HARRIS COUNTY, Texas — Harris County Sheriff Ed Gonzalez said Friday morning that his deputies are working "around the clock" to find the man accused of shooting and killing his ex-girlfriend's 12-year-old son.
Terry Bryan Rivera, 27, has been charged with capital murder in connection with the shooting death of Carlos Fernandez, according to the sheriff.
"He's still on the run, he's still wanted for capital murder," Gonzalez said. "We're not going to rest until we find him."
The shooting happened Monday, March 4, around 3 a.m. at an apartment in the Cloverleaf area on Alderson Street near Freeport Street.
Originally, officials said Carlos was sleeping in his bedroom with his two younger half-sisters when someone walked up to their bedroom window and fired shots. On Friday, Gonzalez clarified that the boy was actually sleeping in the living room and had run to check on his sisters when he heard noises coming from their bedroom. The sheriff called the boy a hero.
"He ran to the danger," Gonzalez said. "He ran to check on his sisters, 6 and 7 years old, to protect them. And in some ways, he did because that bullet could have easily injured one of them."
Carlos was shot multiple times and died at the scene.
The boy's half-sisters, who are Rivera's daughters, were not hurt. Neither was his mom and another man who was also inside the apartment.
"What we lost is something that's never going to be replaced, and capturing this guy is some type of closure for us," Delfino Gonzalez, Carlos' uncle, told us.
Watch the full update Gonzalez gave Friday morning:
The sheriff's office told KHOU 11 News they were investigating Rivera for a family-violence incident that occurred on March 1, a few days before Fernandez died. Gonzalez said Rivera had a gun at the time and had assaulted the boy's mother.
The sheriff said the DA's office decided not to accept charges at the time and the investigation was flagged to be followed up on later. Gonzalez said he understands the family's frustration.
"On our side, we want to review and see how we can do better, if the response could be better," Gonzalez said.
Investigators said they were able to recover the grey pickup truck believed to be used by Rivera when the shooting happened.
The sheriff warned that anyone attempting to hide Rivera could also face charges.
"We want to make sure that we do everything possible to capture this coward, the individual that would take this beautiful life from us," Gonzalez said. "We also want to send a very strong message to anyone that may be hiding him out or assisting him that you too will be filed on."
Rivera should be considered armed and dangerous, according to Gonzalez.
Anyone with information is encouraged to contact the sheriff's office homicide unit or Crime Stoppers at 713-222-TIPS (8477). There is a $5,000 reward for information leading to his arrest and conviction.