A husband, father, and grandfather, Donald Bruce Webb was a family man who lived in Spring, Texas. Born on April 21, 1960, the 47-year-old Caucasian man was married to his wife of 15 years, Carla. Together they had a family that included their children, Amanda Haynes, B.J. Webb, Luke Webb, and Diana Albertson. He was also a proud grandfather to two grandchildren, Alyssa and David Bruce Albertson. Donald was the son of Donald G. Webb and Mava S. Aplin and a brother to Cheryl, Carla, Yvette, Christina, and Carl. His life, centered around his loved ones, was violently cut short on a summer evening in 2007.
On Tuesday, July 3, 2007, Donald was at his job at a baggage delivery company in north Houston. According to Houston Police, he became involved in a verbal altercation with an unknown man that reportedly lasted for much of the afternoon. The nature of the dispute remains unclear, but it tragically escalated hours later.
Around 9:10 p.m., Donald was working alone in the 15100 block of Lee Road when witnesses heard the sound of gunshots echoing from an alley behind the business.
When the witnesses went to investigate the noise, they made a devastating discovery. They found Donald lying on the ground in the alley, suffering from multiple gunshot wounds to his abdomen. Emergency services were called, and he was rushed to Northeast Medical Center for treatment. Despite the efforts of medical staff, Donald Bruce Webb succumbed to his injuries and was pronounced dead.
The Houston Police Department's Homicide Division immediately launched an investigation into the murder, with Sergeant N.T. Rutland and Officer E.H. Schmidt leading the initial inquiry. The only description they had for a suspect was frustratingly vague: an unknown Hispanic male with whom Donald had been arguing earlier in the day. Investigators processed the scene in the alley for evidence and spoke with witnesses, but the assailant had vanished. The argument that simmered throughout the afternoon had ended in a fatal confrontation, leaving a family shattered and a killer at large.
In the days following his death, Donald's family gathered to mourn their profound loss. They received friends at Calvary Hill Funeral Home and held a funeral service in the chapel on July 7, 2007. He was later laid to rest at Peebles Cemetery in Livingston, Texas. His family was left with only memories and the lingering question of who was responsible for his death and why.
As of July 2007, the investigation into Donald Webb's murder had few leads. Despite the initial work by homicide detectives, no arrests have ever been announced in the case. For over a decade, the case has grown cold, and the identity of the man who ended Donald's life remains a mystery. There has been no public information released regarding new suspects, persons of interest, or evidence. The case remains an unsolved homicide in the files of the Houston Police Department. Anyone with information is urged to contact the HPD Homicide Division at 713-308-3600 or Crime Stoppers at 713-222-TIPS.
