Man found dead in northeast Houston liquor store

(7/17/07 - KTRK/HOUSTON) (KTRK) -- Overcome with emotion, a son learns his father, a well-known store owner in the community, has been murdered and now Houston police are looking for the killer.

Henry Tran, 57, owned the T Liquor store on Homestead and Bretshire for the past 16 years, trying to make a living for his family.

"He knew each of us by name and he was just a very nice gentleman," said neighbor Helen Nichols.

He was well known and well loved in this community after raising five children there.

"He was the best human being you could possibly have," said his son John Tran. "He was so soft, so kind. He raised us and loved us more than anything."

Police say a customer entered the store at 2pm and could not find anyone working in the store, that's when he called 911. When police arrived, they found Tran had been shot to death. They believe robbery was the motive, but did not find anything missing. There were signs of a struggle and one important clue left behind.

"We believe he may have resisted because of the necklace we found inside the store on the floor," said Investigator H.A. Chavez of the Houston Police Department.

News of the store owner's death had members of his family showing up to the scene in shock.

"I don't know how to say it, but he was a very, very good man," relative Andrew Pham said. "He tried to help out a lot of people."

Police are working on a description of that necklace. They say there was no surveillance equipment at the store.

If you have any information in this store owner's murder call crime stoppers at 713-222-TIPS. Your call will remain anonymous.
(Copyright © 2007, KTRK-TV)

Get more News »

• Email
• Print
• Report a typo
•