Shooting death reveals illegal gambling operation at 'pet store
Investigators looking into a deadly shooting of a customer by a store owner stumbled upon another crime Saturday.
It all happened at a business in the 2900 block of Gears in northwest Harris County.
The owner said the bullet that killed a woman there was meant for another person.
But when Sheriff’s deputies arrived at the scene, they uncovered something else illegal – a secret gambling business, complete with 8-liners.
11 News
By the looks of the building, the business was a pet store. But investigators soon found out it wasn't.
From the sign out front and the décor on the walls, people would assume the business was a pet store.
But since the shooting, that façade has been shattered.
Investigators say the owner of the business, Able Abrego, attempted to shoot a man he thought was trying to rob the place Friday night.
But instead of the suspected robber, Abrego shot and killed one of his customers, Gloria Cruz, 40.
“The business owner produced a shot gun and accidentally fired one shot, striking one of the people he was trying to let into the business in the head. She was killed instantly,” Harris County Sheriff’s Department Sgt. R. Nelson said.
Authorities took Abrego into custody and soon discovered his business was hardly a pet store.
It’s a fact that people who live and work in the area say was not much of a secret.
“Yeah, it’s obvious. I mean, the pet store was closed for a while. It hasn’t been open that long,” resident Cleotus Green, Jr., said.
Police seized 51 machines from inside the business – an indication they say proves the 8-liner business had been there long enough.
The shooting victim, Cruz, and her husband were considered VIP members of the business, meaning they visited frequently.
Abrego could face charges for running an illegal gambling business, but a grand jury will have to decide if he should face charges for murder.
Meanwhile, the store front is shut down while authorities continue to piece together the bizarre crime that left a wife and mother dead.
Investigators looking into a deadly shooting of a customer by a store owner stumbled upon another crime Saturday.
It all happened at a business in the 2900 block of Gears in northwest Harris County.
The owner said the bullet that killed a woman there was meant for another person.
But when Sheriff’s deputies arrived at the scene, they uncovered something else illegal – a secret gambling business, complete with 8-liners.
11 News
By the looks of the building, the business was a pet store. But investigators soon found out it wasn't.
From the sign out front and the décor on the walls, people would assume the business was a pet store.
But since the shooting, that façade has been shattered.
Investigators say the owner of the business, Able Abrego, attempted to shoot a man he thought was trying to rob the place Friday night.
But instead of the suspected robber, Abrego shot and killed one of his customers, Gloria Cruz, 40.
“The business owner produced a shot gun and accidentally fired one shot, striking one of the people he was trying to let into the business in the head. She was killed instantly,” Harris County Sheriff’s Department Sgt. R. Nelson said.
Authorities took Abrego into custody and soon discovered his business was hardly a pet store.
It’s a fact that people who live and work in the area say was not much of a secret.
“Yeah, it’s obvious. I mean, the pet store was closed for a while. It hasn’t been open that long,” resident Cleotus Green, Jr., said.
Police seized 51 machines from inside the business – an indication they say proves the 8-liner business had been there long enough.
The shooting victim, Cruz, and her husband were considered VIP members of the business, meaning they visited frequently.
Abrego could face charges for running an illegal gambling business, but a grand jury will have to decide if he should face charges for murder.
Meanwhile, the store front is shut down while authorities continue to piece together the bizarre crime that left a wife and mother dead.
