Wake held for Josue Flores, community calls to find killer

HOUSTON – “Josue, Josue, Josue," they chanted, over and over again as they marched down the North Houston street where Josue Flores was attacked and murdered as he was walking home from school.

The huge crowd of people who marched in the part memorial, part protest came from all walks of life and all parts of town to remember 11-year-old Josue Flores and to call for more police protection and an effort to reduce the number of homeless people who congregate in the neighborhood where Josue was raised.

“It’s a problem here.  There’s a lot of homeless people, a lot of people with addictions, with addiction problems, people with mental health issues. There’s too much of it," said Houston City Council Member Karla Cisneros, who attended the march.

But there was another issue that Guadalupe Flores, Josue’s older sister, wanted to put to rest.

She said Sunday night that there has been too much speculation by some who believe Josue’s slaying was racially motivated.

“My brother would not have wanted it this way," Guadalupe said. “It’s not about race, never has been about race.”

Guadalupe said the focus of everyone -- the people and the police -- has to be on capturing this deranged killer who murdered her little brother for no reason. 

“Forget hate," she said. “Let’s all work together with HPD to get this done and to get this guy off the streets.”

Guadalupe  also called for the killer to be caught.

"We want the right guy to be caught because we don't want the same thing to happen to another kid like my brother," she said.

Crime Stoppers is offering a reward of up to $15,000 for information leading to the charging and/or arrest of the person responsible for Josue's murder. 

Anyone with information can call Crime Stoppers at 713-222-TIPS. Tips may also be sent by text message by texting TIP610 plus the information to CRIMES. All tipsters may remain anonymous.

At 1 p.m. Monday, the Flores family will hold a wake for Josue at the La Paz Memorial Funeral Home on Nordling Road in Houston.

Funeral services will be held at 11 a.m. Tuesday at Holy Name Catholic Church at 1917 Cochran St. in Houston.


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Emmy-winning investigative reporter, insanely competitive tennis player, skier, weightlifter, crazy rock & roll drummer (John Bonham is my hero). Husband to Veronica and loving cat father to Bella and Meemo.