Ashley "Ash" Rowell, age 35, was fatally shot on February 1, 2013, at his home in the Montrose neighborhood of Houston, Texas. He was shot at around 7:45 p.m. when he answered a knock at his front door, with the bullet piercing his chest. At the time of the shooting, his wife Lesli, their three children, and two additional children who were having a sleepover were all in the house. Ash collapsed in the family room after being shot, and unfortunately, some of the children may have witnessed him on the ground. Witnesses reported seeing a dark-colored sedan fleeing the scene immediately afterward, and investigators believe the attack was targeted as there were no signs of robbery or forced entry into the house (sources: [151], [152]).
Ashley was well-known within the craft beer community, as he was the former owner of Duff Beer Distribution. He played an important role in promoting local breweries and helping smaller companies grow by distributing their products across Houston. Ash came from a family involved in the beer business—his parents owned Noble Union Imports, which imported beers from Belgium, Germany, and the United Kingdom. Ash's business efforts were instrumental in boosting the local craft beer industry, and he was described as passionate, kind-hearted, and generous by his friends and associates ([152], [153]).
The investigation into his murder remains unresolved. Although the police looked into potential leads, such as conflicts related to Ash's business dealings and even disputes with Lesli's brothers, no one has been charged in connection with his death. Despite Lesli Rowell offering a $10,000 reward for information leading to a conviction, the case remains unsolved. The authorities continue to encourage anyone with information to come forward in hopes of bringing the perpetrator to justice ([151], [153]).
