Suspect Charged in 2017 Fatal Shooting at 7000 Bleker

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Suspect Charged in 2017 Fatal Shooting at 7000 Bleker
Charges have been filed against a suspect in the fatal shooting of a man in a 2017 homicide case.  The male had been found at 7000 Bleker in a about 11:05 a.m. on December 12, 2017.

The suspect, Herbert Simon, 40, is charged with aggravated kidnapping in the 248th State District Court.  A 2018 booking photo of Simon, who is in custody in the Texas Department of Criminal Justice on an unrelated robbery charge, is attached to this news release.

The victim is identified as Robert Cerda, 29.

HPD Homicide Division Detectives J. Caten and M. Barrow reported:

HPD patrol officers responded to a report of a body found in a ditch at the above address and found the victim, later identified as Mr. Cerda.  There were apparent signs of foul play,  and an autopsy by the Harris County Institute of Forensic Sciences determined Cerda had been shot.

A preliminary investigation by HPD homicide investigators and Missouri City Police Department officers determined Cerda had been killed at 7300 Long Point Drive and a woman, identified as Rachel Delarosa, 34, had been held against her will at that location.  Ms. Delarosa was eventually taken to 4300 block of North Creekmont Drive where she was shot and killed.

Further investigation identified Simon as the suspect who had a role in holding Delarosa at gunpoint against her will at the Long Point Drive address.  Investigators believe Simon may have been involved in the fatal shooting of Cerda.  The investigation remains on-going.

Anyone with additional information in this case is urged to contact the HPD Homicide Division at 713-308-3600 or Crime Stoppers at 713-222-TIPS.