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More suspects wanted in drive-by shooting that killed 8-year-old boy

Devonte Lockett is charged with shooting a car in which 8-year-old Tristian Hutchins was sitting with his sister and another child.

HOUSTON — Houston Police say the scar under 18-year-old Devonte Lockett’s left eye is the result of a gunshot wound he suffered last year.

This year, he’s charged with shooting a car in which 8-year-old Tristian Hutchins was sitting with his sister and another child.

Tristian died three weeks later.

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Devonte Lockett, 17

“I was mad and sad,” said classmate Antonio DeLeon.

DeLeon is the same age as his friend and came to HPD headquarters with his father, Antonio, to hear the latest in the case.

“I’ve known him since Pre-K, and we’ve been best friends ever since,” DeLeon said.

HPD Chief Art Acevedo would not go into details about a possible motive, but he says the shooting that led to Tristian’s death was not random, and other suspects are wanted in addition to Lockett.

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“I can tell you that our detectives have some good witnesses, they've got some good evidence, and they’ve got enough information to actually arrest him,” Acevedo said.

Lockett was arrested on Thursday. Police found him not far from the deadly shooting playing a gaming machine at a convenience store. Surveillance footage shows the arrest.

Mayor Sylvester Turner has approved $1 million in additional police overtime to work this case and any others, particularly those involving child victims.

“One homicide in the city is one too many,” Turner said. “But when a child is involved, it takes on extra significance.”

Murder is a subject no elementary school student should have to learn about. But DeLeon is now thinking about his murdered friend’s sister.

“I would say I hope that she feels better and that she’s okay,” DeLeon said.

At last check, Lockett had yet to appear in court. His criminal record includes charges for evading arrest and weapons possession. He was arrested this week at a convenience store in the Third Ward.

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