July 03, 2021 - Charges have been filed against a suspect wanted in the fatal shooting of a woman and the wounding of a toddler at 11212 Westpark Drive about 10:30 a.m. on Thursday (July 1).

The suspect, Zacchaeus Rashad Gaston, 27, is charged with one count of murder and one count of aggravated assault with a deadly weapon in the 351st State District Court.  He is wanted in the in the death of Layla Steele, 24.  She was transported to an area hospital where she was pronounced deceased.  Steele's one-year-old son also suffered a non-life-threatening gunshot wound.

A prior booking photo of Gaston is attached to this news release.  

HPD Homicide Division Detectives J. Nguyen and W. Huff reported:

Witnesses reported seeing Ms. Steele and a black male engaged in a physical altercation outside an apartment building at the above address.  The male shot Steele and her son then fled the scene.  

Further investigation identified the suspect as Gaston, who is the estranged boyfriend of Steele and father of her one-year-old-child.  

Anyone with information on the whereabouts of Gaston or in this case is urged to contact the HPD Homicide Division at 713-308-3600 or Crime Stoppers at 713-222-TIPS.



Zacchaeus Rashad Gaston



UPDATE:  KJS/VHS  7-2-21
KJS/VHS  7-2-21
Inc. #088543421