A tragic incident unfolded on Martin Luther King Boulevard in Houston, where an argument spiraled into a deadly shooting. According to the Houston Police Department's post on X, an adult male was left in critical condition following a shooting on the 5800 block of the boulevard.
Southeast officers are at a shooting scene 5800 Martin Luther King Blvd. Adult male transported in critical condition. Male suspect fled on foot. 202 pic.twitter.com/CGSbfsPqx0
— Houston Police (@houstonpolice) May 2, 2024
The suspect, now identified as 35-year-old Richard Taplin, is actively being sought by police after the harrowing event that took place late Saturday night. In an effort to quickly bring him to justice, he has been charged with murder, aggravated assault with a deadly weapon, and unlawful carry of a weapon with a felony conviction. Despite these charges, Taplin has managed to evade capture and is currently not in custody. The authorities, in an ongoing manhunt, are urging the public to come forward with any relevant information.
The sequence of events that led to this tragedy was provided in detail by FOX 26 News. An altercation between Sarah Taplin, the suspect's sister, and another unidentified female escalated to a violent climax. It was then that Richard took possession of a firearm and fired at the fleeing woman.
Amidst the chaos, Richard began to shoot indiscriminately across a crowded gas station parking lot, striking multiple targets including his sister. Sarah Taplin, aged 24, was pronounced dead at the scene, a tragic victim of her brother's reckless actions. While firing at the unidentified female, Richard did also discharge bullets aiming haphazardly into the bystanders gathered, turning a personal conflict into a public nightmare. He has been labeled as armed and dangerous, an immediate threat to the safety of the community.
Anyone with insights about Richard Taplin's location or details on the case can confidentially reach out to the HPD Homicide Division at 713-308-3600 or to Crime Stoppers anonymously at 713-222-TIPS.
