The vacant property became part of a homicide case in January.
HOUSTON, Texas — A former bank building in southwest Houston is being demolished after months of neighborhood complaints and the January discovery of a homicide victim inside the vacant property, city and police information showed.
The building, a former Wells Fargo near Hillcroft, had been empty since September 2023. By the time crews arrived to tear it down, the site had been the subject of dozens of complaints involving standing water, graffiti and people entering the vacant structure.
Houston police said 25-year-old JaDarious “Jade” Roberts was found shot and killed at the property on Jan. 2. Relatives said Roberts was close to his 26th birthday. His aunt, Sharon Johnson, said the family wanted justice and said, “Nobody deserves to die like that.”
Police said early in the investigation that Roberts may have been killed elsewhere and left at the abandoned building. Authorities have not announced an arrest, and key details remain unknown, including who brought Roberts to the site and what led to the shooting.
Records cited by local reports showed 27 complaints tied to the property after Wells Fargo moved out. Some complaints involved stagnant water, while others involved squatting as far back as February 2024. Houston Public Works later cited the property for stagnant water and graffiti.
The demolition followed a March 19 application to tear down the building and disconnect sewer service. Property owners had previously said they planned to remove the structure. The work marked a visible change at a site that had become linked to both public safety concerns and a grieving family’s search for answers.
As demolition moves forward, the homicide case remains active. Houston police have not released a suspect description or a date for the next public update.
Author note: Last updated May 29, 2026.