Sketch released of gunman wanted in murder of Brinks armored car guard

HOUSTON – Investigators have released a composite sketch of one of the gunmen believed responsible for the robbery and murder of a Brinks armored guard in the Galleria area. Alvin Kinney was ambushed and executed on Feb. 12.

A Brinks armored guard team was making a delivery at the Capital One Bank, located at 5718 Westheimer Road, at 2:10 p.m.  As Kinney was returning to his vehicle, at least three armed assailants wearing body armor and face-shield masks approached Kinney and opened fire.  The gunmen fired at both Kinney and his partner, fatally shooting Kinney. 

While also under fire, the second Brinks guard returned fire as the assailants backed up a stolen white Ford F-250 truck and quickly loaded several bags of cash.  Houston police officers quickly recovered the F-250, abandoned by the assailants near the Capital One Plaza at 2000 Bering Drive.

Investigators say the man depicted in the composite sketch was one of three gunmen and the driver of the truck used in the robbery and murder.  The truck was stolen from the Pipeline Grill in Baytown, Texas in May 2014.  The truck had a tool box.  At the time of Kinney's murder, it also had blue and white decals with the wording "HRT Houston Road Transit JV" on the driver's side and rear tailgate of the vehicle.  The decals were added after the vehicle was stolen.

The FBI Violent Crime Task Force, Houston Police Department, and other area law enforcement agencies working the case are expanding a digital billboard campaign touting an up to $100,000 reward for information leading to the arrest and identification of the gunmen and any others who took part in the violent robbery and murder.

Beginning Tuesday, Clear Channel Outdoor and Lamar Advertising will post updated messages publishing the newly-released composite sketch and offering the reward on digital billboards across Texas and Louisiana.  The previous campaign posted messages on billboards only across the Greater Houston area, but investigators believe the gunmen may be traveling between the two states and may be responsible for other crimes.  

Crime Stoppers of Houston is sponsoring the reward with $50,000 being offered by Brinks and $50,000 being offered by the FBI. Anyone with information is asked to call 1-800-CALL-FBI, or call Crime Stoppers of Houston at 713-222-TIPS (8477).  Text TIP610 plus your tip to CRIMES (274637), or visit the website.  Tips may also be submitted to Crime Stoppers through the Crime Stoppers of Houston app which can be downloaded at the app store for both iPhone and android devices.  Tips may be reported in Spanish or English.  All tipsters remain anonymous.

For the past two years, the Greater Houston area has led the nation in armored car robberies, with eight armored car robberies in 2014 and 11 in 2013.  The numbers made up more than 20 percent of the national total for each of the years.  Houston's Violent Crimes Task Force responds to approximately 120 bank robberies each year - more than 40 percent of those robberies are violent takeover robberies.  The national average for takeover bank robberies is 6 percent.  In 2014, the FBI enhanced the Violent Crimes Task Force with additional personnel and resources to address the alarming trend.        

As a public service to the community, Clear Channel Outdoor and Lamar Advertising are donating space and time on their digital billboards in Texas and Louisiana to publicize the reward and feature the newly released composite sketch.  Brinks, who is offering $50,000 of the $100,000 reward, thanks the community and law enforcement for its support and assistance in this investigation.