Arrest Made in September Fatal Shooting Case in Northwest Houston

A suspect has been charged in connection with the September 4, 2023, fatal shooting of one man and the injury of another at 8657 Pitner Road in Northwest Houston around 7:50 p.m. The accused, 30-year-old Jose Darlin Cortez-Hernandez, faces charges of murder and aggravated assault with a deadly weapon in the 176th State District Court.

Oscar Martinez, 33, lost his life in the shooting, while a 31-year-old man sustained injuries and was taken to a local hospital, where he managed to survive. The Houston Police Department responded to a shooting call at an apartment complex at the mentioned address, discovering Mr. Martinez with multiple gunshot wounds. Houston Fire Department paramedics pronounced him deceased at the scene.

The initial investigation revealed that both victims were shot by an unidentified Hispanic male who fled the scene in a black pickup truck. Subsequent efforts by law enforcement identified Jose Darlin Cortez-Hernandez as the alleged shooter. He was officially charged on October 22.

As of October 30, detectives discovered that Cortez-Hernandez was in custody on unrelated charges at the Val Verde County Correctional Facility in Del Rio, Texas. The suspect is now awaiting extradition back to Harris County to face the charges related to the shooting incident.