Christopher Coen
Melissa Sogard
nancylee1
5-14-09, Burmese refugee shot six times in brazen daytime robbery
http://www.khou.com/news/local/crime/stories/khou090514_tnt_burmese-immigrant-attacked.1fb4a85.html
Burmese refugee shot six times in brazen daytime robbery
01:25 PM CDT on Thursday, May 14, 2009
By Jeff McShan / 11 News
HOUSTON — Inside Ben Taub Hospital, a victim of a robbery who is on a ventilator and unable to speak must be wondering if Houston is any better than the place he just left.
“It is sad. He just wanted the American dream like everyone else,” Officer Carrie Farquhar said.
The victim, who we are calling Sam for safety reasons, is a refugee from Burma.
It’s a country with so many political and military problems that more than 3 million Burmese have been displaced.
Sam ended up in Southwest Houston at an apartment complex in the 17600 block of Beechnut near Wilcrest. Other refugees from Burma had been living there, too.
Seeking the American dream, Sam found a job at Kroger.
But two weeks ago, his life changed again.
It was the day he walked from his apartment to a gas station located right next door. He went there to cash his payroll check.
Houston Police say surveillance cameras captured a female named Criteria Holmes walking over there, too. She saw Sam get his money.
“Saw him and knew what he was doing, and was on the cell phone,” say Detective Farquhar.
She was allegedly on the phone with Eugene Simmons, who is a documented gang member.
Police say Simmons waited for Sam to get back to the apartment complex. When Sam arrived, he took Sam’s money at gunpoint and then shot him six times. The robbery took place in broad daylight.
HPD says Simmons and Holmes, who are now in custody, likely targeted refugees.
“If anyone has information or has been a victim, please come forward and let us know,” Faquhar said.
Frightened about what had happened, all the refugees living in the apartment complex wanted to move out immediately.
Catholic Charities, which has many Burmese as clients, granted their request and quickly relocated them.
Despite his current condition, doctors expect Sam to pull through.
Three people who are originally from Burma have been looking after him.
“He is doing better than we thought,” Shooe Aung, one of Sam’s caretakers, said.
Lillian Min and Aye Aye have been there for Sam too. They’re all new friends he had never met until now.
Whenever the doctor wants us to translate to him he understands,” Lillian Min said.
Perhaps their kindness is giving Sam some hope that America can be better than the country he had to leave.
