On December 22, 2015, 71-year-old Hispanic male Saul Cruz was working as a security guard in southwest Houston. Around 4:10 a.m., while seated in his vehicle outside a gas station at 4735 Anderson, he was ambushed by two individuals. The assailants approached from behind and, without any prior confrontation, opened fire on Cruz's car. After shooting him, they robbed him of his handgun and fled the scene on foot. Cruz succumbed to his injuries and was pronounced dead at the scene.
Following the incident, Houston police identified two suspects: 22-year-old Daniel Moreno and 21-year-old Jonathan Vasquez. Both were charged with capital murder in connection to the crime. A Crime Stoppers tip led to Moreno's arrest on December 28, 2015. However, Vasquez remained at large for an extended period, with authorities believing he had fled to Mexico. In October 2018, Vasquez was apprehended in Mexico, extradited to Harris County, and subsequently taken into custody.
In 2019, Jonathan Vasquez, then 27 years old, was convicted of capital murder for his role in the robbery and killing of Saul Cruz. He was sentenced to life in prison without the possibility of parole. Daniel Moreno's legal proceedings concluded earlier, resulting in his conviction and sentencing for his involvement in the crime. The swift actions of law enforcement and the assistance from the community were pivotal in bringing both individuals to justice for the tragic death of the elderly security guard.
