Police: Rap artist killed, 3 injured in possible gang shooting in N. Houston

Police say a man with a semi-automatic rifle shot James Lee — a 29-year-old local rapper who went by ‘Boo Man’ or Band Pacino — and three of others in what appeared to be a targeted act Saturday in Acres Homes. less Police say a man with a semi-automatic rifle shot James Lee — a 29-year-old local rapper who went by ‘Boo Man’ or Band Pacino — and three of others in what appeared to be a targeted act Saturday in ... more Photo: Courtesy Photo: Courtesy Image 1 of / 12 Caption Close Police: Rap artist killed, 3 injured in possible gang shooting in N. Houston 1 / 12 Back to Gallery

James Lee arrived on Glenn Avenue Saturday afternoon hoping to rally some friends and neighborhood kids for a game of pickup football, friends said. He was a fixture of the Acres Homes neighborhood, visiting friends and neighbors regularly.

Moments later, the sound of gunfire ripped through the air.

Police said a man with a semi-automatic rifle shot Lee — a 29-year-old local rapper who went by ‘Boo Man’ or Band Pacino — and three others in what appeared to be a targeted act.

Firefighters arrived within two minutes. They rushed three injured men to local hospitals, but were unable to save Lee, who died at the scene.

His body remained partially visible in a red sedan hours later, as police waited for staff from the Harris County Institute of Forensic Sciences to arrive to take it for an autopsy. Police taped off a wide portion of the street, as they combed the area for evidence.

A block south, on Calvin Street, investigators pored over a related crime scene. Green cones marked blood trail, clothes, and other evidence left behind along the route the shooting victims used to flee.

Chief Art Acevedo said the shooting may have been gang-related, or as retaliation for previous acts of violence. He promised to act quickly, and asked residents to allow police to investigate, instead of taking the law into their own hands.

“We will catch these individuals and we will catch them quickly,” Acevedo said.

“Think about what happened here just an hour-and-a-half ago,” the chief said, as several children played basketball yards away. “Some fool with an assault rifle is spraying and preying around here, hitting multiple people, and it could’ve been any of these kids. But for the grace of God we didn’t have a young innocent child in addition to this young man who lost his life today.”

The shooting brought scores of neighbors, friends and relatives outside. Some were curious, others angry. They mingled in the warm afternoon sun, some chatting, speculating about motive, hugging each other.

Romeo LeBlanc, 59, had been walking out of his house — just a few doors down from the shooting — to go buy cigarettes when he heard the shots. He dove behind his truck and prayed he wouldn’t get hit.

“Hopefully, the mofo doesn’t shoot this way,” he remembers thinking. “Bullets don’t give a damn which way they’re going.”

He caught a glimpse of a black car without license plates, but little else.

Among those gathered was Shenika Sampson, 31, Samora Sampson, 9, and Courtney Bradberry, 23.

Lee had been a fixture of the neighborhood, Shenika said, and said most of the people gathered had enjoyed listening to his music.

“The whole of Glenn Street was a fan,” she said. “We all grew up together.”

Samora said Boo Man was one of her favorite rappers. She liked his songs and music videos, which portrayed scenes from their neighborhood and frequently included kids from the block.

“He wanted to make it,” the 9-year-old said.

They listened to Acevedo’s promise to investigate, grimacing when he suggested the crime was gang-related.

“He was not a gang member,” Bradberry. “He was well known in the community by the local kids.”

As they scoffed at characterizations of Lee as a gang member, they also said they were skeptical police would bring the shooter to justice. Another resident was shot and killed on the same block in November 2017, and they never heard anyone be convicted in that case.

“It’s 2020,” Bradberry said, exasperation creeping into her voice.

About 3:30 p.m., police lifted the crime scene tape. A large white van bearing Lee’s body slowly edged west through the quiet crowd.

His mother walked behind, her sobs filling the air.

“Help me, please,” she cried. “Help me, oh my god.”

st.john.smith@chron.com

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