Texas Man Charged with Murder After Fatally Shooting Girlfriend and Sending Photos to Family

In a tragic incident, a man from Texas has been charged with the fatal shooting of his girlfriend, Lazette King, inside their apartment. The Houston Police Department reported that the shooting occurred around 11:20 PM on Tuesday, with the accused, Michael Ellis, allegedly sending disturbing images of King's body to her family members following the act.

Ellis’ sister, who remains unnamed, revealed to the media that her brother had been diagnosed with mental health issues, notably paranoid schizophrenia, and speculated that he might have been off his medication during the incident. However, King's family disputed this assessment, emphasizing that he was fully aware of his actions. They noted that sending pictures to his sister showed a disturbing level of intent, with King's mother stating, “He knew what he was doing." Additionally, King's sister voiced concerns that he was capable of further violence, indicating he had planned to harm other family members as well.

The couple had been in a relationship for around six years, and family members claimed that Ellis had displayed violent behavior previously, including incidents where he pointed firearms at King. According to Ellis’ sister, conflicts between the couple were frequent, and recently, he had become obsessed with conspiracy theories, believing that King was involved in a government plot against him. After the shooting, Ellis fled the scene, prompting King's relatives to alert the authorities, leading to a SWAT team response. Upon breaching the apartment, they discovered King’s lifeless body.

Authorities later apprehended Ellis near a shopping mall close to the scene. This violence hit close to home for King's family, as they noted that her sister had also been a victim of domestic violence in 2001. King's mother poignantly remarked about the devastating loss she faced, having now lost both of her daughters due to violent circumstances. Her sister urged anyone facing similar domestic situations to seek help, reinforcing the message that no one deserves to endure such dangers. Ellis is currently being held in Harris County Jail.