John Jefferson
Background: News footage of the scene on Feb. 4 where a man was shot several times on Grand Parkway in Harris County, Texas (KTRK). Inset (left): Ricardo Obando (Harris County Jail). Inset (right): Mathew Rosas in court (KHOU).
A road rage incident that took place on Grand Parkway in Texas‘ Harris County was revealed to be an apparent murder-for-hire plot — allegedly with a father and his stepson attempting to execute a hit.
In the early morning hours of Feb. 4, an unnamed 40-year-old man driving his work vehicle on Grand Parkway was fired on several times by a then-unknown assailant. He was hit by multiple bullets, but survived his gunshot wounds and remains hospitalized. At the time, it was believed that the shooting was a road rage incident. But the driver’s truck had several cameras inside of it, which captured the footage that led police to two suspects — a man and his stepson.
Ricardo Obando, 49, and Matthew Rosas, 24, appeared in a Harris County court after being arrested on Feb. 15 on charges of attempted capital murder and aggravated assault with a deadly weapon. During the hearing, prosecutors stated that Obando was allegedly hired to kill the victim while Rosas was paid $300 to drive him away from the scene. Prosecutors also said that Rosas admitted to his role in the alleged plot and had also been tasked with following the victim around “for several days” to learn his routine.
Prosecutors said that Rosas was found with “$220 and two new $100 bills at the time of his arrest. He said the $220 was what remained of the proceeds of the shooting.”
During his court appearance, Obando was instructed not to have contact with his co-defendant Rosas. This was when he revealed that Rosas was his “son.” After learning of the family connection, the judge removed the no-contact order.
Obando, who had previous felony convictions on his record, was being held at Harris County Jail on $20,000 bond for the attempted capital murder charge plus $250,000 bond for the aggravated assault charge. Rosas, who was also charged with drug possession, was also in custody at the Harris County Jail on $100,000. Rosas is next expected in court on March 26; Obando was scheduled to appear on Feb. 18 for the attempted capital murder charge and again on March 3 for the aggravated assault charge.
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