Do you know who killed Hatem?
Hatem Abuharbed, a 54-year-old man known to friends and regular customers as "Tim," was a well-regarded employee at a convenience store in North Houston. Those who frequented the shop remembered him as a "nice guy," and the news of his violent death sent a shockwave through the community. Many found it hard to imagine that such a good person could be gunned down in such a senseless act.
The night of Sunday, February 7, 2016, was supposed to be a routine shift for Abuharbed. He was seated at a desk in a back office of the store, located in the 4600 block of North Main Street, minding his own business and doing his work. At approximately 8:45 p.m., two armed men with their faces covered stormed into the establishment. The entire, brutal incident would be over in less than a minute. While one of the men robbed several customers at gunpoint, the other vaulted over the front counter and made his way to the office where Abuharbed was. Without any provocation or resistance from the clerk, the suspect shot him. An investigator later noted that Abuharbed "called out in pain so loudly that the patrons in the store could hear him." After shooting him, the man grabbed an undisclosed amount of money from two cash registers and an envelope of cash before fleeing.
The two assailants were captured on surveillance video running out of the store to a getaway vehicle parked on the 1400 block of West Patton Street, from which they drove eastbound. When Houston Police Department officers arrived at the scene, they found Abuharbed lying behind the counter. He was rushed to Ben Taub Hospital, but his injuries were too severe, and he was pronounced dead.
The Houston Police Department's Homicide Division launched a capital murder investigation. Detectives Alexander Vinogradov and David Williamson were among those who worked the case, describing the killing as being done "in cold blood for no reason." They believed the suspects had either visited the store before or cased it, as they seemed to know about the second cash register. Investigators released detailed descriptions of the suspects, who they believe were young African American men with slim builds. One suspect wore a navy blue hoodie or sweatshirt, gray or silver sweatpants, white Polo sneakers, black gloves, and a black mask, and he carried a black semi-automatic pistol. The second suspect wore a black jacket and pants, black shoes, a black mask, gloves, and a black-and-white bandana on his face; he was armed with a silver and black semi-automatic pistol. Police hoped that surveillance cameras from other nearby businesses might help identify the perpetrators and that the men might have bragged about the crime to others.
In the years since Hatem Abuharbed's murder, his case has remained unsolved. Despite the release of surveillance footage and detailed suspect descriptions, no arrests have been made. The case stands as a painful example of the violence that can erupt without warning, leaving a community shaken and a family without answers. The investigation remains open with the Houston Police Department.
As of April 2016, Crime Stoppers of Houston is offering a reward of up to $5,000 for any information that leads to the charging or arrest of the individuals responsible for this homicide. Authorities continue to urge anyone with knowledge of the crime or the identities of the suspects to come forward. Tips can be reported anonymously to Crime Stoppers at 713-222-TIPS (8477).
