Houston Man Charged With Robbing, Kidnapping Roommate at Gunpoint After Being Asked to Move Out

Police in Houston are looking for a suspect who has been charged with robbing and kidnapping his roommate. 

CBS affiliate KHOU 11 reports Joshua N. DeLoach, 29, was captured on May 8 via surveillance footage robbing his roommate Justin Iwuji, 31, after being asked to move out of Iwuji’s home. KTRK-TV reports that Iwuji asked DeLoach to move out after he allegedly didn’t pay rent for two months.

Iwuji says DeLoach held him at gunpoint, and demanded he transfer $6,000 into his account via Cash App. DeLoach then allegedly stole jewelry and a firearm from his roommate.

“I never expected anything like this to ever happen to me,” Iwuji told Fox 26. “Especially [with] someone I know, in the comfort of my own home.”

From there, DeLoach tied Iwuji up, blindfolded him, and put him in the trunk of his own car.

“Me and him had no animosity,” Iwuji shared. “We never fought. We never argued. He had been living with me over a year.”

After driving for a few miles, Deloach parked the car and told Iwuji not to move. He then left the vehicle. Iwuji was eventually able to exit the car and flagged down a motorist for help..

“I managed to just push myself out of the vehicle,” Iwuji recalled. “I see another road where vehicles are coming my way. I run out into the middle of the road and flag down the first car I see.”

Iwuji, who hasn’t been seen since the incident, has been charged with aggravated robbery with a deadly weapon and aggravated kidnapping.