17-Year-Old Arrested in Fatal Shooting of Teen Outside Southwest Houston Gas Station
HOUSTON – A 17-year-old has been arrested and charged in connection with the shooting death of a 15-year-old boy during a dispute at a southwest Houston gas station last month.
Braelin James, 17, is charged with murder in the 337th Criminal District Court. The victim has been identified as Kenneth Payne, 15.
According to the Houston Police Department, officers were called to a hospital in the 7600 block of Beechnut Street around 7:50 p.m. on September 19 after receiving a report of a gunshot victim. Witnesses told police the shooting occurred during a disturbance at a gas station at 5330 North Braeswood Boulevard.
Investigators determined that two groups were involved in a physical altercation before gunfire erupted as one group was leaving the scene. Payne was struck by the gunfire and taken to the hospital, where he later died from his injuries.
After a thorough investigation, detectives identified Braelin James as the shooter. Officers with HPD’s Southwest Patrol Division Crime Suppression Team arrested him on October 1 on unrelated charges. He was later charged for his role in Payne’s death.
The case remains under investigation. Anyone with additional information is urged to contact the HPD Homicide Division at 713-308-3600 or Crime Stoppers at 713-222-TIPS.
