Terence Andrus

Background

Terence Andrus was a Black man. He was male, with black hair, brown eyes, a height of 5'10", and a weight of 215. He received the case on 11/19/2012 at age 24, with an education level (highest grade completed) of 10. He was from Harris County, Texas.

Terence Andrus was a general laborer prior to imprisonment. He had a prior prison record #1373532 (received from TYC) with an offense of Criminal Solicitation to Commit Aggravated Robbery out of Harris County. He was discharged upon expiration of sentence to Harris County on February 3, 2008.

The offence

Terence Andrus approached the female victim in a Kroger parking lot and was shot in the head with a 380 semi-automatic pistol. Terence Andrus approached the male victim, and after a struggle, shot him once in the head. Both victims died as a result of their injuries.

The incident was described as appearing to be attempted carjackings.

The jury convicted Terence Tramaine Andrus, 24, of capital murder in the deaths of Avelino Saucedo Diaz and Kim Phuong Bui. The two were shot to death on Oct. 15, 2008, in the parking lot of a Kroger grocery in the 9300 block of Texas 6.

Investigation

Just after midnight on October 15, 2008, Fort Bend County Sheriff's deputies were called to the scene of two shooting cases in the parking lot of a Kroger on Highway 6 in the Houston area.

Detectives canvassed the area and eventually found a resident whose video revealed where Andrus stashed his weapon. Andrus, who was on foot, had walked to his apartment after the murders.

From that initial video, detectives began studying other videotapes from businesses in the area. They sent out a Crime Stoppers bulletin showing a suspect they believed was involved in the shootings. A Crime Stoppers tip later in October 2008 led to the identification of Andrus as a person of interest.

Arrest

Terence Andrus fled to New Orleans, La., when the Crime Stoppers information was aired. Fort Bend County detectives went to New Orleans, and on November 7, Andrus was initially arrested by New Orleans Police officers on a Harris County aggravated robbery warrant. Andrus was arrested on Nov. 7 on an unrelated aggravated robbery with a deadly weapon charge.

Trial

Terence Andrus’s jury trial resulted in a death sentence.

A Fort Bend County jury sentenced a man to death on Wednesday for the 2008 deaths of two Sugar Land residents in what appeared to be attempted carjackings, and convicted Terence Tramaine Andrus, 24, of capital murder in the deaths of Avelino Saucedo Diaz and Kim Phuong Bui.

The trial began Thursday.

Testimony from victims and witnesses

Norma Diaz testified her 31-year-old husband was shot in the parking lot while he waited for her to run into the grocery to buy a carton of milk.

Steve Bui and his 49-year-old wife were driving to the grocery to buy items to bake a cake when a man shot at their car three times. Her death occurred on the way to the hospital, and Steve Bui told the court.

Punishment phase

During the punishment phase of the trial, witnesses testified of Andrus’ violent history.

Fort Bend County prosecutor Thomas Pfeiffer said three Harris County Sheriff's Office deputies, two Fort Bend County Sheriff's Office deputies and several victims of aggravated robbery testified that Andrus had assaulted them.

Pfeiffer said:

"One of the things the jury looks at is whether he will be a continuing threat to society," Pfeiffer said. "It was an easy answer that he would be."

Defense attorney James "Sid" Crowley said Andrus admitted to being on PCP and cocaine at the time of the shooting. Crowley hoped the jury would come back with a life sentence, rather than the death penalty.

Crowley said jurors heard testimony that Andrus had a somewhat dysfunctional home life. Crowley said Andrus' mother and father testified during the trial.

Crowley said:

"I'm not surprised given all the evidence available to the state," Crowley said of the jury's decision. "It was pretty overwhelming."

Sentencing

Judge Thomas Culver III, presiding judge, delivered the sentence to Terence Andrus on November 19, 2012.

The death penalty verdict was automatically appealed.

Outcome

Terence Andrus received the death penalty for two murders in 2008.

Other details

Avelino Diaz and Kim Bui were the victims in the Kroger parking lot shooting deaths.

Avelino Diaz’s death occurred on October 18, 2008 at Memorial Hermann Hospital - The Medical Center after being shot in the head on October 15, 2008.

Andrus walked away from the first scene after shooting Avelino Diaz.

In the second incident, Steve Bui saw the gun and sped away. A bullet hit Kim Bui in the head. Steve Bui also suffered a wound in his back but managed to drive his wife directly to West Houston Hospital.

Investigators said he confessed to the shootings on his way back to Houston after his arrest in New Orleans.