Teen arrested in murder of transgender woman, 2nd suspect remains at large

Marisela Castro, 39, was found lying in the road outside a Houston home.

March 17, 2023, 12:59 PM

A 17-year-old boy has been arrested in the fatal shooting of a transgender woman as Houston police continue to search for a second suspect.

Marisela Castro, 39, was found lying in the road outside a home shortly before 2 a.m. on July 29, 2022, according to Houston police.

Castro and another person had just gotten out of her car when she was shot, police said.

A 17-year-old boy has been arrested in the fatal shooting of Marisela Castro, 39, who was found lying in the road outside a Houston home on July 29, 2022.
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The two suspects fled in Castro's car before ditching the vehicle nearby, police said.

Houston 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. But police believe the 17-year-old was not the one who shot Castro and authorities say they're still searching for the unidentified second suspect.

Police would not comment on a possible motive.

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.

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.

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