Houston Man Sentenced to Life for Capital Murder in 2019 Robbery
A 22-year-old man from Houston has been sentenced to life in prison for the capital murder of an acquaintance during a robbery at an apartment in 2019. The Harris County District Attorney, Kim Ogg, announced the sentencing late Thursday.
Jourdan Ellison was convicted of killing 19-year-old Christian Alexander Lezama on September 4, 2019. Ellison, who was 17 at the time, coordinated with two other men to rob Lezama at his apartment in the 1800 block of St. Joseph Parkway in downtown Houston.
Lezama was playing video games with three friends and Ellison when the robbery occurred. Ellison pulled a gun on Lezama and his friends, then let two accomplices into the apartment. The situation escalated into a violent altercation, during which Ellison and his accomplices pistol-whipped Lezama and another man. Ellison then shot and killed Lezama before fleeing with the other men.
Houston Police Department officers arrived to find Lezama dead and began interviewing witnesses. Surveillance video showed Ellison letting the accomplices into the building. During an interview, Ellison admitted to being at the apartment for drugs and letting the other men in after telling Lezama he was going to buy cigarillos.
Assistant District Attorneys Megan Long and Rebecca Marshall prosecuted Ellison in a seven-day trial. Long described the incident as incredibly violent, with Ellison acting as the mastermind and triggerman. Marshall highlighted that Ellison exploited his relationship with Lezama to carry out the robbery.
Ellison will be eligible for parole after 40 years due to his age at the time of the murder. His accomplices, Deric Williams, 26, and Michael Sykes, 24, face life in prison without parole as they were older than 17 at the time of the shooting.
