HOUSTON – A man arrested in connection with a shooting outside Northwest Mall that killed two men early Monday was identified Tuesday morning.
Police said a group of people got into a fight just after 4 a.m. in the parking lot of the Chapa nightclub near the Northwest Mall on West 18th Street. During the fight, someone pulled out a gun and started shooting, they said.
Two men, identified as 24-year-old Pedro Sanchez and 29-year-old Juan Sanchez, were taken to the hospital, where they died, police said.
"They told me, (at) 4-something in the morning, if I could come to the hospital. Then I come ... (but) he already ... (had) died,” said Greg Bezerra, a cousin of one of the victims. "He was a good ... (person). I don't know about nightclubs."
VIDEO: Police investigate fatal shooting at Northwest Mall
A man identified by police as 32-year-old Apolinar Aparicio-Mendez was arrested at a METRO transit center at Interstate 610 in connection with the shooting, police said. Two security guards saw the incident, chased Aparicio-Mendez and held him until police arrived.
Investigators were looking at two cars in the parking lot of the club, where two shell casings were found outside one of the vehicles and more inside the accused gunman's vehicle. Police said a .45-caliber gun was also found at the scene.
Police are working to determine what started the fight that led to the shooting.
"There were two shell casings recovered outside of the vehicle at the Northwest Mall, as well as additional shell casings inside the suspect's vehicle, as well as a .45-caliber handgun," Houston police Detective Christopher Elder said. "We are unsure if the complainants were also firing at the suspect."
Police said Aparicio-Mendez was charged with capital murder.
UPDATE: Homicide Unit says one man died at a hospital after shooting outside Northwest Mall. Investigators at scene. @KPRC2 pic.twitter.com/YnnhVgFdRq
— KPRC Cathy Hernandez (@KPRC2Cathy) November 14, 2016