Sons plowed over

Drunk driving shooting mystery takes an even more tragic turn: Grief-stricken dad sits in jail

A Houston-area father has been charged with murder for the shooting death of drunk driver who killed his two children in a Dec. 7 accident.

The man, 31-year-old David Barajas, and his sons David Jr. and Caleb, were pushing the family truck down a rural road near Alvin after the vehicle ran out of gas. Just as they approached their driveway, a car plowed into the Barajas and killed the two boys, aged 12 and 11 respectively.

The driver was dead behind the wheel with a gunshot wound to the head.

The mother, Cindy Barajas, was sitting inside the truck with the couple's 8-year-old daughter and 3-month-old son during the accident.

Witnesses near the crime scene recalled hearing gunshots moments after the crash. Jose Banda — the 20-year-old driver of the car, who was suspected to be intoxicated — was dead behind the wheel with a gunshot wound to the head. Investigators ruled his death a homicide, but were unable to find a murder weapon at the scene.

While incident remained draped in mystery for much of December, Barajas family reached out to KHOU Ch. 11 with claims of being threatened on Facebook. The couple temporarily relocated amidst online accusations that Cindy has been the shooter.

After several months of investigative work, authorities indicted David Barajas for murder late last week. He turned himself in two days later and remains in jail on a $450,000 bond.

Dominick Sanders, an investigator with the Brazoria County Sheriff's Department, tells the Associated Press that witnesses reported seeing Barajas walk into his home after the crash and return to Banda's car a few minutes later. Authorities have yet to locate a murder weapon, but a search of the Barajas home uncovered bullets that match the one used to kill the driver.

Sanders said that the Sheriff's Office was awaiting results from two tests — one of gunshot residue on Barajas and Banda and another of "biological material" found at the crime scene.

Alvin area residents are maintaining a roadside memorial marking the scene of the deaths.

children killed, father kills killer, death markers

Photo courtesy of KHOU Houston Channel 11

Alvin area residents are maintaining a roadside memorial marking the scene of the deaths.

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red bull recap

35,000 Houstonians race downtown for free Red Bull F1 showcase

The Red Bull Show Down was full of racing, drifting, stunts, and more.

Photo by Chris Tedesco / Red Bull Content Pool

Arvid Lindblad drove his first F-1 in Houston.

Houston hosted the Red Bull Showrun on Saturday, September 7, and a crowd of 35,000 watched in awe as drivers engaged in high octane action.

“Thank you to the city of Houston for getting us all together. And the thousands of people who turned out for today’s Red Bull Showrun,” 13-time Grand Prix winner David Coulthard said in a statement. “To come to Houston, it’s such a vibrant city, not far from the baseball stadium and we’re right in the heart of where all the action’s happening from a sporting sense. The fan base in America is so passionate, and I think the energy has been amazing today.”

Against the backdrop of Discovery Green on the first fall(ish) day of 2024, drivers showed off their incredible skills in a free event sponsored by Ford. Coulthard and Junior Driver Arvid Lindblad took center stage in the RB7 and RB8 F1 care respectively. Both drivers ran the custom-built track at the same time, a first for F1s in the Red Bull Showrun in the United States. The F1 cars are known as some of the fastest cares on Earth, reaching speeds of well over 200 mph (370 kmh). Notably, this was the first F1 run for Lindblad, who previously competed in F3 in Italy and F4 in Macau.

“The Red Bull Showrun today was absolutely awesome, I loved every moment of it,” Lindblad added. “It was my first time in a F1 car, and I didn’t know what to expect. I knew it was going to be super cool, but this topped anything I’d ever imagined and I loved every moment! It was amazing to drive the RB8 and to get the opportunity to drive it here in Houston for the fans is one I never thought would come. This was an amazing crowd and is a day I’ll never forget. And to have had that moment with David Coulthard at the end with both of us on the track at the same time, I’ll never forget that.”

Coulthard’s RB7 was given an appropriate Houston touch while running in the city. The pit crew added spiked rims. The rims have become something of an H-town trademark, to the glee or dismay of the residents depending on who you talk to.

Red Bull Showrun Houston The RB7 car got adorned with some Houston touches.Photo by Chris Tedesco / Red Bull Content Pool

In addition to the F1 cars, drifting expert “Mad” Mike Whiddett showed off a dizzying display of donuts to the delight of the crowd in his custom MadMac McLaren P1 Hypercar. Rapper Paul Wall of Swishahouse fame made a surprise ride along with the Mad One.

Motorbike acrobatics by Aaron Colton, a car parade, and trophy trucks also gave the gearhead crowd something to cheer for. Musicwise, the event was enhanced greatly by dueling DJs, Houston’s own DJ Mr. Rogers tag-teaming with DJ Hed from Los Angeles. They would later compete in the sold out Red Bull Turn It Up event that took place Saturday night.

Photo by Chris Tedesco / Red Bull Content Pool

The Red Bull Showrun saw F1 cars racing around Discovery Green.

discovery green red bull showrun

Sons plowed over

Drunk driving shooting mystery takes an even more tragic turn: Grief-stricken dad sits in jail

Alvin area residents are maintaining a roadside memorial marking the scene of the deaths.

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red bull recap

35,000 Houstonians race downtown for free Red Bull F1 showcase

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