SENSELESS SHOOTING OF TWO ELDERLY FRIENDS OUT FOR A WALK IN A HOUSTON PARK

Bond denied for man charged in deadly ambush attack of 2 retired men near southwest Houston park

 

By Brittany Taylor and Bryce Newberry 

 

Click2Houston

Jul 1, 2025

 

Charles Ernest Lopez, 24, was arrested and charged with capital murder in the shooting deaths of Natanael Reyes, 68 and Guadalupe Flores, 74, in a Houston, Texas park

 

HOUSTON – A bond has been denied for a man charged in connection with a deadly shooting where two men were ambushed and killed during their daily early morning walks near a southwest Houston park, according to the Houston Police Department.

The suspect, Charles Ernest Lopez, 25, was charged with capital murder in the shooting deaths of Natanael Reyes, 68, and Guadalupe Flores, 74. 

 

Natanael Fuentes Reyes and Guadalupe Flores

 

Lopez did not show up for his first court appearance on Tuesday following his arrest on Monday. His bond was denied by a judge due to seriousness of the offense.

In court, prosecutors said the vehicle that Lopez was reportedly driving during the time of the shooting may be possibly tied to two other cases. Prosecutors did not elaborate on the specifics of those cases.

Background

On June 27, Houston police responded to a call to 14900 White Heather Drive about 5:45 a.m. in regard to a shooting.

Investigators learned that Reyes and Flores, both retired, were walking in the park when they were gunned down in an ambush-style attack.

Most of the shots came from behind the men, catching them off guard, and the suspect stood over them and released additional rounds of gunfire from above, according to HPD Sgt. Michael Arrington.

“They were just out here walking,” Arrington said. “None of their pockets were ruffled through, from what we can tell or look like anything was stolen from them. So, it does appear to be more targeted or an ambush-style attack.”

Police said the suspect fled in a white 4-door sedan eastbound from the location.

Investigators later identified the vehicle of interest and, on Monday, June 30, police found the vehicle and conducted a traffic stop.

The driver, identified as Lopez, admitted to his role in the shooting, police said. Investigators also learned Lopez lived 8 minutes from the park where the shooting happened.

The motive for the shooting is still under investigation.

According to records, Lopez was given six months of community supervision in 2022 for a misdemeanor criminal trespass charge. Also in 2022, he had a misdemeanor discharge of a firearm in a metro area charge dismissed after completing a gun safety course, 24 hours of community service and forfeiting the gun, records show.