65-year-old man robbed at gunpoint for Social Security check, suspect on the run, HPD says

HOUSTON, Texas (KTRK) — The Houston police are currently on the lookout for a suspect believed to have robbed a 65-year-old man at gunpoint, stealing his Social Security check in the process.

Oscar Lee Benjamin, 38, is facing charges of aggravated robbery with a deadly weapon and unlawful possession of a firearm due to a prior felony conviction in connection with this incident.

The victim, who requested anonymity for safety reasons, recounted that the event took place on April 30 at around 8:30 p.m. He had gone to the L&L Market at the intersection of Gregg and Orange streets in the Greater Fifth Ward. According to the victim, Benjamin initially approached him with an offer to buy a gun, which he refused before entering the store.

Upon exiting, the victim lingered next to his car. Surveillance footage captured Benjamin walking up to the victim and knocking him to the ground. The victim stated that Benjamin then held him at gunpoint and demanded his wallet, which contained his $1,000 Social Security check intended for bill payments.

“I handed over the money,” the victim said. “I believe it was the right thing to do.”

After the robbery, Benjamin fled the scene, and the victim called the police. The victim expressed frustration and disdain for the suspect, saying, “Targeting elderly people who can barely take care of themselves is cowardly.”

In the subsequent weeks, the victim encountered Benjamin again while sitting on a friend’s porch near the food mart. “He pulled up in front of the house, brandished a pistol, and started making threats,” the victim recalled.

The victim also reported that Benjamin had threatened his sons, leaving him feeling angry and anxious. “This incident has significantly impacted my life. I constantly feel on edge, as though I’m living in fear. It’s like being imprisoned in my own life, even though I’m free,” the victim expressed.

At the time of the robbery, Benjamin was on probation for a 2021 charge of evading arrest with a vehicle. Court records indicate that he had also been charged with vehicle burglary in Travis County during his probation period.

The Houston Police Department’s Robbery Division is asking anyone with information on Benjamin’s whereabouts to contact them at 713-308-0700 or reach out to Crime Stoppers at 713-222-TIPS.