By Carol Christian
Houston Chronicle
The death of a 42-year-old man following an altercation on the Gulf Freeway early Monday evening will be referred to a Harris County grand jury, Houston police said.
The man, whose identity has not been released, was northbound in the 8800 block of the Gulf Freeway feeder road near Monroe when his black Chevy Tahoe rear-ended a red Ford Explorer driven by 28-year-old Johnathan Darling, according to an HPD news release.
Both men got out of their vehicles and the 42-year-old verbally threatened Darling, HPD said.
As Darling retreated and asked his wife to call 911, the other man struck him in the back of the head and face, according to the release.
Darling fell to the ground and the other man continued to punch him, police said. As both men were on the ground, Darling managed to get the other man in a headlock.
“Fearing he would be assaulted again, Darling held the male in a headlock until HPD officers arrived,” the release said.
As police tried to separate the two men, they noticed the 42-year-old was having trouble breathing and called paramedics. The man was taken to Memorial Hermann Southeast Hospital, where he was pronounced dead.