Repeat offender sentenced to life in prison for fatal shooting; man died in co-worker’s arms

A repeat offender was sentenced to life in prison this week after pleading guilty to the 2018 shooting death of a customer at a north Houston gas station, Harris County District Attorney Kim Ogg announced Saturday.

“This was a random and totally senseless act of violence by someone who had lived outside of the law for years,” Ogg said. “Our streets will be safer now because he’s headed to prison for a long time.” 

 

Jermie Deshurn Richards, 36, pleaded guilty to murder in the death of Rafael Fernandez at a gas station on Kuykendahl and Ella, north of the North Sam Houston Parkway about 10:30 p.m. on May 22, 2018.

 

Assistant District Attorney Lauren Clemons Stanbery prosecuted the case and said the evidence showed that Richards ambushed Fernandez at the gas station after following him from a check cashing business. 

 

Fernandez, a warehouse employee, died in his co-worker’s arms.  

 

“After the robbery, Richards was leaving and just turned around and shot him,” Stanbery said. “He is a cold-blooded killer.”