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Since Officer Rodney Johnson’s murder there has been a growing chorus of anger partly because the suspect is a felon who is in this country illegally.

The suspect was deported once, but then crossed the Texas border again illegally.

KHOU - TV

For the last year, Hector Gomez has been working in the heart of Houston’s crime ridden southwest side.

He hears people talking about neighborhood violence, but not much talk about reporting it.

“They think that they’re going to get deported you know,” said Gomez.

That fear, according to experts, is what keeps many within the Hispanic community from coming forward and reporting crimes.

Police said it’s been a problem for years and some fear it will only get worse.

Worse, thanks to Houston’s latest high profile suspect Juan Quintero.

He’s a Mexican national who was in the country illegally when he allegedly shot and killed Houston police officer Rodney Johnson.

“Not everyone is like him. Their judging us and they’re wrong they say that we are murderers but we’re not we’re here to work,” said one immigrant.

The possibility of judging an entire community for the act of a single person also worries local civil rights groups, not to mention Officer Johnson’s widow, Joslyn. “My husband would not want this and I don’t want this. it’s not going to resolve anything all it does is divide our city and our people.”

And that’s a problem Gomez hopes he’ll never have to see or hear.