On June 2, 2024, at approximately 6:35 p.m., Houston police officers responded to reports of a deceased individual at 699 Franklin Street. Upon arrival, they discovered Richard Nugent, 38, lying unresponsive on the sidewalk near the Buffalo Bayou Trail, having suffered multiple gunshot wounds to the head. As officers canvassed the area for witnesses, they found RJ Lewis, 66, similarly unresponsive with gunshot wounds, located on a stairwell leading up to the intersection of Congress and Smith
Streets from the trail. Houston Fire Department paramedics pronounced both individuals dead at the scene.
Initially, investigators had no leads regarding a motive or suspect. However, on June 20, surveillance photos of a person of interest were released to the public. A tip from the community led to the identification of Bruce Butler, 37, as the individual in the photos. On June 24, Butler was located and arrested; during questioning, he confessed to the shootings. He has since been charged with capital murder and booked into the Harris County Joint Processing Center.
Court documents reveal that Butler admitted to targeting Nugent and Lewis while they slept along the walking path, shooting each twice in the head. He claimed to have disposed of the firearm by selling it to an unknown homeless individual, referring to the weapon as "dirty" due to the blood. Butler further stated that he believed he was "sent by Yahweh to rid the Earth of heathens" and expressed intentions to continue his actions upon release, planning to acquire another firearm by breaking into vehicles and targeting additional homeless individuals. He indicated a specific intent to target areas around The Beacon, a downtown Houston nonprofit that assists the homeless, aiming to kill at least four to five more people.
Butler's criminal history includes previous offenses such as car burglaries and assault causing bodily injury. At the time of his arrest, he was homeless. His statements during interrogation have raised concerns about his mental state, with his defense attorney indicating plans to request a mental evaluation.
The tragic deaths of Richard Nugent and RJ Lewis have highlighted the vulnerabilities faced by homeless individuals and have prompted discussions about the safety and protection of this population in Houston. Community members and organizations are calling for increased measures to safeguard those without shelter, emphasizing the need for comprehensive support systems and mental health interventions to prevent such incidents in the future.
