Houston METRO bus stop honors Josue Flores, 11-year-old stabbed to death in 2016

Gail Delaughter / Houston Public Media

Houston METRO’s newest bus stop shelter honors the life of an 11-year-old who was killed in 2016.

The bus stop is at 1101 Quitman Street, in front of Northside High School, where Josue Flores would have graduated from in May.

The new stop is in conjunction with METRO’s Adopt-A-Sign program. Participants in the Adopt-a-Stop program volunteer to pick up litter in the area between METRO’s designated trash collection days and have the option to make general improvements to the grounds around the stop. Trash bags will be provided at a bus stop or shelter at the request of the individual sponsor or organization.

“Students going to all of the schools around here can use to shield themselves from the elements that community members can use to shield themselves from the elements while celebrating his life,” METRO Board of Directors Sanjay Ramabhadran said. “What a remarkable young man he was and what makes this community a remarkable community.”

Flores was stabbed 20 times and killed in May 2016 while walking home from school. Ramabhadran says the stop honors his life.

“That is not something any parent should have to experience, and it is certainly not anything that any community should have to endure. We will never understand why such a promising life was cut short that early, but his spirit certainly lives on in this community,” Ramabhadran said.

Community volunteers and organizations who work to keep the stop clean will receive six free round-trip passes per month from METRO.