Teen arrested for murder after transgender woman was shot dead and left lying in road in Houston

A 17-year-old boy has been arrested after a transgender woman was shot dead and left lying in the road in Houston as cops say the second suspect is still at large. 

Marisela Castro, 39, was found lying in the road 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 exited her car when she was shot, police said.

A single shot was fired at the transgender woman, who was struck in the back, ABC13 reports. 

The two suspects left the scene in Castro’s car before ditching the vehicle, police said.

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Marisela Castro, 39, was found lying in the road 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 car abandoned at a jogging trail a few blocks away, according to ABC13.

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 on 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 searching for the unidentified second suspect.

Because the 17-year-old is charged in juvenile court, there has been little to no information provided about him. 

Police would not comment on a possible motive.

Castro and another person had just exited her car when she was shot, police said. The two suspects left the scene in Castro’s car before ditching the vehicle, police said

‘Sadly, that is life sometimes,’ Castro’s brother said. ‘The person who commits these crimes is out in the streets. Sometimes they are never caught, but God will take care of that.’ 

Castro’s brother, who lives out of state, said the 39-year-old lived with him before she moved to Houston. 

Elia Chino, executive director of Fundación Latinoamericana De Acción Social, a group that aids Houston’s LGBTQ Latino community, told ABC News in a statement: ‘I am so happy that finally the law enforcement is doing something about it to find those responsible.’

‘Our lives matter,’ Chino said.

In 2019, there were 280 murders reported in Houston. That number increased in 2020, with 400 reported. In 2021, there were 465 murders reported in the city and in 2022 there were 435 murders reported. 

Houston police asked anyone with information to call its homicide division at 713-308-3600 or submit a tip anonymously to Crime Stoppers at 713-222-TIPS.