HOUSTON –
Four people charged with capital murder in the fatal shooting of man during a robbery at a southwest Houston restaurant may have been involved in other crimes.
The new details surfaced in court on Monday.
"It was a horrific crime that was committed," Britni Cooper, assistant Harris County district attorney, said.
The four young adults could also be connected to a dozen other crimes, including another homicide.
"They are being investigated for several other aggravated robberies committed in the area," Cooper said.
Prosecutors in Harris County are accusing Dadriana Holmes, Tiala Alexander, Telavell Coleman, and Enzo Ubadimma of being involved in robbing the Huong Giang Hue restaurant on New Year's Day, then shooting and killing a man when he tried to fight them back.
The two male suspects wore ski masks and carried handguns, according to police, and robbed customers at gunpoint.
At one point, a customer, Herman Ray Browning Jr., confronted one of the suspects and was killed in front of his wife and 8-year-old son.
"Mr. Browning was a hero. He died protecting his family," Cooper said.
On Monday in court prosecutors told the judge that Holmes and Alexander came by the restaurant earlier in the day to case it.
They are accusing Ubadimma, Coleman and an unidentified juvenile of trying to rob the restaurant and everyone inside.
Police said the men were armed.
"There were two shots fired. One was fired by defendant Coleman and the other by the juvenile co-defendant," Cooper said.
The four suspects who came to court on Monday are between the ages of 18 and 20 years old. They face the possibility of the death penalty if convicted of capital murder.
All four are being held without bond.
Police said the four admitted to their involvement in the robbery and shooting.
Browning, 57, was also a Marine and a longtime employee of Phonoscope Communications.
The family set up a GoFundMe account to help Browning's wife and young son. Click here to donate.