In a case involving the death of a transgender woman, two suspects now face charges of capital murder. The victim, 39-year-old Marisela Castro, was fatally shot in Houston, Texas, with two young individuals implicated in the crime.
Oscar Ariel Sierra, 18, was charged with capital murder. He received this charge as a result of his alleged involvement in the killing. A second teen suspect has also been arrested on the same charge.
The Houston Police Department discovered Castro’s body at around 1:45 a.m. on July 29, 2022, in the 600 block of Centerwood Drive. Patrol officers had responded to a call about a shooting and found Castro lying in the street. Paramedics from the Houston Fire Department declared her dead at the scene.
Initial investigations revealed that Castro and another individual exited her vehicle after parking it. At this point, a suspect shot Castro and fled the scene in her vehicle. Police stated that at least one other suspect was seen in the car, and both suspects abandoned it a short distance from the shooting location before fleeing on foot.
The 17-year-old is not believed to have been the shooter. Following further investigation, authorities identified Sierra as the alleged shooter. Now, he is being held in custody at the Harris County Joint Processing Center.