On November 9, 2012, Criss Knight, a 50-year-old man, was killed in Houston, Texas. He was driving his truck when a black SUV pulled up at the intersection of Duane and Clover streets. A passenger traveling with Knight exited the truck and shot him in the head before fleeing the scene in the black SUV. The assailants left without attempting to steal anything from Knight, which raised suspicions that the attackers may have been known to him, as there seemed to be no robbery motive behind the killing.
Ballistic evidence linked the weapon used in Knight's murder to another homicide that had occurred less than a month earlier, involving a victim named John Martinez. Despite the same firearm being used in both killings, investigators pointed out key differences between the cases—Martinez appeared to have been the victim of a robbery, whereas Knight's murder did not involve any apparent theft attempt. Authorities are actively pursuing leads, but the case remains unsolved, and investigators are seeking public assistance to identify the suspects involved.
Knight was a well-liked member of the community, known for his work as a plumber and his friendly nature. His family expressed deep shock at his death and stated that they were unaware of any enemies he may have had. The Houston Police Department and Crime Stoppers have offered a reward for information leading to the identification and capture of those responsible for Knight's death, urging anyone with knowledge of the incident to come forward. The Houston Police Department's Cold Case Squad continues to review this and similar unsolved homicides in hopes of making progress.
