On June 12, 2023, at approximately 2:30 a.m., Houston police officers responded to reports of a shooting at an apartment complex located at 11960 Airline Drive. Upon arrival, they discovered 19-year-old Celestino Alvarado inside a tan SUV that had collided with several parked vehicles in the complex's parking lot. Alvarado had sustained a fatal gunshot wound and was pronounced dead at the scene by Houston Fire Department paramedics.
Following an investigation, authorities identified 31-year-old Oscar Reynozo Sierra as the primary suspect in Alvarado's death. On June 30, 2023, charges were filed against Sierra in the 208th State District Court, formally accusing him of murder. At the time the charges were filed, Sierra was not in custody. A 2018 booking photo of Sierra was released to the public to assist in locating him.
As of July 3, 2023, Sierra remained at large, and the Houston Police Department urged anyone with information regarding his whereabouts to contact their Homicide Division or Crime Stoppers anonymously. The motive behind the shooting was not disclosed in the available reports, and further details about the relationship between Alvarado and Sierra, if any, were not provided.
In the aftermath of Alvarado's death, community members expressed their condolences and commemorated his life by lighting candles and sharing memories on memorial websites dedicated to gun violence victims. The tragic incident contributed to ongoing discussions about safety and gun violence in the Houston area, highlighting the impact on young individuals like Alvarado.
