July 15, 2021 - Houston police have arrested a suspect charged in the fatal shooting of a woman and the wounding of a toddler at 11212 Westpark Drive about 10:30 a.m. on July 1.

The suspect, Zacchaeus Rashad Gaston (b/m, 27), is charged with murder and aggravated assault with a deadly weapon in the 351st State District Court. An updated booking photo of Gaston is attached to this news release.

Gaston is accused 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 suffered a non-life-threatening gunshot wound.

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.  

On Wednesday evening (July 14), members of the HPD Westside Patrol Division Tactical Unit arrested Gaston without incident. He was transported to the Harris County Joint Processing Center where he remains in custody.  



Zacchaeus Rashad Gaston



2nd Update: JKS/JFC 7-15-21
Update:  KJS/VHS  7-2-21
KJS/VHS  7-2-21
Inc. #088543421