On the evening of May 19, 2023, at approximately 10:15 p.m., Houston police responded to a shooting incident on the 1200 block of the Gulf Freeway (South Interstate Highway 45). Upon arrival, officers discovered 43-year-old Juan Gerardo Banda Reyes lying on the side of the roadway, having sustained multiple gunshot wounds. Paramedics from the Houston Fire Department pronounced him deceased at the scene.
Witnesses reported observing a dark pickup truck fleeing the scene immediately after the shooting. Further investigation led authorities to identify 17-year-old Eduardo Gomez Jr. as a suspect in the case. On May 26, Gomez surrendered to law enforcement and was subsequently charged with murder in the 178th State District Court.
According to court documents, the incident stemmed from a traffic-related altercation on the Pierce Elevated section of the Gulf Freeway. Gomez and his girlfriend alleged that after being cut off by Reyes, he exited his vehicle and approached them rapidly, prompting Gomez to shoot him out of fear. However, a witness stated that Reyes exited his vehicle with his hands up and did not display aggressive behavior. Additionally, Gomez is accused of running over Reyes as he fled the scene without notifying authorities. Investigators were able to connect Gomez to the crime after discovering a bag containing money, a gun, and his identification near the scene.
Following his arrest, Gomez's bond was set at $1 million. The conditions of his bond, should he post it, include wearing a GPS monitor, refraining from possessing weapons or firearms, having no contact with the victim's family or witnesses, and not driving without court permission. Gomez's attorney requested a bond reduction to $45,000, citing his status as a high school student with no prior criminal record.
Juan Banda Reyes was a family man and a fan of the Houston Astros. He is survived by his wife, Elizabeth Juarez, and their three children: Camila Rose Banda, Gerardo Emilio Banda, and Alison Regina Banda. A visitation was held on May 26, 2023, at Funeraria Del Angel Crespo in Houston, followed by a rosary. His family planned to receive him in Mexico for burial.
