A 53-year-old Texas man has been charged with two counts of capital murder after allegedly shooting and killing an apartment complex manager and a leasing agent during a heated argument over rental terms. Derrick Duane Jackson is accused of gunning down 67-year-old Rosa Ybarra and 47-year-old Felix Macz at the Park at Woodlake Apartments in Houston, according to court records.
Background
Houston Police Department officers responded to the leasing office on Ella Lee Lane around 6:45 p.m. following reports of shots fired. Upon arrival, first responders discovered both victims suffering from multiple gunshot wounds. Emergency medical personnel from the Houston Fire Department pronounced Ybarra and Macz dead at the scene. Court documents indicate that Jackson subsequently admitted to shooting the two employees during an argument concerning his housing situation.
The Charges
Jackson has been taken into custody and charged with two counts of capital murder. In an order denying a personal bond request, a magistrate judge noted that the defendant "confessed to gunning down the leasing manager and a leasing agent at his apartment complex during an argument about the terms of his lease." The judge further stated that several pieces of forensic evidence were recovered from Jackson's motel room. Jackson is currently being held in the Harris County Jail without bond.
Key Takeaways
- Derrick Duane Jackson, 53, is charged with two counts of capital murder for the deaths of Rosa Ybarra and Felix Macz.
- The alleged shooting occurred at the Park at Woodlake Apartments in Houston during a dispute over lease terms.
- Houston Police and Fire Department personnel responded to the scene, where both victims were pronounced dead.
- Jackson allegedly confessed to the shootings, and forensic evidence was reportedly recovered from his motel room.
- Rosa Ybarra was a long-time caregiver who ran a childcare service and was in the process of adopting a foster child.
- Jackson is being held without bond at the Harris County Jail.
What's Next
With Jackson held without bond in Harris County Jail, the investigation by the Houston Police Department continues as prosecutors prepare for the next legal phases. Court records indicate that forensic evidence recovered from the suspect's motel room is being processed, which may play a pivotal role in the upcoming proceedings. Legal observers anticipate a preliminary hearing in the near future, where a judge will determine if there is sufficient evidence to bind the case over to a grand jury for an indictment on the capital murder charges.