A documented member of the Black Disciples, a nationally recognized street gang, was sentenced Monday to 55 years in prison for murder, Harris County District Attorney Kim Ogg announced.

“This was a brazen ambush in broad daylight by a gang member who thought he could get away with murder,” Ogg said. “We’re thankful that a Harris County jury was able to see the truth and handed down justice for the victim’s family.”

Brodrick Jaamel Sayles, 37, was convicted of murder by a Harris County jury for shooting an acquaintance, 28-year-old Demetrius Daniels, as the victim sat in his car in a parking lot in the 9700 block of Beechnut about 10 a.m. Nov. 5, 2020.

The shooting was investigated by the Houston Police Department’s Homicide Unit – Gang Murder Squad.

Sayles, who is known as “Foolie” in his gang, was seen on surveillance video arriving at the parking lot and then hiding between two Dumpsters adjacent to the parking lot.

Sayles knew Daniels, and both were known to hang around the parking lot. When Daniels arrived in his late-model Toyota Camry, he backed into a spot near the Dumpsters.

Sayles emerged and opened fire on Daniels, who was killed as he sat behind the wheel. Sayles then fled. At the time of the shooting, Sayles was free on bond after being arrested for stealing a car, burglarizing a home, possession of a firearm and possession of crack and ecstasy/methamphetamine.

Since the shooting happened in the midst of the Covid-19 pandemic lockdown, it was almost a year before investigators were able to charge and arrest Sayles, who has an extensive criminal history.

After the shooting, but before he was charged with the murder, Sayles was arrested and bonded out on three additional felonies: evading arrest, aggravated assault and felon in possession of a firearm.

Assistant District Attorneys Brett Batchelor, who is a chief in the Trial Bureau, and Lindsey Pearson prosecuted Sayles in a four-day trial.

“He committed the murder in November, and then the next year, in April, he is shooting at a crowd of people in broad daylight at a gas station,” Pearson said. “He has absolutely no regard for human life or any remorse — he knows he killed someone, and he’s out doing the same thing five months later.”

Batchelor noted that Sayles essentially stalked Daniels by lying in wait and then ambushing him.

“During the trial, we showed jurors video of the defendant looking directly at the surveillance camera, so it is clear that he is the killer,” Batchelor said. “We could track all of his movements, and we know exactly what he was doing for the hour leading up to the shooting.”

Sayles must serve at least half of his prison sentence before he will be eligible for parole.

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