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March 16, 2026 | By: Will Raffier
This story is part of a collaborative project between Project: Cold Case and the University of North Florida’s Applied Journalism class.
De’Shaun Hollins was an outgoing 19-year-old who left a positive impact on his community, more than his family realized.
“After his murder, my husband and I got cards from adults that we didn’t even know, but they knew him,” said Annette Parsons, his mother. “He would always strike up a conversation with people.”
His family has missed those conversations since 1992, when De’Shaun was murdered in Houston, Texas.
De’Shaun was 5 feet 11 inches tall, about 190 pounds, and had a bright smile. De’Shaun also had charisma that “would have brought him into politics,” according to Annette.
De’Shaun had habits that his family still remembers. Annette said that, even from a young age, he never liked his food to touch. He also loved taking things apart and repairing them. “One time, someone was about to throw an old car out that didn’t work, and De’Shaun asked to have it. De’Shaun got it to work,” said Annette. “You may have been able to see the road through the floor, but it could work.” Cheryl, De’Shaun’s older sister, said that, even at 12 years old, he was hands-on and repairing ceiling fans.
Despite seemingly knowing everyone in Houston, De’Shaun liked to keep a smaller circle of close friends. Annette said De’Shaun had a lot of acquaintances, but she could count his real friends on one hand. His closest friends were his cousin, Kahlil, who was more like his brother, and his best friend, Jason.
De’Shaun grew up in Cincinnati, Ohio, and moved to Houston, Texas, with his family when he was 16. As soon as they were settled in Houston, De’Shaun applied for a job at a gas station. “The owner told me he could tell De’Shaun wasn’t from Houston because he was a teenager who came in asking for a job,” said Annette. “He was always a responsible kid.”
De’Shaun found some struggles with school as he grew up because of his dyslexia. “Schools weren’t knowledgeable about dyslexia. He used to confuse his B’s and D’s, and we discovered that when he was little,” said Annette. “I had to explain to him that dyslexia was like a train on the track: one is going the long way, and one takes you directly where you want to go.”
Annette said that De’Shaun had a photographic memory that he could use to help deal with his dyslexia. “If you read something to him, he might not have been able to read it himself, but he would remember exactly what it said,” she said.
Image provided by the family of De’Shaun Hollins
De’Shaun always found time for his family. He especially liked holidays. Annette said that Christmas was his favorite holiday. “I still have a photo of him and my youngest son sitting on Santa’s lap when he was 17 or 18,” Annette said. “He was the only one of my kids that enjoyed Christmas as much as me.”
DeShaun’s sister, Cheryl, said that he was a great uncle to her kids. She said, “Even at a young age, he wanted to have a son and be a good father.” De’Shaun often helped take care of his little siblings while his parents worked. “De’Shaun loved taking Jamal to the mall,” said Annette. “He would take him and pretend like his little brother was his kid to try and impress the girls.”
De’Shaun’s little siblings loved spending time with him, even if they did get on his nerves sometimes. “De’Shaun had this waterbed that his siblings loved to play with, and they always wanted to be in big brother’s room,” said Annette. “One day, while he was gone, they took a pencil and poked a hole in his waterbed. I kicked them out and then closed the door. When he came home, he was really pissed,” she said while laughing.
De’Shaun always wanted to take care of his family, including his older sister. Cheryl said, “Even though he was my younger brother, he was still a protector.”
De’Shaun was murdered on March 15, 1992. His body was found shot and dumped on the side of Highway 36, between Bellville and Sealy, Texas. The body was found by two bike riders, who were training for a race.
According to reporter Zachery Lashway with Click2Houston.com, “Investigators with Texas Rangers believe he might have been shot on Cook Road in Houston and then brought and left in Austin County. He was last seen at 2:30 a.m. with another man at an apartment complex on Cook Road. They were seen leaving in a gray Nissan Sentra.” Annette shares that belief and says his death may have been connected to a young woman De’Shaun was dating.
De’Shaun’s family still remembers him over 30 years later. Cheryl makes pineapple stuffing, one of De’Shaun’s favorite foods, each Christmas. “I like to put it on the table so we can still have him with us on Christmas,” she said. His family also used to honor him each year on his birthday by sending balloons up into the sky, hoping to reach him in Heaven.
“Jamal, my youngest, used to ask where Shaun was, and I would tell him that he is in Heaven now,” said Annette. “He was a good person. He had charisma. He never met a stranger.”
Anyone with information concerning De’Shaun Hollins’ unsolved homicide is asked to call the Texas Rangers at (512) 424-2130. To remain anonymous and possibly be eligible for a reward, call Crime Stoppers of Houston at (713) 222-8477.
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Newspaper Clippings
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The Houston Chronicle -, March 14, 1993
Click2Houston.com - July 6, 2023
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Image provided by the family of De’Shaun Hollins
Image provided by the family of De’Shaun Hollins
Image provided by the family of De’Shaun Hollins
Image provided by the family of De’Shaun Hollins
Image provided by the family of De’Shaun Hollins
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Location of Homicide (approximate)
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