In a disturbing incident that unfolded in the early hours of Sunday, May 12, in Houston, Texas, a confrontation between a pizza delivery driver and two alleged robbers resulted in the death of one of the robbers.
The event took place at approximately 12:40 a.m. at the Park Yellowstone Apartment Homes on Yellowstone Boulevard, an area close to Highway 288.
According to reports from the Houston Police Department, the delivery driver was approached by two men armed with guns as he arrived to deliver a pizza at the apartment complex. They demanded money, leading to a fatal exchange when the driver, who was also armed, retaliated by firing at one of the assailants. The armed confrontation resulted in the death of one suspect, while the other fled the scene.
The deceased was later identified by his brother, Ameer White, as 21-year-old Areyeh White. In a statement filled with emotion and disbelief, Ameer questioned the official account of the events, expressing doubts about his brother’s involvement in the crime and skepticism regarding the necessity for the delivery driver to be armed. “It most definitely destroyed me,” said Ameer, voicing the profound impact of the tragedy on his family.
The police detained the pizza delivery driver at the scene, where he cooperated with the investigation. While the driver’s actions might be seen as self-defense, the final determination will be made by a grand jury, which is expected to review the case.
Houston Police Sergeant Mark Holbrook commented on the complexity of the case, emphasizing the ongoing efforts to fully understand the sequence of events that led to such a violent outcome. “We’re not sure how the pizza delivery went so wrong that somebody wound up getting shot,” Sgt. Holbrook noted.
Holbrook added that there were witnesses to parts of the incident.
As the community grapples with the shocking incident, the focus also shifts to broader issues of safety and security for those in the delivery industry. The case not only raises questions about the preparedness of delivery workers to handle such threats but also about the measures that need to be in place to ensure their safety.
The Houston Police are currently probing two separate occasions of pizza delivery personnel being held up at gunpoint last month, examining any potential links between them.
On April 15, a Papa John’s delivery employee was assaulted, robbed, and had his vehicle stolen by two individuals at a residence near River Oaks, where he was attempting to deliver a pizza. The owner of the home reported to the police that he did not place an order for any pizza that night.
Shortly after, a delivery person from Domino’s was threatened with a firearm by an individual while attempting to make a pizza delivery to an empty house in the Broadacres area.
In both cases, the assailants made off with the pizza, according to Shay Awosiyan, a representative for the Houston Police Department.
The police apprehended 21-year-old Jeremiah Kavion Jammer, identified as a participant in the aggravated robbery at Papa John’s. Jammer faces charges for aggravated robbery with a dangerous weapon and for illegally possessing a weapon.
“At this juncture, it’s unclear whether the two incidents are related,” stated Awosiyan. “The case remains highly active.”
Awosiyan urged, “Stay alert and cautious at all times, and never let your guard down.”
