HOUSTON – Houston police don't yet know why a 24-year-old man was murdered late Thursday night in the parking lot of an apartment complex on Holly Hall near Cambridge. Jack Tenas was killed by a single gunshot while sitting in his pick up truck with a female friend.
"Before he left I ordered Chinese food because his intention was to come back for dinner," Vernice Bell, Jack's mother said. It was the last time she spoke to her son.
"Really chill, laid back guy," said Kyle Tenas. "He was always willing to help anyone."
Police said Tenas and a female friend drove to the complex to meet another friend. Detectives said they had just pulled into the parking lot of the complex when they started talking to an acquaintance. Detectives said during that conversation someone rushed to the driver's side of Tenas' truck and tried to open the door. Tenas held the door closed and the man fired a single shot.
"For something like this, I can't wrap my head around what was worth his life," Bell said.
Police don't have that answer yet. It appears nothing was taken during the murder.
"You killed my child and you didn't even take change," said Bell. "It's just so senseless."
Tenas' friend was hit with flying debris, but luckily suffered minor injuries. For Bell, a lack of why her son was killed makes his death all the more difficult to understand. What she said does know is that she lost a son who she described as an upbeat bundle of energy. Bell said her son was a one time nationally ranked BMX bike racer who went by the moniker "Jack Flash." Bell said her son was just starting a career as a music producer and designing frames from racing bikes..
"We just need the people who did this to be caught, that's it," said Bell. "They need to be caught before they do this to someone else."
Bell says she does take some solace in knowing that her son donated his body science. Bell she said at least his death can help someone else's life.
Police said several people saw the gunman and two other men running away from the truck. Two of the men are described as black males wearing white hoodies. Police describe the third suspect as black man between 18 and 24 years old with a thin build, wearing a black hoodie and armed with a shotgun.
If you know anything about this crime please call Crimestoppers at (713) 222-TIPS.
