A man has been arrested after police say he shot and killed his girlfriend inside a Houston apartment, then sent disturbing photos of her body to family members.
The shooting happened around 11:20 p.m. Tuesday at an apartment complex on McHenry Street, near Mesa Drive.
Authorities say Michael Ellis and Lazette King had been staying at the apartment when the shooting happened.
Ellis’ sister says he has been diagnosed with mental health conditions, including paranoid schizophrenia, and believes he was off his medication at the time of the incident.
However, King’s family disputes mental illness as a factor in her death, pointing to what they describe as a methodically planned attack.
“He knew what he was doing and to do what he did, take pictures and send it to his sister? Come on now,” said Vikki Kyle, King’s mother. King’s sister, Shatina Thompson, added, “And that he had a plan to come and kill the rest of the family.”
Ellis’ sister told KPRC 2 that Ellis and King argued often, and that Ellis was deeply consumed by conspiracy theories.
According to her, he believed King was working with the government in a plot to kill him.
After sending photos to the King’s family of the incident, Ellis fled the scene. Relatives contacted police, and HPD’s SWAT team later made entry into the apartment, where they found the King dead from a gunshot wound.
Ellis was located and taken into custody near Willowbrook Mall.
Shatina Thompson told us her sister had been in a relationship with Ellis for at least six years and had been living with him at the time.
She shared a photo of her sister and said, “I think he killed her,” after learning of the incident.
The murder has been especially devastating for King’s family, who previously lost her twin sister to domestic violence in 2001, according to their mother.
“Both of my girls. My twins... over stupid stuff,” Kyle said, visibly emotional during the interview.
Thompson urged others in abusive relationships to seek help before it’s too late.
“If you’re dealing with anything domestic like that, get out, get out. No one deserves that. My sister did not deserve to die behind this maniac,” Thompson said.
The family awaits King’s autopsy report as they begin the process of planning her funeral.
Ellis remains in Harris County Jail.
“We’re hurting behind someone who can’t control their emotions,” Thompson said. “It’s very, very devastating.”
If you or someone you know needs help, there are resources available. We have a section on our website called Breaking Free, dedicated to resources and support from the community.