HOUSTON – Houston police said a man accused in a deadly stabbing on a METRORail line is not facing any charges at this time.
Shawn Roe, 29, was arrested at a church in The Heights Wednesday night after an hour-long standoff where he was seen hanging out of a third-floor window.
UPDATE: This male, Shawn Roe, 29, was arrested last night (Jan. 10) in 1500 blk of Heights Blvd. on a felony theft warrant.
— Houston Police (@houstonpolice) January 11, 2024
Detectives interviewed him & say no charges are being filed in Sunday's stabbing on a METRO Rail. The case will be referred to a Harris County grand jury. https://t.co/7cfBOgaMlT
Houston Police said Roe was arrested on a felony theft warrant at the location in the 1500 block of Heights Blvd.
At the time, METRO PD said the man arrested at the church in The Heights was the same man suspected in the deadly stabbing on the METRORail line.
Thursday afternoon, Houston Police said detectives interviewed Roe and determined no charges are being filed in connection to Sunday’s stabbing.
They said the case will be referred to a Harris County grand jury as Roe is claiming the stabbing was in self-defense.
KPRC 2′s Corley Peel spoke with METRO Police Sergeant, Alex Edwards. He was among undercover officers who helped capture Roe during a standoff Wednesday night. He said officers received tips that Roe often visited a church in the Heights near 15th and Heights Boulevard.
“He visited the church frequently and he goes to the church on Sundays,” said Edwards.
Police said the church typically gave him food and other items. Churchgoers told Corley they saw Roe at a church service the morning of the stabbing.
Police received their first tip that Roe was at the church on Monday, but they did not find him. Officers tried again Wednesday night. On standby in unmarked cars, police got eyes on Roe.
“Houston police K-9 did the search of a suspect and ended up finding him on the third floor of the church,” said Edwards.
Roe was spotted hanging out of a window. Sgt. Edwards said detectives began negotiating.
“From where I was, I think I heard him (Roe) ask for a cigarette. If he was to come out of the windowpane, they would allow him to smoke a cigarette. I don’t know if that was the reason why he gave up,” said Edwards.
Eventually, Roe gave up. Police peacefully took him into custody. Edwards said officers found Roe was carrying two pocketknives and the clothes he was wearing the night of the stabbing.