LIBERTY, TX – City of Liberty Police are searching for the suspected killer of a local convenience store owner, shot and left to die inside his business on Christmas night.
Virani Naushad, 50, of Liberty had a family, but chose to work in place of his clerks at Chubby’s Happy Chap so they could spend the holiday with their loved ones, but Naushad never made it home to his family.
Liberty Police Department spokesman Hugh Bishop said just after 10 p.m., a couple stopped and went inside the store located on N. Main St. at Ridgewood. They grabbed a few items and went to the front counter to check out, which is when they saw Naushad laying behind the counter in a pool of blood. He was shot.
The couple got into their vehicle, locked the doors and called 911.
Police responded, along with EMS, but Naushad beyond help and died on the scene.
Bishop said the motive for the shooting appeared to be robbery.
The suspect has been identified as 31-year-old Steve or Stevie, a.k.a. “Bubba” Walder of Hull, a local man with a lengthy criminal history and ties to white supremacists. Local police last dealt with Walder a month ago or less, Bishop said.
His vehicle is a green Chevy pickup, Texas license plate AB17183.
Walder is considered armed and dangerous.
Anyone who sees Walder or has information regarding the case or his whereabouts should call the Liberty Police Department at (936) 336-5666 or 911.