HOUSTON – A man accused of killing a homeless man and woman near Buffalo Bayou in downtown Houston allegedly told police he was sent by Yahweh to “rid the Earth of heathens,” and that he would kill again.
Bruce Butler, 37, is charged with capital murder. He is accused of shooting and killing Richard Nugent, 38, and RJ Lewis, 66, on June 2.
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The shootings happened near Buffalo Bayou Trail at 699 Franklin Street.
Houston police responded and found Nugent and Lewis dead with gunshot wounds to their heads. They were able to identify Butler as a suspect in the case through surveillance video as well as through a tip.
Court documents say police learned Butler had been taken to Memorial Hermann Hospital under an emergency detention order on June 21. They went and interviewed Butler at the hospital on June 23.
The documents say Butler admitted to killing both Nugent and Lewis by shooting them in the head while they were asleep along the walking path. He said he later got rid of the gun used in the killings by selling it to an unknown person.
The documents say Butler told police “he was sent by Yahweh to rid the Earth of heathens,” and that when he is released from the hospital he would “continue his mission.” He said he would find another gun by breaking into vehicles and said that he planned to target more homeless people and kill at least four or five more.
Butler was arrested on Monday.