Kyle McClenagan/HPM
The exterior of the Harris County Criminal Justice Center on April 9, 2026.
Jeremy Porter, the 47-year-old Cypress man accused of opening fire on a car full of kids in a road rage incident last month, will remain in the Harris County Jail through the completion of his trial.
Porter is accused of shooting at a car numerous times in the Cypress area during a road rage incident on Sept. 19, when five-year-old Zah’Layah Walton was struck by a fatal gunshot wound to the head. Hours after the shooting, he was arrested and charged with capital murder. A Harris County Judge extended Porter’s bail denial for the duration of his trial during a hearing on Wednesday.
After Porter’s first court appearance last month, Harris County District Attorney Sean Teare stated he would push for a hearing to hold Porter in custody through his murder trial.
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“[We will] attempt to hold this defendant at no bond for the pendency of the case via the 11D,” Teare said. “We’re getting a date which will be in about 10 days from today to put on the evidence that we believe exists as to why this defendant should remain in custody until this case is resolved.”
Texas Article 11D allows prosecutors to have the legal ability to ask a judge to deny bond for severe felony offenses.
During Wednesday’s hearing, Porter’s Defense Attorney, Jerome Godinich, stated there is no reason to think Porter will be a danger to the community during trial. He went on to explain that Porter cooperated during and after the September incident and that he freely made a statement to law enforcement when questioned.
Prosecutors argued Porter should be denied bail because of his record of missing multiple court dates for previous misdemeanor offenses in the 2000s.
The prosecution accused Porter of being a habitual violator/offender. The prosecutor brought up another alleged road rage incident in 2022 where Porter is said to have brandished a gun against a truck driver Porter claimed came at him with a metal bar.
In her decision to deny bail, Judge Michele Oncken cited the numerous times Porter failed to appear in court as a contributor to her decision to side with the prosecution. Porter will be held without bail for the length of the trial.
Porter is scheduled to be arraigned on Nov. 3.