Updated: Suspect Wanted in March Shooting at 400 Richmond Avenue Arrested

August 16, 2024- Two suspects charged and wanted in a shooting incident at 400 Richmond Avenue about 2:15 a.m. on March 26 are in custody.

The suspects, Melisa Aparicio Vergara, 31, and Hamza Abdullah, 21. are charged with aggravated assault against a public servant in the 337th and 185th State District Courts, respectively. Booking photos of both suspects are attached to this news release.

The male victim, 28, was not injured.

HPD Major Assaults & Family Violence Division Detective A. Garcia reported:

HPD patrol officers responded to a call of a person chasing a vehicle near the above address and learned an off-duty officer from the Livingston Police Department was in full uniform and working an extra job in the area. The off-duty officer stated he was at the intersection near the above address and the Southwest Freeway (South U.S. Highway 59) service road when two unknown suspects in a black Jeep Wrangler discharged a firearm multiple times in his direction. The off-duty officer was not injured. The suspects fled the scene.

Further investigation identified the suspects as Vergara and Abdullah. The Harris County District Attorney's Office was contacted and Vergara and Abdullah were subsequently charged. The suspects were believed to be driving in a black Jeep Wrangler with a hard top, and Texas license plates RGH9499.

Subsequent investigation developed information on the suspects' whereabouts and, on Thursday (August 15), Vergara and Abdullah were arrested during an operation conducted by the HPD Narcotics Division along with the Gulf Coast Violent Offenders Task Force. Vergara and Abdullah were booked into the Harris County Jail.