Crime
38-year-old Eric Pait shot and killed by man dressed as Michael Myers in Harris County on Halloween night
Pait’s estranged wife, Carman Peterson, was also killed in a separate shooting incident two months prior.
A 38-year-old man, identified as Eric Pait, was fatally shot at his home on Hawks Nest Drive in north Harris County on Halloween night.
The shooting occurred around 10 PM. Witnesses reported seeing a person dressed as Michael Myers, the iconic horror film character, approaching Pait and opening fire.
Pait’s estranged wife, Carman Peterson, was also killed in a separate shooting incident two months prior. She was found fatally shot in her apartment on FM 1960 in August.
On a busy Halloween night, the streets were filled with people celebrating when a terrifying incident unfolded. Witnesses reported seeing a person wearing a Michael Myers mask, like the character from the Halloween slasher films, approach a victim and open fire.
“Someone fitting that description was observed in the area at the time of the shooting,” said Homicide Sgt. Michael Ritchie with the Harris County Sheriff’s Office (HCSO). “We’re currently reviewing video footage, examining the crime scene, and interviewing witnesses to gather as much evidence as possible.”
By Friday, crime scene investigators were still at the location, meticulously piecing together what happened in the hopes of finding answers.
Local resident Monica Melgar recalled, “I was in my room when I heard three or four shots. They were so loud that I initially thought they came from my neighbors’ backyard, but it turned out to be further away. Things like this just don’t happen in our neighborhood.”
Authorities are reviewing any available surveillance footage, and neighbors are left hoping this wasn’t a random act of violence.
“I’d like to believe someone isn’t just randomly out there killing anyone who’s outside—but it does make you think twice about going out,” Melgar added.
Family members of Pait’s estranged wife recently spoke with KHOU 11, revealing that she was tragically killed in a shooting just two months ago. On August 16, 37-year-old Carman Peterson was found shot to death while she was asleep in her new apartment on FM 1960, according to the Harris County Sheriff’s Office. A family member discovered Peterson’s body after going to check on her when repeated calls went unanswered.
Prior to their separation, Peterson lived with her husband, Pait, and their three children in a home on Hawks Nest Drive. Her family shared with KHOU 11 that they suspect Pait may have been involved in her death, although authorities have not made any official comments or filed any charges against him at this time.
In the recent incident involving Pait, two of the couple’s children were present in the home when he was shot but were unharmed. Investigators continue to look into the circumstances surrounding both cases.
The Harris County Sheriff’s Office is investigating both homicides to determine if there is a connection between the two cases.
Orlando, Fla. — Family and friends of 33-year-old Julien Emmanuel Cruz are seeking answers and accountability following his fatal shooting outside a popular LGBTQ+ nightclub early Sunday morning.
According to the Orlando Police Department, officers responded at approximately 2:31 a.m. on February 22, 2026, to the 1900 block of North Orange Avenue, just north of Lake Ivanhoe, in reference to a reported shooting.
Upon arrival, officers located Cruz suffering from an apparent gunshot wound. He was transported to a local hospital, where he later succumbed to his injuries. Authorities confirmed Cruz was born May 18, 1992.
Detectives determined that prior to the shooting, Cruz and the suspect were involved in a verbal and physical altercation on the sidewalk outside the nightclub district. Investigators say that during the dispute, the suspect retrieved a firearm from his vehicle and shot Cruz.
The suspect fled the scene in a vehicle, which patrol officers later located in the 200 block of East New Hampshire Avenue, approximately two blocks from where the shooting occurred.
Police subsequently arrested 37-year-old Jean Gabriel Borja Gil De La Madr (DOB: October 29, 1988). He has been charged with Second Degree Murder with a Firearm. Authorities confirmed this case marks the third homicide in Orlando in 2026.
Cruz’s father, Anthony Cruz, said his son and his partner had been at Savoy Orlando enjoying the evening before the violence unfolded.
According to the family, as the couple exited the club after closing time, a vehicle sped past them. Cruz’s partner allegedly yelled toward the occupants of the vehicle, prompting the car to stop. A physical altercation then reportedly began between Cruz’s partner and one of the individuals from the vehicle.
“When they fought, my son saw that was happening. My son went to intervene, and when he intervened, another guy got out of the car, and he got shot,” Anthony Cruz said. “My son didn’t deserve what happened. All I have left is a shirt — a shirt with a bullet hole.”
While police have charged Borja Gil De La Madr, Cruz’s family maintains that another individual may have been directly responsible for pulling the trigger. Authorities have not publicly confirmed whether additional suspects are being sought.
A small memorial has formed across from the nightclub, where members of the community have gathered to honor Cruz’s memory.
Joshua Cooper, owner of Savoy Orlando, said the tragedy has deeply impacted the LGBTQ+ community, even though the shooting occurred off the club’s property.
“I didn’t know the victim, but from everything I’ve been told, I wish I had,” Cooper said. “He seemed like a great kid. Seeing a family that is so heartbroken and so supportive of this community says so much.”
The Orlando Police Department has not released additional information regarding potential additional suspects. Detectives continue to investigate the circumstances surrounding the altercation and shooting.
Anyone with information related to this case is encouraged to contact the Orlando Police Department or Crimeline.
The investigation remains active.