Man Found Dead In Check-Cashing Van

HOUSTON -- A man who was found shot to death inside a check-cashing van parked on the side of an east Houston road early Tuesday may have been killed for money, KPRC Local 2 reported.

Houston police investigators found a white van parked in the 8600 Clinton Drive at about 12:30 a.m. The body of a 67-year-old man was found in the back of the van, detectives said.

Police said the man, whose name was not released, suffered a gunshot wound to his rib cage.

"It does appear he did struggle," Officer Ramon Cervantes said. "The window on the passenger side was busted out, so something evidently took place in the van."

Investigators said the driver may have been forced off the road and possibly robbed. Police said the man was likely targeted because of his van.

"It's one of those mobile check-cashing businesses that goes to construction sites around the city," Cervantes said. "It's not uncommon."

The victim worked for Mac's Check Cashing Services on Nimitz Street. Once every couple of weeks, he would go out to sites to cash payroll checks.

"(He) was a good guy and we'd really like to see some justice," said Paul Carr, a coworker.

The victim was scheduled to cash payroll checks at a location at 3:20 p.m. Monday, but never made it.

"He spoke to his wife at 3:08. We know now that this (shooting) must have happened at 3:15," Carr said. "What we'd like -- anybody that was on Clinton Drive yesterday near where the fire station is located, about 3:15, if they saw a white minivan on the side of the road and anybody around it, we'd sure like them to call Crime Stoppers or the police department and tell them what they saw."

Detectives said that it was possible that the man was killed elsewhere.

Homicide investigators took the van downtown to be processed for evidence.

Police said they do not have any witnesses or suspects.

The victim leaves behind a wife, daughter and son.

Anyone with information is asked to call the Houston Police Department Homicide Division at 713-308-3600 or Crime Stoppers at 713-222-TIPS.