'He didn't do anything': Family members identify man killed in targeted drive-by shooting

HOUSTON – Police are investigating after one person was killed and another injured in a targeted drive-by shooting in southwest Houston.

Early Monday morning, shell casings dotted the Southwest Freeway feeder road. Next to each casing a numbered evidence marker. The numbers went up to at least 14. 

According to authorities, the shooting happened around 3:15 a.m. Monday near the intersection of Beechnut Street and the Southwest Freeway.

The shooter(s) and the victims were patrons at ICLUB HOUSTON near the intersection of South Gessner Road and the Southwest Freeway, where they got into an altercation, police said.

Officers said the victims drove off in a white Dodge Charger and were followed by the shooter(s), who opened fire on the vehicle as they traveled northbound on the feeder road.

Family members arrived on the scene and consoled each other as raw emotions ran high.

“I don’t have any feelings right now, I don’t know what (or) how to feel right now,” said the victim’s sister-in-law, Melody Monroe. She identified the victim as 28-year-old Kendrick Milton.

According to authorities, Milton was shot in the head and killed and his female passenger was shot in the leg. She was transported to a hospital and is expected to survive.

Milton’s grandmother, Helen Daniels, described coming to the scene where her grandson was murdered as pure hell.

She had this message for her grandson’s killer: “I don’t like violence for violence, but I will kill your (expletive) right now, and I am too old to be locked up."

Monroe said it was horrible when she got the news.

“This is horrible, to get (the) news at 4 o'clock in the morning from (Daniels) saying, 'Hey come pick me up, Ken just got killed,'” said Monroe.

Monroe said the last three words Milton told her were, "I love you." Now she’ll never hear his voice again.

“I won’t get a call or a punch in the thigh, I won’t get none of that anymore,” said Monroe. 

Milton's other grandmother, Sunshine Milton, said the 28-year-old didn't get into trouble. 

"Kendrick didn't mess with anyone, he didn't do anything," Sunshine Milton said. "He just lost his mom less than a year ago, his dad died less than four years ago, now he's dead."

Officers will be reviewing surveillance footage in an effort to learn more about what led up to the shooting and identify the shooter(s).

Police said they do not know the relationship between the shooter(s) and the victims.

Anyone with information is asked to call Crime Stoppers at 713-222-TIPS.


About the Authors:

Daniela Sternitzky-Di Napoli has been a digital news editor at KPRC 2 since 2018. She is a published poet and has background in creative writing and journalism. Daniela has covered events like Hurricane Harvey and the Astros World Series win. In her spare time, Daniela is an avid reader and loves to spend time with her two miniature dachshunds.