Man killed in north Houston home invasion
MOISES MENDOZA
HOUSTON CHRONICLE
May 9, 2010, 2:55PM

One man was killed in a home invasion where the attackers posed at Census takers, Houston police said.

Reginald Haynes, who lived at the home in the 400 block of Truman and worked for the city of Houston, was stabbed to death in the Saturday afternoon attack, a family member said today.

At about 2:30 p.m., at least three men forced their way into the north Houston home, near Yale Street, said Steve Straughter, Houston Police Department homicide investigator.

Haynes’ nephew, Larry Johnson, said his 18-year-old cousin and his cousin’s girlfriend were at the home when a man arrived, saying he was a Census taker.

The man and two accomplices forced their way in, tied up the pair and ransacked the house, Johnson said. Haynes’ wife arrived later and she was also tied up, Johnson said.

When Haynes came home later, the attackers ambushed him in a hallway and dunked his head in water before stabbing him to death, Johnson said. The incident lasted until roughly 6 p.m., he said.

The men demanded money then took several items from the house and left, Straughter said.

Detectives today scoured the neighborhood, interviewing relatives and neighbors.

Neighbor Leo Carrillo shook his head as he recounted how he heard people screaming for help Saturday afternoon and ran outside his home to see an ambulance arriving.

"It’s terrible, this has never happened here before," he said.

Another neighbor, Randall Harmon, said he had gone onto his porch to smoke a cigar Saturday afternoon when he saw three men nonchalantly walking out of the Haynes’ home carrying what appeared to be a laundry basket.

He didn’t think anything of it, but a few moments later, he heard the family yelling.

Harmon and Johnson both described Haynes as a good man who liked to help neighbors out.

Harmon said sometimes Haynes would bring him over some barbecued meat and asked him if he needed anything.

moises.mendoza@chron.com

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