On Saturday, a 90-year-old Houston Navy veteran was shot and killed in front of his apartment by an unknown assailant, who then stole his car and ran him over. Police say they have not yet found the assailant, but found the man's car abandoned at another apartment building a few miles away. A search is underway for the assailant.
According to Houston police, the incident happened in the early afternoon at the Lone Star Senior Living Apartments, where Nelson Beckett, a Navy veteran and former salesman, had lived for several years. Report According to KPRC 2 News, a service at the dead man's church began on a solemn note on Sunday as friends and family learned of the incident.
Nelson Beckett, 90, died yesterday in a carjacking. According to his daughter, he was a Navy veteran who cared about his family. His daughter said, “He was the kindest, funniest person I've ever met. He loved meeting people and had a joke and a greeting for everyone. Everyone was important to him.” pic.twitter.com/3PuORy3RTF
— Abigail Dye (@AbigailDyeNews) September 1, 2024
Steve Sandifer, Beckett's friend of 47 years, said the manner of death was what shocked him the most, according to KPRC 2. “I told his daughter, if she had called me that morning and said my dad didn't wake up this morning, I would have said, 'Thank goodness.' He lived 90 years, he was a defender of the faith and a champion of everything else. He lived a great life. But hearing that he was killed, it just didn't make sense to me,” Sandifer told KPRC 2 reporter Corey Peel.
Sandifer described Beckett, a Navy veteran who was a natural carer who would take neighbors to doctor's appointments and drive them to church. He was a widower after 69 years of marriage at the time of his wife's death.
Cecelia and I were deeply saddened to hear of the murder of Navy veteran Nelson Beckett in Houston.
The State of Texas is offering a $10,000 reward for information about this horrific crime.
Please call the Texas Crime Stoppers Hotline at 1-800-252-8477 and we will bring these criminals to justice. pic.twitter.com/N0AkljqZ53
— Greg Abbott (@GregAbbott_TX) September 2, 2024
According to ABC13As part of their initial investigation, police say the suspect is believed to be between 25 and 35 years old and was acting alone. After reviewing security camera footage, police said a younger man approached Beckett just before 1pm on Saturday. The victim and suspect appeared to be talking to each other before the suspect assaulted the 90-year-old man. Authorities say the suspect then shot Beckett, got into the victim's vehicle and ran over the victim as he left the scene.
Fox 26 Houston Published “He was a great man,” said Beckett's daughter, Tami Freund.
He served in the Navy but was not in the war. He was the kindest, funniest person you will ever meet. He loved meeting people and would greet everyone with a joke and his famous business card that said “My Business Card.” He loved to make someone laugh and brighten their day. Everyone was valuable to him. He spent his days giving rides to people who didn't have cars. He would take them to doctor appointments, FEMA, rehab, the store, anywhere they needed to go. He would drive his friends in rehab to beg and take them to church on Sundays. He even baptized some of his friends. He would do anything for anyone. He would always tell (his daughter) how blessed we were to have such a big, wonderful, loving Christian family. He loved his big family and he loved them so much!
Police have not yet released any leads in the investigation and are urging anyone with information to contact the Houston Police Department Homicide Unit at 713-308-3600.
Randy Clark Randy Clark is a 32-year veteran of the U.S. Border Patrol. Prior to his retirement, he served as Chief of the Law Enforcement Operations Division, where he led operations for nine Border Patrol stations in the Del Rio Sector, Texas. Follow him on Twitter @RandyClarkBBTX.
