*Eddie Clark, 29, was shot late Monday as he drove to his Houston-area home in northwest Harris County

*Florinda Argueta, 39, claimed someone had been damaging their home, vehicles

*They suspected a teenage friend of her son's ex-girlfriend was responsible, but ended up killing a complete stranger, investigators say

*About 11:30pm Monday, Joe Argueta, 19, and his family spotted what they thought was the suspect's vehicle and tried to block its path

*The sheriff's office alleges Joe Argueta fired at Clark's Dodge Challenger after it tried to escape

*Their intended target's car was a different model and color, police say

*The vehicle, which was shot multiple times, went off the road and hit a tree. Clark tried to flee on foot but later collapsed. He was found with a fatal gunshot wound

*Authorities charged Joe Argueta, his mother, his 45-year-old father, Luis Argueta, and his 29-year-old uncle, Margarito Alcantar, with murder

*Joe Argueta and his mother were in custody Wednesday, but the other two suspects may be on the run

A teenager, his mom, dad, and uncle have all been charged with murder after an alleged vigilante killing which saw their neighbor gunned down after being mistaken for a vandal who'd repeatedly targeted their property.

Eddie Clark, 29, was shot and killed late Monday as he drove to his Houston-area home in northwest Harris County. He is believed to have been a complete stranger to his alleged killers.

The Harris County Sheriff's Office alleged that Clark was shot in the abdomen by Joe Argueta, who lives in the same subdivision. Dramatic video footage showed Clark's Dodge Challenger trying to drive off after being boxed in, with a figure police say is Eddie firing shots at the sports car, which smashed into a tree moments later.

The teen's mother, Florinda Argueta, 39, allegedly told investigators someone had been damaging their home and vehicles, and that they suspected a teenage friend of her son's ex-girlfriend was responsible. Florinda, who has also been charged with murder said he suspected he might be driving a black Dodge Charger - a different color and model to the car Clark was in.

Argueta's father Luis Argueta, 45, and his uncle Margarito Alcantar, 29, are also charged with Clark's murder, but have gone on the run.

About 11:30pm Monday, Joe Argueta, 19, and his family spotted what they thought was the suspected vehicle and tried to block its path, with one family member armed with a bat and another with a pistol, authorities said.

According to KTRK, surveillance video from a neighbor's home showed Clark - who was driving a different Dodge model - speeding down the street while being chased on foot.

He was forced to turn his car around after cars from the Arguetas blocked his path, per deputies.

The sheriff's office alleges Joe Argueta fired at the vehicle after it tried to drive away. Court records show that Joe Argueta admits to having a gun and firing multiple shots.

The vehicle, which was shot multiple times, went off the road and hit a tree. Clark tried to flee on foot but later collapsed. He was found with a fatal gunshot wound and transported to a local hospital, where he died.

Friend Albert Ausberry Jr. spoke to DailyMail.com about the murder of Clark, who was a truck driver in the process of trying to purchase a 26-foot box truck with Ausberry.

'Known Eddie my whole life – since I moved to Houston in 2004, '05,' Ausberry said. 'Everyone loves Eddie – always smiling and laughing. Gonna miss that smile on his face.'

Ausberry further described him as an 'all-around great guy – nothing but great things about him. There for you when you need him.'

Ausberry says Clark has never been involved in trouble and spoke to him as recently as last Saturday before his murder.

'Eddie was a real hardworking gentleman – loved his family, loved his friends,' Ausberry said, adding that he was a kind-hearted, gentle soul.

Ausberry also described the two of them being 'thick as thieves' without ever having an argument.

'Nothing bad I can say about Eddie,' Ausberry stated.

En route to the hospital, Clark went into cardiac arrest, deputies told Click 2 Houston.

The sheriff's office said Clark had been driving a dark gray Dodge Challenger rather than a black Dodge Charger, and investigators don't believe he was involved in any dispute with the Argueta family.

'Seems like a tragic case of mistaken identity,' Sheriff Ed Gonzalez tweeted on Wednesday.

At a court hearing on Wednesday, a hearing officer called out Joe Argueta for his alleged actions that night.

'This is an example of taking the law into your own hands,' a hearing officer said to Joe Argueta on Wednesday.

'Not going through the proper authorities to resolve any other harm or destruction that was being done to your own residence or your own home. It still doesn't justify taking the law into your own hands and mistaking the person.'

Two residents at the scene told HCSO investigators about the serial vandalism of homes and cars, according to KHOU.

One report about the vandalism did list a black Dodge Charger as the suspect's vehicle.

The sheriff's office stated in a release that Clark was not known to the Arguetas prior to the fatal dispute.

One of Clark's best friends grieved in the aftermath of the tragedy.

'People that kind of lift you up and always had like a good personality, and pretty happy,' Chijioke Akujuobi told Click 2 Houston. 'That’s how I’m going to remember him.'

Akujuobi also demanded justice be served in his friend's death.

'The people that did this, you know get justice due because you can’t make mistake like that now with a guy so young,' Akujuobi added.

Authorities charged Joe Argueta, his mother, his 45-year-old father, Luis Argueta, and his 29-year-old uncle, Margarito Alcantar, with murder.

Joe Argueta and his mother were in custody Wednesday before Joe Argueta was released on $50,000 bond. His mother's bond was set at $20,000.

The other two have not been arrested and are believed to be on the run, according to deputies.

DailyMail.com has reached out to Houston County Sheriff's Office for further comment on the search for the suspects.

Court records don't list attorneys for Joe Argueta and his mother.

Source: Associated press and Holden Walter-Warner/Dailymail.co.uk

Date Posted: Thursday, May 20th, 2021 , Total Page Views: 767