Bond tripled in death of father shot, killed at Houston tattoo parlor

HOUSTON – The main suspect in the fatal shooting of a man at a tattoo parlor in southwest Houston is being held on a $150,000 bail after appearing Monday morning in a Harris County courtroom.

The Harris County Sheriff's Office arrested Abdul-Rahman Khan, 21, after investigators said he shot and killed piercing technician Peter Peña, 33, at the Electric Chair Tattoo and Piercing studio minutes before midnight on June 14.

The victim’s mother, Sylvia Rocha, said the men asked for a tattoo but employees refused because of the time.

Khan's bail was increased from $50,000 to $150,000. He is being held at the Harris County Jail. 

Harris County officials said Khan has connections outside the county and has been forced to surrender his passport.

"One of the men walked to the back,” HPD Sgt. Thomas Simmons said. “(Peña) was heard yelling at him, telling him he couldn't come back there."

At some point, the man pulled a gun and shot Peña, police said. He died at the scene.

According to court documents, Khan has previous arrests for two counts of marijuana possession and unlawful weapon carrying. 

“Just senseless. Senseless,” the victim’s mother, Sylvia Rocha, said.

Police said the alleged shooter tried to leave, but employees inside the parlor tackled the man and held him until officers arrived.

Pena's family said he left behind three children. Investigators said Peña worked as a piercing technician, which was one of his two jobs.

"My son was a hardworking man,” Rocha said. “He had three jobs at one time to support his three boys."

Rocha said her grandsons are taking it really hard, because they were always close.

"To have his life taken over some tattoo is not worth it,” Rocha said.