February 11, 2012 - Charges have been filed against a suspect arrested in the fatal stabbing of a man at 8915 Broadway #9196 about 3:15 a.m. on Saturday (Feb. 9).

The suspect, Demarcus Jarrell Moses (b/m, DOB: 12-7-85) is charged with murder in the 351st State District Court. He is accused in the death of Howard Rankins, 59, of Houston, who suffered multiple stab wounds and died at the scene. A photo of Moses is attached to this news release.

HPD Homicide Division Sergeant H. Garcia and Senior Police Officer B. Evans reported:

Moses approached the apartment where Mr. Rankins had recently been staying with an aquaintance. Moses knocked on the door and was met by Rankins, who was armed with a shotgun. Moses saw the shotgun, then crawled onto an adjacent balcony from the front porch of the upstairs apartment. Rankins went back inside the apartment and confronted Moses at a sliding glass door next to the balcony. Moses, using a knife, began to smash through the glass door. As Rankins tried to keep Moses from entering, he was stabbed several times and collapsed on the balcony. Moses then stabbed Rankins several more times until Rankins became unresponsive.

Moses then entered the apartment and was seen by responding HPD patrol officers, cleaning a wound he sustained during the stabbing. Moses was taken into custody by HPD officers as he left the apartment. Officers then found Rankins lying on the balcony. HFD paramedics responded to the scene and pronounced Rankins dead.

VHS/KJS 2-11-13
Inc. #016533413