HOUSTON, Texas — An elderly woman was fatally stabbed in a Walgreens parking lot Saturday by a career criminal who was out on bond.
80-year-old Rosalie Cook, who was widowed and lived on her own independently, had just picked up a prescription when the monster approached her in the parking lot and stabbed her in the chest.
“What makes me angry is this suspect stabbed an 80-year-old woman then goes down, rifles through her stuff and tries to steal her car,” Houston Police Chief Art Acevedo said.
Randy Lewis, 38, was reportedly menacing people and begging for money at a nearby grocery store before the crime.
A responding officer arrived shortly after the stabbing and ordered Lewis out of Cook’s car. When Lewis attempted to rush the officer with the knife, he was shot twice, fatally.
“This is tragic, but the most tragedy here is that a woman has died from a guy who attacked her for no other reason other than to steal from her and carjack her,” Acevedo said.
Watch Acevedo’s heartbreaking comments below.
KTRK reported: [Lewis’ bail] was waived back on April 30 for a charge of assaulting a public servant from two years ago. A charging document stated he struck someone who was transferring him to the county jail.
Court records indicate he was found temporarily incompetent after a mental exam in October 2019 and was committed to a mental facility. In March, his stay was extended by a judge for 60 days after a request from the head of the facility. He was subsequently released to Royal Personal Care Home on May 1.
Lewis had been arrested more than 67 times in his life.
The monster who stabbed, murdered, robbed an innocent 80 yr old grandmother over the weekend, has been arrested 67 times! And was out on 2 felony PR bonds! The colossal failure of bail and CJ reform in Houston is on full display here. Innocent people are dying. This has to STOP!!
— Joe Gamaldi (@JoeGamaldi) May 18, 2020
Randy Lewis should never have been free. Now an innocent woman has been murdered. Everyone deserves better. This is absolutely shameful. https://t.co/hfJ4dqfYxG pic.twitter.com/tqIr9Qlmln
— Houston Police Officers' Union (@HPOUTX) May 18, 2020
Cook’s family described her as the “perfect grandma.”
The investigation is ongoing.
HPD Commanders are en route to an officer involved shooting at 8600 South Braeswood. Prelim information is the officer responded to the stabbing of an elderly woman and confronted the suspect, armed with a knife. A PIO will also be en route. #hounews
— Houston Police (@houstonpolice) May 16, 2020
