17-Year-Old Benjamin Lira Arrested in Fatal Woodforest Hit-and-Run Killing Rayford Howard

Rayford Howard, 57, was struck and killed about 8 p.m. Friday while crossing the 12800 block of Woodforest Boulevard near Normandy toward an apartment complex, Fox26 reported; the pedestrian was pronounced deceased at the scene. Sheriff Ed Gonzalez announced in a post on X that a 17-year-old suspect has been identified and taken into custody.

Fox26 reported the striking vehicle as a white pickup truck and said "the truck continued going east on Woodforest" after the collision. ABC13 identified the truck more specifically as a white Ram pickup and said the vehicle was recovered, citing Sheriff Gonzalez and Harris County Sheriff’s Office investigators.

In a Sunday update, Sheriff Gonzalez identified the suspect as 17-year-old Benjamin Lira and said he "was arrested and charged with failure to stop and render aid, and was also in violation of a DWI bond," ABC13 reported. Fox26 and court records referenced by that outlet also say Lira was out on bond on a prior DWI case at the time of the crash.

ABC13 reported that HCSO’s Vehicular Crimes Division along with District 3 patrol officers identified the suspect and took him into custody. KTRH said the police report indicates the teenage driver was speeding at the time and did not stop to help the victim but instead drove away; those allegations are presented as reported in the police materials and outlets’ summaries.

Local accounts place Howard walking from a grocery store toward his apartment on Woodforest when he was struck, ABC13 and KTRH reported, giving context to the 12800 block location. Liveuamap and other aggregators echoed the core facts: a man died after being hit on Woodforest Boulevard Friday night and a 17-year-old suspect was later arrested.

Several key investigative and legal details remain unreported publicly. HCSO has not released the exact booking date and time for Benjamin Lira, whether he will be prosecuted in juvenile or adult court, or any charging documents filed by the Harris County District Attorney’s Office. Reporters have not yet obtained toxicology or blood-alcohol testing results tied to this incident, the vehicle registration linking the white Ram to Lira, or statements from Howard’s family or potential eyewitnesses.

Sheriff Gonzalez’s post on X and statements to ABC13 and Fox26 provided the names and immediate charges; HCSO says the Vehicular Crimes Division recovered the pickup and continues the investigation. Deputies and prosecutors will need to resolve the outstanding questions about bond violations, potential additional charges, and whether the case will be prosecuted in juvenile or adult court before the matter moves forward.