Confession leads to murder charges in dispute over tennis shoes

[JayS]

June 10, 2004, 7:59AM
Confession leads to murder charges
in dispute over tennis shoes
Copyright 2004 Houston Chronicle
http://www.chron.com/cs/CDA/ssistory.mpl/metropolitan/2620165


A 20-year-old Harris County man has been charged with murder after five people were shot late Tuesday in a fight over a 3-year-old dispute about a pair of tennis shoes, sheriff's department officials said.

*SNIP*

The gunfire, which occurred in the 6600 block of Vialinda just before 11 p.m. Tuesday, killed 19-year-old Thomas Mendoza, detectives said.

None of the five shot was directly involved in the disputed tennis shoe swap, which occurred between two girls more than three years ago. But an argument and fight about that trade led to the gunfire, detectives said.

*SNIP*

Detectives later learned a fifth person had been shot by accident and was taken to West Houston Medical Center in someone's car. That person was listed in good condition.