On December 12, 2016, Jaime Hernandez, a 20-year-old man, was fatally shot in the parking lot of an IHOP located at 6888 Gulf Freeway in Houston, Texas. The incident occurred around 1:40 a.m. after Hernandez and a friend had cashed checks at a nearby business. They were followed by another vehicle to the restaurant, where they parked without suspecting any imminent danger. An older model white four-door vehicle pulled up, and two men exited. One suspect, armed with a gun, approached Hernandez’s driver-side door, while the other approached the passenger side. When demands were made, Hernandez attempted to flee by putting his vehicle in drive. The gunman fired multiple shots, hitting Hernandez fatally before fleeing the scene in their car, driven by a third suspect (source: Houston Police Department).
The shooting was later described as a targeted robbery, with the suspects following Hernandez from the check cashing business to the IHOP. Concerns about security measures at the location were raised, as it was questioned whether adequate precautions, such as lighting or security patrols, could have deterred the crime. The incident is part of a larger issue of violent crime that has prompted discussion on the responsibilities of businesses to ensure safety for patrons (source: Legal Herald).
Houston Police have continued to investigate this incident, and any information about the case is urged to be reported to the authorities or Crime Stoppers.
