6th Street death threat suspect was key witness in Houston transgender murder trial

A man arrested for pulling a knife and threatening to kill someone on 6th Street on Sunday was a key witness in a Houston murder trial last year.

Rique Jackson testified that Tariq Lackings shot and killed Robert Issac in a 2016 brawl in midtown Houston. Issac was known to friends as 'Shante.' Willie Sims was also stabbed to death in the fight.

The trial would end with Lackings taking a plea deal for Shante's death. Sims' stabbing death remains unsolved.

During the trial defense attorney Paul Morgan argued that Jackson was the one who brought the knife to the fight.

Trial transcripts show that Morgan pointed to text messages from Jackson allegedly saying he was going to cut someone.

“Mr. Jackson was texting and talking about he wanted to get powered up and cut some people’s fingers off,” said Morgan.

But Jackson testified that was a joke and he didn’t stab anyone according to the transcript.

“And he goes, ‘Oh, that’s just street talk. That’s not a big deal. Don’t worry about it. I didn’t stab anyone.’ And then HPD said, 'Are you sure you didn’t have a knife on that night,’ and he’s like, ‘Yeah, yeah you can trust me,” said Morgan.

Jackson was never charged with any crime in the 2016 murder but has a criminal history in Austin and Houston including convictions for two aggravated assaults, evading arrest, and possession since then.

On Sunday night Travis County court documents allege that Rique Jackson pulled a knife on someone after the victim says they were shoulder checked. When the victim asked Jackson why he hit him, Jackson reportedly became verbally aggressive and told him “F*** you I will stab you,” then he pulled out a knife and said, “I will f***** kill you,” and swung the knife through the air.

Austin Police quickly identified and arrested Jackson near where the incident took place on 6th Street.

Attorney Paul Morgan hopes the Travis County courts consider Jackson’s history as they move forward with the case.

“I hope that Travis County District Attorney’s Office takes him for the violent criminal that he is, they are hard on him. Everyone in Texas is in danger with this man,” said Morgan.

As of Tuesday night, Jackson is in the Travis County jail with his bail set at $15,000.