Houston Man Sentenced to 22 Years in Prison for Fatal Shooting in Jealous Rage

A Houston man, James Ray Lane, 24, has been sentenced to 22 years in prison after pleading guilty to murder in a fatal shooting that took place in Spring, Harris County. The announcement of the sentence was made by Harris County District Attorney Kim Ogg on Monday.

Gregory L. Moore, a father of three from New Jersey, had been visiting Houston with three friends and was staying at an Airbnb in Spring during the time of the shooting. The group had gone to various clubs and restaurants, where they met several women and exchanged phone numbers.

Late in the evening on June 28, 2021, while the other men were inside the Airbnb, Moore and one of the women he had met that weekend arrived at the residence on Braewin Court. The woman happened to be Lane’s girlfriend, and Lane, using her cellphone’s location, was able to track her.

Lane arrived at the scene, brandishing a flashlight and a handgun, and assaulted Moore and the woman. He pistol-whipped both victims and shot Moore multiple times before leaving with the woman. Deputies from the Harris County Sheriff’s Office responded to the incident.

Through cellphone data and witness accounts, Sheriff’s detectives were able to identify Lane as the assailant, leading to his arrest days later.

James Ray Lane pleaded guilty to murder on August 17 and underwent a pre-sentence investigation in the following two months. The judge determined his punishment during a day-long hearing on Monday.

Assistant District Attorneys Kasie Herring and Rodulfo Martinez, who are assigned to the DA’s trial bureau, prosecuted the case. Herring described the incident as a “jealous ambush,” highlighting that Lane had shot Moore nine times.

Friends and family of the victim delivered victim impact statements after Lane’s sentencing. They expressed their feelings, emphasizing that Moore had traveled a significant distance from southwest Houston and could have made a different choice at any point.

Lane will be required to serve at least half of his 22-year prison sentence before he becomes eligible for parole.