Houston police is hunting for the suspect of murdering a 14-year-old teen last weekend in Spring Branch. The victim in question is Abraham Choukair, the youngest of three bothers.
Speaking to ABC 13, one of his two brothers described his feelings as a "different kind of anger." "I am sure that anyone who has lost a family member in such a tragic way can understand how frustrating it is to know that you don't have the answers," he told the outlet. He asked not to be named due to concerns for the safety of his family.
"I am military, and he is a paramedic," he added, in reference to his other brother. "We see death and it's around us, and we prepare for ours - life insurance, plans, wills. And so, it is shocking that it is the little 14-year-old brother with his whole life ahead of him," he added.
Choukair's murder adds to increasingly dire stats in Harris county. The outlet highlighted that the juvenile homicide rate has increased by 76% between 2021 and 2023. His brother recalled that another teen was shot in the same place last year and demanded more be done to protect children.
"These are children dying. I left to go protect my country, and I was hoping that my country would protect its streets and its children," he added.
Elsewhere in Texas, Dallas has also reported a rise in violent crimes lately. The city said there is an increase of kidnappings, with most of them being Latinos or Blacks.
As of July 21, 114 kidnappings or abductions were reported in the city this year, according to its crime analytics dashboard. Last year, there were 99 such incidents, marking a 15.2% increase in kidnappings across the city in 2024.
Districts 6 and 7 have the highest number of abductions, with 17 and 16 cases, respectively, Dallas Express reported.
Both districts have seen an increase in kidnapping and abduction rates compared to last year. District 6 saw a 6.3% increase, while District 7 had a huge 300% increase, with only four cases reported during the same period in 2023.
While the Dallas Police Department (DPD) is trying to reduce violent crime rates in the city, they are facing a significant staffing shortage. Only about 3,000 DPD officers are on duty, despite a city report recommending closer to 4,000 officers to ensure public safety.
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