Teenager, 17, is arrested for murder after a 39-year-old transgender woman was shot to death and left stranded on the road in Houston as police say the second suspect is still at large
- Marisela Castro was found lying on the road shortly before 2 am on July 29, 2022.
- A single shot was fired before the two suspects fled the scene in Castro’s car.
A 17-year-old boy has been arrested after a transgender woman was shot to death and left lying on the street in Houston as police say the second suspect is still on the run.
Marisela Castro, 39, was found lying in the driveway outside a home on Centerwood Street in the North Shore neighborhood shortly before 2 a.m. on July 29, 2022, according to Houston police.
Castro and another person had just gotten out of their car when they shot him, police said.
A single shot was fired at the transgender woman, who was hit in the back, ABC13 reports.
The two suspects left the scene in Castro’s car before abandoning the vehicle, police said.
Marisela Castro, 39, was found lying in the driveway outside a home on Centerwood Street in the North Shore neighborhood shortly before 2 a.m. on July 29, 2022, according to Houston police.
Police discovered the abandoned car on a jogging trail a few blocks away, according to ABC13.
The Houston Police Department was able to obtain surveillance video at the time of the shooting that gave them a clearer picture of what happened.
Police announced Thursday that a 17-year-old, who was 16 at the time of the shooting, is now in custody on a capital murder charge.
However, police believe the 17-year-old was not the one who shot Castro and authorities say they are still looking for the second unidentified suspect.
Because the 17-year-old is charged in juvenile court, little to no information has been provided about him.
Police declined to comment on a possible motive.
Castro and another person had just gotten out of their car when they shot him, police said. The two suspects left the scene in Castro’s car before abandoning the vehicle, police said.
“Unfortunately, that’s life sometimes,” Castro’s brother said. ‘The person who commits these crimes is on the street. Sometimes they never get caught, but God will take care of that.’
Castro’s brother, who lives out of state, said the 39-year-old woman lived with him before moving to Houston.
Elia Chino, executive director of the Latin American Foundation for Social Action, a group that helps Houston’s LGBTQ Latino community, told ABC News in a statement: “I’m very happy that the police are finally doing something about it to find the responsible”.
“Our lives matter,” Chino said.
In 2019, 280 murders were reported in Houston. That number increased in 2020, with 400 reported. In 2021, 465 murders were reported in the city, and in 2022, 435 murders were reported.
Houston police asked anyone with information to call their homicide division at 713-308-3600 or submit an anonymous tip to Crime Stoppers at 713-222-TIPS.