Houston police have arrested a man suspected of fatally shooting Lazette King in a southeast Houston apartment and then threatening her family.
HOUSTON — A Houston man is facing multiple charges after police say he fatally shot his longtime girlfriend and sent graphic photos of her body to family members.
Michael Ellis, 48, has been charged with murder and unlawful disclosure of intimate visual material in connection with the June 16 shooting at an apartment complex on Fairway Drive in southeast Houston. He is being held in the Harris County Jail on $915,000 bond, according to court records.
What happened
Houston police first responded around 11:05 p.m. Tuesday to a shooting reported near South Loop East. At the scene, officers found a man with a gunshot wound who told investigators the shooting had occurred nearby at the apartment complex located at 7358 Fairway Drive. He was taken to the hospital in stable condition.
While police were investigating that incident, a second call came in from a woman reporting a suspicious person with a weapon. She told police her brother had just confessed to fatally shooting his girlfriend.
Officers later determined that Ellis and the female victim, identified by family members as Lazette King, lived in the same apartment complex. When SWAT officers entered King’s apartment, they found her unresponsive. She was pronounced dead at the scene.
Graphic allegations from victim’s family
King’s sister, Shatina Thompson, said Ellis sent graphic photos of King’s body to family members, including his own sister.
“He reached out to his sister to let his sister know what he had done,” Thompson said.
Thompson said Ellis’ sister called 911 and also warned King’s family that Ellis might be planning to target them next.
“At that point, that’s when we got in motion to get my parents out of their home because he knows where they live,” she added.
Prosecutors: Ellis has history of domestic violence
Prosecutors said Ellis is a habitual offender with a long history of domestic violence. While he has been charged in connection with King’s death, authorities said he is also a suspect in the earlier shooting of the man found wounded near South Loop East. As of now, no additional charges have been filed in that case.
Arrest after citywide manhunt
Following an overnight manhunt, Ellis was arrested without incident around 3 a.m. Wednesday in the Willowbrook area, roughly 30 miles from the scene of the shooting. Police said he may have mental health issues and was not taking prescribed medication at the time of the incident.
Remembering Lazette King
Family members said King had a big heart and a free spirit.
“She would do what she can for those that needed it,” Thompson said.
They also said they feared the relationship and had hoped she would leave Ellis.
“But, unfortunately, this is where we are now,” Thompson said.
Police urge community to speak up
Houston police are using the case as a reminder of how quickly domestic violence can escalate and the importance of speaking up.
“If you see something, say something,” HPD said.
Anyone with additional information is urged to contact the HPD Homicide Division at 713-308-3600 or Crime Stoppers at 713-222-TIPS.