HOUSTON – Charges have been filed against a man accused of killing an 11-year-old boy and man in an October shooting in west Houston, according to police.
Desmond Hawkins, 21, has been charged with one count of capital murder and one count of murder in connection with the death of 41-year-old Menuelle Solomon and 11-year-old Dominic Sumicek.
The shooting was reported just about 4:25 p.m. on Oct. 25 on Old Farm Road near Westheimer Road.
Investigators said Solomon and Sumicek were in a white Mercedes when they were approached by three masked gunmen who all opened fire.
Houston police said they have surveillance video that shows up to 10 shots being fired by those gunmen. Police said the suspects were seen running to a nearby Pontiac sedan and left.
Police said Solomon died at the scene and Sumicek was taken to a hospital in critical condition, where he died three days later.
The exact relationship between Solomon and Sumicek is unknown.
Investigators later identified Hawkins as one of the suspects in the case and, on Wednesday, he was charged for his suspected role in the shooting. Police said Hawkins was already in custody at the Harris County Jail on an unrelated charge.
Judge Maria Jackson, who has since retired, allowed Hawkins to go free after posting a $90,000 bond according to court documents. It’s a decision Victim’s Rights Advocate Andy Kahan said would never have happened just a few years ago.
“You just didn’t get out on bond for capital murder, but I’m seeing this almost on a routine basis,” Kahan said.
Kahn says it’s part of a disturbing trend. Since 2018, he’s tracked more than 70 cases where people were murdered by dangerous felony suspects who were free on bond after being charged with violent crimes.
“This is not in the best interest of public safety when you continue to release the same defendants time and time again who continue to commit crimes time and time again, and I can tell you right now over 70 people have paid the ultimate price for felony bond reform,” Kahn said.
And Kahn isn’t the only one concerned. State senators John Whitmire and Paul Bettencourt say reform is needed. They’ve made standardizing bail bond assessments a top priority for the next session of the legislature.
The investigation is ongoing and additional suspects are being sought.
Anyone with information on this case is asked to call the HPD Homicide Division at 713-308-8800 or Crime Stoppers at 713-222-8477.