HOUSTON, Texas (KTRK) — Texas Gov. Greg Abbott’s office announced a reward of up to $10,000 for information leading to an arrest days after a 90-year-old Navy veteran was shot and killed for his vehicle.
Nelson Beckett’s murder in southwest Houston still left neighbors near the Lone Star Living retirement community where he died shaken. According to the Houston Police Department, someone shot Beckett in the community’s parking lot off Westbrae Parkway on Saturday.
On Monday, police continued searching for clues into the older victim’s killing.
The $10,000 is in addition to Crime Stoppers’ reward of up to $5,000, Abbott’s office said.
Meanwhile, at least one neighbor, who has lived near Westbrae and Ranier Drive for two decades, told Eyewitness News she sees most of the crime occurring on the other side of the bayou on the road where Beckett lost his life. The broad daylight killing has left some wondering about safety.
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“I did hear about that. I had no idea it was right next door to us. No way. I literally just read about that last night,” a neighbor named Kaitlyn said.
According to crime statistics from January until the end of June this year, police recorded at least 61 crime reports along Westbrae Parkway near where the 90-year-old died.
For perspective, 81 reports were filed in the same area in all of last year.
Twenty percent were crimes against people, and about 40% were property crimes.
“I think the neighborhood would feel safer if there were police patrols instead of just when something bad happens,” Kaitlyn said.
Anyone with information about Beckett’s murder is urged to call HPD.
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