This article is over 7 years old

News

Houston Residents Mourn Tragic Death Of Josue Flores

A memorial remains at the spot on Fulton Street where the 11-year-old boy was killed last week.

Share

Listen

To embed this piece of audio in your site, please use this code:

<iframe src="https://embed.hpm.io/152686/152685" style="height: 115px; width: 100%;"></iframe>
X
  • A group of women gathered in front of a memorial in honor of Josue Flores at the spot on Fulton Street where he was killed.
    A group of women gathered in front of a memorial in honor of Josue Flores at the spot on Fulton Street where he was killed.
  • The memorial displayed flowers and candles, as well as stuffed animals and balloons.
    The memorial displayed flowers and candles, as well as stuffed animals and balloons.
  • An HPD squad car patrols Houston’s north side, where the crime was committed.
    An HPD squad car patrols Houston’s north side, where the crime was committed.
  • Another section of the memorial in honor of Josue Flores displayed crosses.
    Another section of the memorial in honor of Josue Flores displayed crosses.
  • The memorial displayed flowers and candles, as well as stuffed animals and balloons.
    The memorial displayed flowers and candles, as well as stuffed animals and balloons.

Residents of Houston's north side, and even from other parts of town, were deeply affected by the tragic death of Josue Flores, the 11-year-old boy who was stabbed while walking home from school last week.

On Monday morning, a group of women gathered in front of a memorial in honor of Josue at the spot on Fulton Street where he was killed.

The memorial displayed crosses, flowers and candles, but also other things like stuffed animals and balloons that remind the public that Josue was just a boy.

"I brought my 12-year-old son just to see how the community is coming together. But not only to see, because he walks home from school when he gets off the bus, and just to show him how anything can happen fast, anything, so fast," said Magaly Sanchez, one of the women who visited the memorial, who lives in the Spring area.

At the funeral home where the family was having a wake Monday, Juan Flores, Josue's father, emphasized that he is grateful for all the support he and his family have received from the community.

But Flores also underscored he is still worried because his son's killer hasn't been arrested yet and the attacker might target others.

"I think it's a highly dangerous person because the crime that person committed, with that viciousness, with that anger. What happened... That's very difficult to understand," Flores said.

Residents of the north side area are worried because police haven't made an arrest. Authorities dismissed murder charges against a man arrested last week. HPD investigators said evidence proved the man was in Pearland when the crime was committed.

Some residents think the man that killed Josue is homeless and have pointed to an area shelter run by the Salvation Army as a reason for the lack of security they are feeling.

The Salvation Army said in a statement that, starting this week, the shelter is changing its policy.

Men who have stayed overnight will no longer be required to leave during the day and, unless they have a job or a scheduled appointment, they will remain at the shelter and will be connected to assistance programs and services.