A 29-year-old Texas mechanic and father of two girls was fatally shot two days before Christmas after a dispute with a client about a $500 repair bill.
Luis Manuel Casillas was found dead near the 7600 block of North Freeway in Houston, Texas, on Friday afternoon after an unknown customer accompanied by five other men allegedly chased down and killed him execution-style, according to local media reports.
A heartbreaking loss for the Casillas family only two days before Christmas.
They told me Luis Manuel Casillas was killed by a customer who was upset over a $500 payment for work done on his truck.
He leaves behind a wife and two young daughters. https://t.co/3kLgoR8m1X pic.twitter.com/5Zh1Nbg5A1
— Mycah Hatfield (@MycahABC13) December 27, 2022
Sandy Casillas, the victim’s sister, told local media that witnesses claim an argument broke out between her brother and the customer over repairs on a truck before the situation turned fatal. When the customer said he refused to pay for the service, Casillas allegedly told him to take his truck and leave.
“My brother started running,” Sandy Casillas said. “He ran through all the side businesses he could run through,” adding that the suspects caught up to the mechanic and “shot him in the head point blank.”
“They put him on his knees, and they shot him in the head,” Sandy said.
She told KHOU11 her brother pleaded for his life to the gunmen saying, “I have a family — just take whatever you want.”
Jose Casillas, the victim’s brother, said Luis shared screenshots of his conversation with the customer the day before the deadly confrontation.
“After that, I just received a call that my brother has been shot,” his brother said. “I didn’t believe it at first.”
Authorities transferred Casillas to a hospital, where he died from his injuries.
He leaves behind his wife and their two and three-year-old daughters.
Family members said Casillas had purchased Christmas presents for his children and planned to finish holiday shopping with the $500 owed from the repair bill.
“Santa was coming with Daddy, but Santa showed up, but Daddy didn’t,” the sister said.
Relatives appeared at the crime scene on Christmas Day, demanding that the alleged murderers be held accountable.
“You don’t do that to any human beings,” the sister said. “You don’t do that to animals. How do you do that to my brother? What they did is not fair and if you’re the mother of those six individuals, at least be a good enough mother to turn your child in.”
Houston police have not released a description of the suspects or their vehicles. However, investigations are underway to find surveillance footage of the shooting. Family members also believe they may be able to identify the suspect, according to KHOU-11.
“I’ll be damned if I let this case go cold,” the sister said. “My brother will get his justice.”
Family members will lay Casillas to rest on Thursday at the Funeraria Del Angel.