Over 500 mourners showed their support for a Houston Latino family after the devastating stabbing of their 11-year-old son, Josue Flores, last Tuesday.
Classmates, teachers, family and others were in attendance.
“Josue was 11 years old,” said Houston Mayor Sylvester Turner. “Loved math and science and his plan was to be a doctor. And if you listened to the other students, his classmates, his friends, talk about him, he was an incredible individual.”
Flores was walking home from his Houston middle school when he was attacked and stabbed. He was taken to Memorial Hermann Hospital, where he died.
Flores, the middle child of seven, was laid to rest Tuesday afternoon in the Historic Hollywood Cemetery.
"He was a really beautiful child, caring, compassionate, always at everybody's service," said Juan Flores, Josue's father, to NBC affiliate KPRC.
On Wednesday, a woman reported seeing a knife in a storm drain several blocks from the scene of the crime. She thought it might have something to do with Josue’s murder and reported it to police.
The small knife is in the possession of the Houston Police Department and will be tested for any evidence.
“At this point, it could be part of the investigation, or it could not be at all,” said John Cannon of the Houston Police Department.
Police had initially made an arrest, but the suspect was released after investigators found he was not the assailant.
“Everyone thought we had the person when we didn’t. That person is still out there,” said Houston Mayor Sylvester Turner, during a press conference Monday afternoon with city and county leaders.
No other arrest has been made in the case.
“I'm asking people in this city not to turn deaf ears,” said Houston Mayor Turner. “Help us to bring closure to the Flores family. Help us to make sure that Josue Flores receives the justice that he rightfully deserves.”
Houston Crime stoppers are offering a $15,000 reward for any information that leads to the arrest of the individual. In an emotional plea, District Attorney Devon Anderson spoke of the crime.
“This is a monstrous crime. And I say that not just as District Attorney, but as a mother,” said Anderson. “This is a heartbreaking crime and there is a monster who is out among us.”
A GoFund Me account established for the Flores family has raised almost $54,000.
The Mayor continued his press conference by saying that Flores wasn’t doing anything wrong at the time of his death.
“He was doing what our kids do. Going to school, and walking home,” he said. “He didn’t ask for it and neither did he deserve it.”