HOUSTON – One of the men accused of killing a store clerk Nov. 10 has been taken into custody on an immigration hold and charged with murder.
According to police, Jose Bonilla-Ortiz, 18, of Honduras, was taken arrested Saturday, a week after the shooting at the Metro Food Mart near Witte Road left Faruk Bhuiya, 48, dead.
Bhuiya was a beloved member of the community and was well-known by customers who visited his store.
His wife told KPRC 2 that her husband was loved by anyone he came across. That was proven on Nov. 11, when several of Bhuiya’s customers attended a candlelight vigil in his honor.
“He was always friendly. I usually come up here with my middle child and he was always so nice and friendly with her," said one of Bhuiya’s former customers.
Bonilla-Ortiz is being held at the Harris County Jail. His bond is set at $250,000, but he can't post bond until his ICE immigration hold is lifted.
U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement released the following statement regarding the case:
"On Nov 18, 2018, U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) lodged an immigration detainer with Harris County (Texas) Sheriff’s Office on Jose Luis Bonilla-Ortiz, 18, a citizen of Honduras, following his arrest for allegedly committing willful homicide."
Police are still looking for the second gunman.
Anyone with information on the identities of the men is asked to call the Houston Police Department at 713-308-3600 or Crime Stoppers at 312-222-8477.