POLICE Department
Two Suspects Arrested, Charged in Fatal Shooting at 9220 Richmond Avenue
March 20, 2016 - Charges have been filed against two suspects arrested in the fatal shooting of a man at 9220 Richmond Avenue about 5 a.m. on Saturday (March 19).
The suspects, Bryant Christopher Watts (b/m, 28) and Aaron Jones (b/m, 31), are charged with capital murder in the 179th State District Court. Both are accused in the killing of Phillip Frank Panzica, 27, of Houston, who died at the scene.
Photos of both suspects are not available at this time.
HPD Homicide Division Sergeant B. Harris and Senior Police Officer M. Waters II reported:
According to witnesses, Mr. Panzica was with a male (suspect Jones) at an adult entertainment club. Later, Panzica's fiancee, a dancer at the club, left the location with cash and belongings and looked for Panzica in the parking lot of the club. She was then approached by Jones, who directed her to an area where Panzica was parked in her black Kia Sorrento. The female got into the passenger seat of her vehicle, while Jones and another black male (suspect Watts) sat in the rear passenger seats. As Panzica drove near the intersection of Richmond and Jeanetta, his fiancee heard Watts say, "You need to come clean" as he pointed a handgun at Panzica. Watts then shot Panzica several times. Witnesses then saw Watts and Jones exit the vehicle, pull Panzica out of the vehicle and dump him in the roadway. Jones then demanded the fiancee to exit the vehicle. The suspects then fled the scene in her vehicle, with her purse containing a large amount of cash and her belongings. The female then flagged down a Metro bus driver to get help.
Later that same day, a Menard County, Texas, sheriff's deputy saw a black Kia Sorrento travelling at a high rate of speed and initiated a vehicle pursuit. Multiple law enforcement agencies responded to the pursuit and the suspect's vehicle eventually stopped in Concho County, Texas. The driver of the vehicle, identified as Watts, admitted to his role in robbing and shooting Panzica. Both suspects were found to have large amounts of cash in their possession.
Bryant Christopher Watts (Menard County S.O.)
Arron Jones(Menard County S.O.)
VHS/JFC 3-20-16
Inc. #034926116
For additional information, please contact the HPD Public Affairs Division at 713-308-3200.
