A Houston auto mechanic was allegedly shot two days before Christmas after being billed over $500 for repairs, and his family is now appealing to the public to help find the killer.
Luis Manuel Casillas, 29, worked at his body shop, Casillas Swaps, on Block 7600 of the North Freeway. Witnesses saw him arguing with a customer.
Casillas’ sister, Sandy Casillas, told FOX 26 that her brother planned to collect payment to fix the killer’s truck. At that time, two trucks were accompanied by five other Hispanic men who refused to pay the bill.
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Casillas fled when the man allegedly became aggressive, his family says.
“My brother started running,” Sandy Casillas told KTRK, knowing from an eyewitness. “He did all the side jobs he could. They caught up with him and shot him in the head.” [Point] empty field. They forced him to his knees and shot him in the head. “
Luis Manuel Casillas, 29 years old Photo: Facebook/Sandy Yalely
The victim’s sister told CBS affiliate Houston station KHOU 11 that Casillas begged for his life before being shot.
“He begged them, ‘I have a family, take whatever you want. And they said, ‘No,'” Sandy Casillas told the outlet.
Two witnesses tended to the fatally injured mechanic until emergency services arrived, the outlet reported.Casillas died in a nearby hospital from his injuries.
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Police have yet to release the details of the murder suspect, but the victim’s family claims to know who killed Casillas. The day he was killed, he told a mechanic about an unruly customer before the fatal incident, and even received screenshots of text conversations between his brother and the murder suspect.
“Then I got a call that my brother had been shot,” he tearfully told the outlet outside El Paso’s Funeraria Del Angel, which is overseeing the funeral of the victim on Thursday. I couldn’t.”
“Detectives are investigating the events leading up to the shooting and aim to recover video footage of the possible incident,” the Houston Police Department said in a press release.
According to Casillas’ obituary, he is survived by his wife Maria and two daughters, ages 2 and 3.
His family said they intended to use the disputed $500 payment to finish Christmas shopping for their children. I opened a present.
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According to KTRK, “Santa was coming with Daddy, and Santa showed up, but Daddy didn’t,” said Sandy Casillas.
“They didn’t just take $500. They took lives, they took our lives, they took our father.”
On Christmas Day, friends and family gathered near the scene of the crime to mourn and pledge justice.
“They pulled out their AK-47s, they pulled out their guns. Six of them, I know who you are. I’ll find you!” Sandy Casillas told the audience, KTVU said. reported. “Justice will be done for my brother and his family.”
She said she hopes justice will be done quickly.
“You don’t do that to humans,” Sandy Casillas said, according to KTRK. “You don’t do that to animals. Why would you do that to my brother? They What you’ve done isn’t fair. If you’re a mother of six, at least be a good enough mother to hand over your child.”
A GoFundMe initiative organized for the children of Casillas has raised $3,685 of its $10,000 goal as of Wednesday afternoon.
“Those who knew him knew he was the star of the party, the funny one, the one who made us laugh when we needed it,” wrote Gloria Medel. Read GoFundMe. “Everybody will say you have to prepare for death, it’s invincible. Lewis deserved to beat it to be here with his family. You have brightened up many lives with your laughter and selflessness.”
If you have information about the killing, please contact the Houston Police Department Homicide Division at 713-308-3600 or Crime Stoppers at 713-222-TIPS.