HOUSTON – A Houston-area family is angry and wants justice after a senseless attack over a pair of shoes. An Alief teenager, who didn't want his identity revealed for fear of retaliation, says his younger brother was jumped by two or three suspects on his way home from Alief Elsik High School on Monday.
"They pretty much just sucker punched him from behind, which I just find very cowardly," says the older brother.
The suspects knocked his brother to the ground, pulled off his pair of Air Jordans and ran from the area. His 16-year-old brother suffered a black eye, a busted lip and scrapes to his knees. This isn't the first time the popular shoes have led to an attack or unrest.
Just last weekend, police were called to several locations across the Houston area as people waited early in long lines to receive vouchers for this week's release of the latest Air Jordans. There were reports of shots fired, several fights and shattered glass at one mall.
A source has also confirmed to Local 2 that the Champs Sporting Goods store in West Oaks Mall was supposed to start selling the new Air Jordnas today but cancelled at the request of HPD.
For the family in Alief, the frenzy over the shoes came home in a very personal way. They say they're sharing their story to prevent others from becoming victims.
"Houston and people here in Alief are tired of these things. You know, these thieving, robbing, all this," he says. "We're just tired, you know, and it's time for people to stand up."
The boy's father says he's spoken to the school's principal in an effort to arrange transportation so he doesn't have to walk from school anymore.