Marine Vet Rideshare Driver Found Dead on Roadside — 3 Teens Charged, 1 Could Face Death Penalty By Nicole Acosta

Three teenagers have been arrested in connection with the death of a U.S. Marine Corps veteran last month, authorities said.

A 15-year-old boy was arrested on Oct. 9 and charged with capital murder after 28-year-old Quoc “Jake” Nguyen was found shot dead along a road in Harris County, Texas, on Sept. 4, according to a statement from Harris County Sheriff Ed Gonzalez.

Two other boys, a 14-year-old and a 13-year-old, were arrested a week later and charged with evidence tampering, per the statement. It’s unclear if they have entered pleas or retained attorneys to speak on their behalf. 

Sheriff Gonzalez alleged the suspects robbed and shot Nguyen — who was working as a rideshare driver — before fleeing the scene in his vehicle.

Nguyen’s family members told local station KHOU 11 that their last contact with him was traced back to north Harris County, where he dropped off other passengers. They added that he was working to become an EMT after recently returning home from the U.S. Marine Corps.

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Per the sheriff’s statement, all three suspects were booked in the Harris County Juvenile Detention Center. 

A legal expert says the two older teens might be tried as adults because state laws deem a 14-year-old as an adult for some felonies, such as murder, and the 15-year-old could face the death penalty if convicted, KHOU 11 reported.