Crime
Shameful: Construction workers shot and robbed while working on a church center in rare incident
A worker was shot during a robbery in a rare construction site armed robbery in northeast Harris County.
Two men — one armed with a gun and another armed with a knife — robbed four construction employees at around 7:45 a.m. Wednesday as they worked on the planned St. Andrew Ministry Center in the 100 block of Atascocita Road in the Humble area, as first reported by KHOU Ch. 11.
Two young men reportedly approached the worker, demanding his wallet and cellphone. They eventually shot the worker in his arm before fleeing the scene. The victim is in stable condition at an area hospital.
Derek Peake, who has worked in construction for more than 30 years, says it's the first time he's heard of robbers targeting construction workers.
The two suspects stole two cellphones as well as cash from the workers, although nothing else was taken from the construction site.
Site superintendent Derek Peake, who has worked in construction for more than 30 years, tells KPRC Ch. 2 that this is the first time he's heard of robbers targeting construction workers.
"I was inside the trailer and I heard four small pops and thought, 'That sounds odd,' " Peake says. "My foreman came in and said, 'Call the police, call the ambulance quick.'
"(The workers) said one guy had a small pistol and one had a knife, and (the robbers) came up and started hollering and cursing, 'Give us all your money.' Before (the workers) had a chance to do anything, (the robbers) grabbed the cellphone — I guess from one of the guys. They shot four times and only hit the one guy in the arm. One of the guys hollered, 'Police' and that scared (the robbers) and they took off."
Police say they are looking for two males, 18- to 20-years-old, dressed in dark clothing and last seen running from the site.
