Topline: After receiving the images, the suspect’s sister contacted 911, helping police identify and locate him.
Published: June 20, 2025 11:00 am ET
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HOUSTON, TX — A citywide manhunt ended early Wednesday morning after Houston police arrested a man accused of fatally shooting his longtime girlfriend and sending graphic images of her body to family members.
The suspect, identified as Michael Ellis, was taken into custody by Houston Police Department SWAT officers around 3 a.m. near the Willowbrook area, roughly 30 miles from the original crime scene in southeast Houston, according to KHOU.
According to Houston police, the fatal shooting occurred late Tuesday night at an apartment complex on McHenry Street near Mesa Drive. Family members have identified the victim as Lazette King.
Authorities say Ellis and King had been living together at the apartment when the violence unfolded. Ellis allegedly shot King and then sent disturbing photos of her body to relatives, including his own sister — an act that triggered a cascade of emergency calls and ultimately led to his arrest.
“He reached out to his sister to let his sister know what he had done,” said Shatina Thompson, King’s sister, in an interview with KHOU. “So at that point, that’s when we got in motion to get my parents out of their home because he knows where they live.”
Thompson said Ellis’ sister contacted 911 and warned that King’s family might be in danger. Police launched a manhunt while family members scrambled to ensure their own safety.
Houston Police Department investigators believe Ellis may have also been responsible for an earlier shooting that night. Around 9 p.m., a man was shot in the leg nearby. That victim was able to flee to a restaurant and call 911, providing officers with a description of the shooter.
Roughly an hour later, police received a second call about a shooting — this time discovering King dead in the apartment, with no sign of Ellis at the scene.
Ellis’ sister told KPRC 2 that he had been diagnosed with paranoid schizophrenia and appeared to be off his medication at the time of the shooting. She also claimed that Ellis, consumed by conspiracy theories, believed King was collaborating with the government in a plot to kill him.
However, King’s family disputes that mental illness played a meaningful role in the murder. Instead, they described the killing as deliberate and calculated.
“He knew what he was doing and to do what he did, take pictures and send it to his sister? Come on now,” said King’s mother, Vikki Kyle. “And that he had a plan to come and kill the rest of the family,” added Thompson.
Ellis is currently being held in the Harris County Jail.
Houston police confirmed there had been no prior calls for service to the couple’s apartment, KHOU reported.
Presumption of Innocence: A presumption of innocence means that any defendant in a criminal trial is presumed to be innocent until they have been proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law. The defendant in this case is only accused of the charges set forth in the criminal complaint. They are innocent until proven guilty.
If you are experiencing domestic abuse, you are not alone. Help is available. Call the National Domestic Violence Hotline at 800-799-7233 or text "START" to 88788 to connect with trained advocates 24/7. Support is free, confidential, and available in over 200 languages. You can also visit thehotline.org for more information and resources.
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Police: Houston Man Allegedly Sent Photos of Girlfriend’s Body to Family After Killing Her
After receiving the images, the suspect’s sister contacted 911, helping police identify and locate him.
By Jacob Charles
Published: June 20, 2025 11:00 am ET
HOUSTON, TX — A citywide manhunt ended early Wednesday morning after Houston police arrested a man accused of fatally shooting his longtime girlfriend and sending graphic images of her body to family members.
The suspect, identified as Michael Ellis, was taken into custody by Houston Police Department SWAT officers around 3 a.m. near the Willowbrook area, roughly 30 miles from the original crime scene in southeast Houston, according to KHOU.
According to Houston police, the fatal shooting occurred late Tuesday night at an apartment complex on McHenry Street near Mesa Drive. Family members have identified the victim as Lazette King.
Authorities say Ellis and King had been living together at the apartment when the violence unfolded. Ellis allegedly shot King and then sent disturbing photos of her body to relatives, including his own sister — an act that triggered a cascade of emergency calls and ultimately led to his arrest.
“He reached out to his sister to let his sister know what he had done,” said Shatina Thompson, King’s sister, in an interview with KHOU. “So at that point, that’s when we got in motion to get my parents out of their home because he knows where they live.”
Thompson said Ellis’ sister contacted 911 and warned that King’s family might be in danger. Police launched a manhunt while family members scrambled to ensure their own safety.
Houston Police Department investigators believe Ellis may have also been responsible for an earlier shooting that night. Around 9 p.m., a man was shot in the leg nearby. That victim was able to flee to a restaurant and call 911, providing officers with a description of the shooter.
Roughly an hour later, police received a second call about a shooting — this time discovering King dead in the apartment, with no sign of Ellis at the scene.
Ellis’ sister told KPRC 2 that he had been diagnosed with paranoid schizophrenia and appeared to be off his medication at the time of the shooting. She also claimed that Ellis, consumed by conspiracy theories, believed King was collaborating with the government in a plot to kill him.
However, King’s family disputes that mental illness played a meaningful role in the murder. Instead, they described the killing as deliberate and calculated.
“He knew what he was doing and to do what he did, take pictures and send it to his sister? Come on now,” said King’s mother, Vikki Kyle. “And that he had a plan to come and kill the rest of the family,” added Thompson.
Ellis is currently being held in the Harris County Jail.
Houston police confirmed there had been no prior calls for service to the couple’s apartment, KHOU reported.
Presumption of Innocence: A presumption of innocence means that any defendant in a criminal trial is presumed to be innocent until they have been proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law. The defendant in this case is only accused of the charges set forth in the criminal complaint. They are innocent until proven guilty.
Editor's Note: ThePo makes every effort to accurately transcribe the contents of affidavits of probable cause contained in criminal complaints. Often, the complaints themselves are copies of copies of faxed copies, and are difficult to read. To confirm the accuracy of our transcription, contact the Magisterial District Court listed above and request a copy of the criminal complaint. It's a public record to which you are entitled.
If you are experiencing domestic abuse, you are not alone. Help is available. Call the National Domestic Violence Hotline at 800-799-7233 or text "START" to 88788 to connect with trained advocates 24/7. Support is free, confidential, and available in over 200 languages. You can also visit thehotline.org for more information and resources.
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Editor Picks
Latest Articles
Police: Houston Man Allegedly Sent Photos of Girlfriend’s Body to Family After Killing Her
After receiving the images, the suspect’s sister contacted 911, helping police identify and locate him.
By Jacob Charles
Published: June 20, 2025 11:00 am ET
HOUSTON, TX — A citywide manhunt ended early Wednesday morning after Houston police arrested a man accused of fatally shooting his longtime girlfriend and sending graphic images of her body to family members.
The suspect, identified as Michael Ellis, was taken into custody by Houston Police Department SWAT officers around 3 a.m. near the Willowbrook area, roughly 30 miles from the original crime scene in southeast Houston, according to KHOU.
According to Houston police, the fatal shooting occurred late Tuesday night at an apartment complex on McHenry Street near Mesa Drive. Family members have identified the victim as Lazette King.
Authorities say Ellis and King had been living together at the apartment when the violence unfolded. Ellis allegedly shot King and then sent disturbing photos of her body to relatives, including his own sister — an act that triggered a cascade of emergency calls and ultimately led to his arrest.
“He reached out to his sister to let his sister know what he had done,” said Shatina Thompson, King’s sister, in an interview with KHOU. “So at that point, that’s when we got in motion to get my parents out of their home because he knows where they live.”
Thompson said Ellis’ sister contacted 911 and warned that King’s family might be in danger. Police launched a manhunt while family members scrambled to ensure their own safety.
Houston Police Department investigators believe Ellis may have also been responsible for an earlier shooting that night. Around 9 p.m., a man was shot in the leg nearby. That victim was able to flee to a restaurant and call 911, providing officers with a description of the shooter.
Roughly an hour later, police received a second call about a shooting — this time discovering King dead in the apartment, with no sign of Ellis at the scene.
Ellis’ sister told KPRC 2 that he had been diagnosed with paranoid schizophrenia and appeared to be off his medication at the time of the shooting. She also claimed that Ellis, consumed by conspiracy theories, believed King was collaborating with the government in a plot to kill him.
However, King’s family disputes that mental illness played a meaningful role in the murder. Instead, they described the killing as deliberate and calculated.
“He knew what he was doing and to do what he did, take pictures and send it to his sister? Come on now,” said King’s mother, Vikki Kyle. “And that he had a plan to come and kill the rest of the family,” added Thompson.
Ellis is currently being held in the Harris County Jail.
Houston police confirmed there had been no prior calls for service to the couple’s apartment, KHOU reported.
Presumption of Innocence: A presumption of innocence means that any defendant in a criminal trial is presumed to be innocent until they have been proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law. The defendant in this case is only accused of the charges set forth in the criminal complaint. They are innocent until proven guilty.
Editor's Note: ThePo makes every effort to accurately transcribe the contents of affidavits of probable cause contained in criminal complaints. Often, the complaints themselves are copies of copies of faxed copies, and are difficult to read. To confirm the accuracy of our transcription, contact the Magisterial District Court listed above and request a copy of the criminal complaint. It's a public record to which you are entitled.
If you are experiencing domestic abuse, you are not alone. Help is available. Call the National Domestic Violence Hotline at 800-799-7233 or text "START" to 88788 to connect with trained advocates 24/7. Support is free, confidential, and available in over 200 languages. You can also visit thehotline.org for more information and resources.
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