Man Arrested in Fatal Shooting of 28-Year-Old Found in Bullet-Riddled Car in Northwest Houston
Houston police have arrested and charged 25-year-old Jorge Valles in connection with the November 15 shooting death of Micah Middleton, 28, who was discovered inside a crashed car riddled with bullet holes on 34th Street near Antoine Drive. Valles faces charges of murder and tampering with evidence.
The incident came to light when business owners on 34th Street, between Hempstead Road and Antoine Drive, arrived that Friday morning and found Middleton’s wrecked vehicle. Houston Police later determined that Middleton, who had crashed through a fence, was shot multiple times.
An initial lack of motive or suspects delayed the case, but investigators identified Valles through surveillance footage and evidence from Flock cameras. Footage showed a white pickup pulling alongside Middleton’s car, followed by 11 gunshots into the passenger side. Middleton was struck twice in the head, once in the shoulder, and once in the arm.
Additional surveillance linked Middleton and Valles to Escandalo Sports Bar, where Middleton arrived less than 45 minutes before the shooting, and Valles had already been present for about four hours.
Detectives tracked Valles to a Spring Branch apartment complex where he lived with his family. During questioning, Valles admitted he had waited in his truck until Middleton left the bar. He confessed to following Middleton and firing into his car, claiming he lost the Glock he used because he was heavily intoxicated.
According to court records, Valles alleged he had been assaulted by two men in the bar’s bathroom earlier that night. However, a friend of Middleton, who was present during the altercation, stated that Middleton was not involved. The friend identified Valles as the man who instigated the fight, adding that Valles claimed affiliation with the Mexican Mafia.
Valles was arrested on November 25 by the Houston Police Department SWAT and the NW Patrol Division Crime Suppression Team. He remains in custody as the investigation continues.