Man shot, killed saving mother from purse snatcher, police say

HOUSTON – A man was shot and killed in southwest Houston Monday night trying to rescue his mother from armed robbers. Police are searching for the gunman.

James Weldon Ecford and his mother were coming home from an outing around 11 p.m. when she was confronted outside the home in the 8500 block of Sands Point Drive by a man demanding her purse, police said. Her son, who had gone into the house ahead of her, heard her cries for help and ran to her.

According to police, the two men began to struggle and at some point, the robber pulled out a gun and shot Ecford. Police said a second shot was fired at the mother, but it missed her.

Ecford, 25, was taken to a nearby hospital where he died.

KPRC 2 spoke to a neighbor whose wife saw the mother holding her son.

"She (the mom) was crying, 'I should have just let them have my purse,'" neighbor Jaime Mendoza said. "If I would have had my wife and child next to me I would have been like here take it."

Ecford's father, James Ecford Sr. said his son was never involved in gangs or did drugs.

"My son has never, ever. And when you look it up there's no criminal record, there's no nothing. No drugs, all he did was be himself and he will never be that again. Forever 25 (years old)," he said.

Ecford Sr. said his son had a degree in graphic design and was taking art classes.

"[An] art instructor that was giving him more details, more depth in his art, had found him an opportunity and today he was supposed to go to that interview," he said.

Police said there were three other men in the 4-door compact car with the gunmen. 

The mother was not hurt.

Anyone with information about this case is urged to contact the HPD Homicide Division at 713-308-3600 or Crime Stoppers at 713-222-TIPS.