A Marine Corps veteran was found shot to death on the side of a road in southeast Texas after completing an Uber shift, Harris County sheriff's deputies said.
Deputies responded around 11 p.m. on Sept. 4 to a call about a pedestrian possibly involved in a hit-and-run and located 28-year-old Jake Hieu Quoc Nguyen about 20 miles outside downtown Houston. Officers discovered Nguyen had suffered a gunshot wound and he was pronounced dead at the scene, the Harris County Sheriff’s Office said. Police immediately opened a homicide investigation.
Investigators said it is unclear whether Nguyen was shot at the spot where his body was found. Detectives told local media they believe a vehicle left a nearby apartment complex, crept onto the roadway and crashed, leaving tracks in the grass. Authorities said evidence indicates Nguyen may have been dragged from the crash site to where he was discovered and that whoever dumped his body then drove away. Nguyen’s car, the vehicle he was using that night for rideshare work, was missing, the sheriff’s office said.
Nguyen had been driving for Uber the night he was killed. His brother, Matthew Nguyen, told Fox 26 that Jake picked up a customer and dropped that person off downtown, and that Uber confirmed that was the last time the company had contact with him. A spokesperson for Uber described the death as "a devastating tragedy" and said the company has been fully cooperating with law enforcement.
Nguyen served four years in the Marine Corps before returning home to help his family. His brother told reporters Nguyen was the oldest of five children, had been supporting their mother and a younger sister, and was studying to become an emergency medical technician. A crowdfunding page set up to help the family said the Marine would "sacrifice his time and resources to help anyone in need" and noted that the Department of Veterans Affairs is covering some burial costs.
Law enforcement asked anyone with information about the case to contact the Harris County Sheriff’s Office. Crime Stoppers is also accepting anonymous tips at 713-222-TIPS and is offering a $5,000 reward for information leading to an arrest, authorities said.
No arrests had been reported as of the latest update from the sheriff’s office. Detectives continue to examine the scene, review surveillance and Uber trip data, and interview witnesses as they attempt to establish a timeline and identify potential suspects.
Friends and family members described Nguyen as a quiet, dependable person who served his country and was working to support his family. His brother said the family hopes those responsible come forward and "accept responsibility for what's been done." Authorities urged anyone who may have seen a vehicle leaving the area the night of Sept. 4 or who observed suspicious activity in the nearby apartment complex to contact investigators.
The investigation remains active and ongoing.