Five suspects sought in series of murders

Thursday, February 16, 2006

(2/16/06 - KTRK/HOUSTON) (KTRK) -- Houston police are hoping reward money will help them locate five suspects charged and wanted in three murders and one home invasion shooting since December 28, 2005.

All five suspects are Louisiana residents relocated to Houston following Hurricane Katrina and are believed to be either in the Houston area or between here and New Orleans. Crime Stoppers officials in both cities have coordinated efforts to streamline tip information and assist in the apprehension of the suspects.

The first suspect, Jerome Hampton, 23, is charged with murder in the December 28, 2005 killing of Steven Kennedy, 24, at 1303 La Concha. Investigators said both Hampton and Kennedy were members of separate gangs in New Orleans. The motive in the shooting is believed to be revenge. It's also believed Hampton is traveling with two other wanted Louisiana/Houston murder suspects, Ivory 'B-Stupid' Harris and Travis Jordan.

The second and third suspects, Richard Foster, 17, and Ricardo J. Irvin, 18, are each charged with capital murder in the death of Gregory Sartain, 19, at 8080 Creekbend on February 6. A second victim, Bennie Curtis, 25, was also shot and transported to an area hospital in critical condition. The motive for the double shooting is believed to be the robbery of the victims' FEMA money.

The fourth suspect, Robert Helmstetter, 20, is charged with murder in the killing of Freddie Magee, 21, at 3950 Hollister on February 9. McGee, a friend of Helmstetter's and fellow Hurricane Katrina evacuee, got into an argument with Helmstetter and said Helmstetter and his girlfriend might have stolen some items from him.

The fifth suspect, Michael T. Mabon, 22, is charged with aggravated robbery with a deadly weapon for his role as one of three suspects in a home invasion at 6200 West Tidwell on January 23. When the homeowner fatally shot one of the suspects, Mabon and another male suspect fled, according to Houston officers.

Anyone with information on the whereabouts of any of these suspects is urged to contact the HPD Homicide Division at 713-308-3600, Crime Stoppers of Houston at 713-222-TIPS or Crime Stoppers of New Orleans at 504-837-TIPS.
(Copyright © 2006, KTRK-TV)

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