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Teen charged in man's shooting death at east Houston motel, sheriff says

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Published  February 7, 2025 10:41am CST
Crime and Public Safety
FOX 26 Houston

The Brief

    • Police say 21-year-old Joshua Lafrance was found dead in a motel room on Sunday.
    • Julian Vella, 17, has been identified as the shooting suspect.
    • Vella was booked in the Travis County Jail as of Thursday evening.

A 17-year-old suspect is facing a capital murder charge for a deadly shooting at a motel in east Houston, according to Harris County Sheriff Ed Gonzalez.

Motel shooting

What we know:

Deputies responded to a shooting on Sunday in the 1000 block of Freeport Street near the East Freeway and Beltway 8. 

According to Sheriff Gonzalez, a man with gunshot wounds was found dead inside a motel room. The man has since been identified as 21-year-old Joshua Lafrance.

On Thursday, Sheriff Gonzalez announced the arrest of Julian Vella, 17, in connection to the shooting. A capital murder warrant was issued for Vella, who was arrested by U.S. Marshals and Austin police.

Vella has been booked in the Travis County jail as of Thursday evening.

What we don't know:

There is no information on what led up to the shooting.

The Source: X posts from Harris County Sheriff Ed Gonzalez

Crime and Public SafetyHouston