Please share this around and help us get justice Liz. She was a member of the 501st, helped with our non-profit, and was a good friend. Her family deserves justice. #justiceforliz https://t.co/OWCGwRbZmj
— Peter Mayhew (@TheWookieeRoars) February 7, 2019
Deputies in Harris County, Texas are looking for the “coward” seen on video murdering a local woman. Elizabeth Barraza, 29, was shot and killed on the morning of January 25. Investigators are not certain about the suspect’s identity, but they do have an apparently clear description of what the shooter was driving.
Harris County Sheriff Ed Gonzalez said in a press conference Wednesday that Barraza was out on the lawn of her home at about 6:55 a.m. on January 25. She was preparing for a lawn sale to take place later in the day.
Update from @SheriffEd_HCSO regarding the shooting of Elizabeth Barraza outside her Tomball home. #HouNews https://t.co/FPeCLvNEZL
— HCSOTexas (@HCSOTexas) February 6, 2019
The shooter had parked a pickup truck in front of the driveway, Gonzalez said. This suspect approached Barraza, briefly talked to her, pulled out a gun, shot her multiple times, then drove away. The victim died the next day at the hospital.
Her husband Sergio Barraza said he had just left the home for work before the murder. He said the last thing he told his wife was that he loved her. She said she loved him too. Elizabeth’s father Bob Nuelle said the yard sale was meant to fund her wedding anniversary. A trip was scheduled to begin Sunday.
“In the early hours of the morning, minutes after Sergio left for work, a coward drove up, approached my daughter, and forever changed our lives,” he said.
We’re asking for the public’s help in identifying the suspect responsible for fatally shooting Elizabeth Barraza. A cash reward of up to $20,000 is now being offered for any information. Please call 713-274-9100 or @CrimeStopHOU at 713-222-TIPS(8477). #HouNews pic.twitter.com/m9mSooi2Qt
— HCSOTexas (@HCSOTexas) February 6, 2019
Surveillance footage captured the shooting, but investigators said there is no clear description of the killer because of the distance, quality of the video, and the time in which the killing occurred. They’re not sure at this time if the shooter was a male or female.
They are “almost certain” about the suspect vehicle, however. This person was in a black 4-door Nissan Frontier pickup truck, Ritchie said. He said there’s no evidence that Barraza had started a fight.
Gonzalez credits Star Wars fans for helping raise the $20,000 reward money offered by Crime Stoppers of Houston. Barraza was a huge fan of the sci-fi franchise, and did charity work as a cosplayer for the 501st Legion. Her death caught the attention of Peter Mayhew, the actor who originated the role of Chewbacca.
“She was a member of the 501st, helped with our non-profit, and was a good friend,” said a tweet from his verified Twitter acount. “Her family deserves justice.”
[Image via Harris County Sheriff’s Office]
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