Man Who Shot Boy, 8, Charged With Aggravated Assault

HOUSTON, TX — A man who shot and wounded a child during a heated argument with the child’s father on Wednesday is charged with aggravated assault with a deadly weapon. Royce Jackie Thomas, 25, is accused of shooting 8-year-old Demariyae Daniel in the left arm during an argument with the child’s father.

Investigators said a man and his family went to a tire shop at South Interstate Highway 610 West on Dec. 26 to get their vehicle tire serviced.

According to court documents, the man got into a verbal argument with Thomas and another employee at the shop regarding the services. The man threatened to file a complaint against them for their rude conduct and left the business.

As he was pulling out of the driveway, Thomas ran and jumped on the hood of the vehicle and began banging on the windshield. The man stopped his car and witnesses said Thomas taunted the man to step out of the vehicle.

The man drove away from Thomas, who then pulled out a gun and fired several shots at the rear of the vehicle. A bullet fragment struck Demariyae in the arm.

The child’s father saw his son was struck and drove to the hospital for treatment.
Police were called and Thomas was detained at the scene and charged for his role in the shooting.

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Image: HPD

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