HOUSTON – Dante Moore, the man accused in the death of a Bellaire police officer during a chase, faced a judge Friday morning.
Moore was denied bail. The district attorney charged Moore, 27, with murder Thursday, after he turned himself in to Bellaire police Wednesday.
Authorities said Bellaire police officer Marco Zarate pulled Moore over in his vehicle Tuesday afternoon after receiving a report of a shoplifting incident at the Target in Meyerland Plaza.
Moore took off and led Zarate on a chase.
[WATCH VIEWER VIDEO OF BEGINNING OF THE CHASE]
During the pursuit, Zarate, who was on a police motorcycle, hit a parked trailer on a residential street in Meyerland and died.
A prosecutor said Friday that Dante Moore would face 25 years to life if convicted because of his previous criminal history.
"As a result of his conduct, the officer lost his life," Harris County Assistant District Attorney Britni Cooper said.
Neither the Harris County District Attorney's Office nor the Houston Police Department would confirm Friday whether the agencies are pursuing a criminal charge against Moore's twin brother, who may have been in the car involved in Tuesday's pursuit.
Bellaire Police Chief Byron Holloway said Wednesday, minutes after Moore surrendered, that police also wanted to talk to the suspect's twin brother.
Dominique Moore, 27, has a lengthy criminal history, but has not been implicated in the death of Zarate.
"At this point, the investigation is still ongoing regarding anyone else's involvement in this case," Cooper said.
Community activist Quanell X told KPRC 2 he is in contact with Dominique Moore and is trying to convince him to surrender.
Prosecutors aren't yet sure what charges the brother may face, since he was not the driver.
Before being charged with murder, Dante Moore had a lengthy criminal record. State records show he was released from prison in February after being convicted of fleeing from Houston police in 2013.
Harris County court records show prior to that case, Dante Moore was convicted in 2011 for possession of cocaine, crack cocaine and marijuana.
Dante Moore was also convicted in 2007 of burglarizing a home and car.
Zarate's visitation service is scheduled for Sunday at the Memorial Oaks Funeral Home off the I-10 Katy Freeway.
His funeral will be held at 2 p.m. Monday at the Co-Cathedral of the Sacred Heart.
Person of interest in connection to the death of Bellaire police officer turns himself in. DETAILS-->http://bit.ly/29xFMrm
Posted by KPRC2 / Click2Houston on Wednesday, July 13, 2016
