Father of small business owner fatally injured in robbery at East Houston store

houston – A father, husband, and small business owner was shot and killed at the liquor and tobacco store he owned in east Houston, and his family is trying to identify the men police say were responsible. I really hope someone can identify it.

Marcus Roberson, 36, died Dec. 6 at his business, Grizzly Liquor and Tobacco, on Mesa Drive.

According to Houston police, officers responding to a report of a robbery at a store around 4:25 a.m. found Roberson, also known as Bear, dead from multiple gunshot wounds at the scene.

For the past two months, his family told KPRC 2 they have had trouble sleeping at night. His widow believes the suspects may have targeted their business before.

“We spent the last 16 years of our lives together,” said Roberson’s wife, Sierra. “My business partner, travel companion, and best friend.”

The two married five years ago. His family said he was devoted to his children, ages 4 and 13.

They had owned the store for the past three years but are now renting it out because it was the scene of his murder.

“It’s hard to really love life without him and just think about moving forward,” Sierra Roberson said.

Surveillance video shows a new white Chevrolet Malibu circling the store in the minutes leading up to the robbery.

Two men wearing masks, hoodies and backpacks then walk to the store’s front door and use tools to open it.

“He met them in front of the store and from what we saw, it looked like there was a scuffle,” Sierra Roberson said.

Seconds later, the same suspect was seen running from the store, jumping into a Malibu driven by another person and speeding away.

“They say parents should die before their children, but it’s heartbreaking to see your son die before you die,” said father-in-law Jerome Sennett. “I can honestly say that our entire family is in a state of depression over his loss. We haven’t slept at all.”

Sierra Roberson said the store had been broken into several times before. The only difference this time was that her husband was working late.

She told KPRC 2’s Bryce Newberry that she believes the people who broke into the store are related to those who returned on Dec. 6.

Whoever they are, she wants them behind bars to pay for the destruction they caused.

“It’s hard to sleep without knowing that they’re still out there and that they did this to him,” Sierra Roberson said. “We lost a heart, a big part of our life… nothing can bring him back.”

Crime Stoppers is offering a reward of up to $5,000 for information leading to an arrest or indictment.