 19-year-old Oscar Martinez as the driver of the vehicle.
Martinez was arrested on June 23, 2017, and charged with capital murder. During questioning, he admitted to driving the truck on the day of the incident and stated that he and another man had visited the complex. According to Martinez, his accomplice exited the vehicle with the intent to rob Pineda, and Martinez heard two gunshots before his accomplice returned to the truck.
Further investigation led to the identification of 21-year-old Luis Contreras as the second suspect. On October 4, 2017, Contreras was arrested following a high-speed chase that ended in a multi-vehicle crash. He was charged with capital murder, felony evading arrest, and felon in possession of a firearm. At the time of his arrest, Contreras was out on bail for two felony charges: aggravated assault with a deadly weapon and aggravated robbery with a deadly weapon, both stemming from incidents believed to have occurred on January 10, 2017.
Both suspects were held without bail in the Harris County Jail. The case highlighted the role of surveillance technology and diligent investigative work in solving violent crimes. Pineda's death underscored concerns about safety within residential communities and prompted discussions on preventive measures to protect residents from similar incidents.
