BEAUMONT, Texas — A Jefferson County grand jury handed up an indictment Wednesday charging a 51-year-old Houston man with murder after a November 2020 shooting at a Beaumont restaurant, according to a probable cause affidavit.
(Editor's note: The above video is from a November 2020 newscast.)
James Tucker confessed to robbing and shooting a man in the parking lot of China Star in Beaumont, police said in a 2020 interview.
Along with murder, Tucker is being held in the Jefferson County Jail, on a more than $1 million bond for multiple charges including; aggravated robbery, unlawful carry of a weapon, indecent exposure, possession of marijuana, possession of a controlled substance, possession of a firearm by a felon, possession of drug paraphernalia and terroristic threats, according to jail records.
Related: Police say Houston man robbed, shot victim at Beaumont restaurant in random act of violence
Related: Houston man accused of shooting, robbing man outside Beaumont restaurant in lunchtime robbery
Police said the 2020 fatal shooting appeared to be a random attack. Tucker was just looking for someone he could take advantage of, Chris Schuldt, Beaumont Police lieutenant said in a 2020 interview with 12News
According to a 2020 probable cause affidavit, Tucker found his victim outside China Star on Dowlen Road. The victim did not understand English very well, and this frustrated Tucker, police said.
After robbing and shooting the man, Tucker left the scene in a white Chevy Suburban. The suburban was spotted in Crowley, Louisiana, where police went and arrested Tucker on charges unrelated to the shooting.
Beaumont restaurant shooting
GET NEWS & WEATHER ALERTS | Download the 12News App to your mobile device
CRIME STOPPERS | Submit a tip @ 833Tips.com
CRIME STOPPERS APP | Download the P3 Tips App
If you have information about a crime you could earn a cash reward of up to $1000 by providing an ANONYMOUS tip to Crime Stoppers of Southeast Texas.
Call 833-TIPS (8477) or download the P3Tips App on your mobile device to submit your tip anonymously.
This is a developing story. We will update with more if and when we receive more confirmed information.