HOUSTON — A third suspect has been charged with capital murder in the shooting deaths of an off-duty NOPD police officer and his friend. Police say the victims were shot last month during a robbery outside Grotto near the Galleria.
KHOU 11 was the first to report early Thursday on the arrest of Khalil Nelson, 19.
According to Houston police, Nelson is the third and final suspect in the case. He was charged and taken into custody on Wednesday. He was denied bond on both of the capital murder charges during a court appearance on Thursday.
Nelson was also charged with aggravated robbery in the case. He was given a bond of $100,000 for that charge but will remain in custody because of the other two charges.
Police also said Nelson had previously been out on bond for a criminal trespass charge from a case back in April.
The other suspects, Frederick Jackson and Anthony Jenkins, are also charged with capital murder.
The victims, 43-year-old Dyrin “DJ” Riculfy and 41-year-old New Orleans police detective Everett Briscoe, had just arrived in Houston for a vacation when they were shot.
Friends say they checked into Hotel Derek and walked to Grotto Ristorante with other members of their group.
They were dining on the patio when the suspects, in hoodies, approached and attempted to rob them. "One or more" of the suspects opened fire, shooting the victims. The suspects then fled in a gray Nissan Altima.
The victims
Detective Briscoe died on the day of the shooting. He and his friends were part of the Zulu Social Aid and Pleasure Club, a philanthropic group that puts on a Mardi Gras parade in New Orleans. Several members were in Houston for the weekend to visit other Zulu members. Zulu president Elroy James said the members who traveled from New Orleans decided to stay at Hotel Derek, and when they arrived at the hotel Saturday afternoon, a few of them dropped off their bags and walked across the street to Grotto to smoke cigars and have a few drinks. Just moments later, the robbery and deadly shooting happened.
Briscoe was described as "a great man and a great friend who would give you the clothes off his back if you're in need."
Riculfy, the other victim, was in a coma for over a week prior to his passing. Friends say "DJ," who was a business owner in New Orleans, was the type of man who would help anyone who was in need.