Two Arrested for Murder at South Central Houston Motel
Houston police have apprehended two individuals in connection with the killing of 26-year-old Marco Escayola, which occurred on October 15 at 3528 Southmore Boulevard in South Central Houston.
The suspects, identified as Demetrius Marquise Veal, 21, and Dajhun Demarcus Barber, 23, have been charged in the 232nd State District Court. Veal faces a charge of murder, while Barber is charged with tampering with evidence.
The incident unfolded around 11:10 p.m. when officers responded to a report of a shooting at a motel located at the aforementioned address. Upon arrival, they discovered Mr. Escayola unresponsive on the second-floor balcony. Houston Fire Department paramedics who arrived at the scene pronounced him deceased.
Detectives investigating the case learned that Escayola had encountered a suspect, described only as a black male, with whom he became involved in a physical altercation. During the altercation, the suspect produced a firearm and fatally shot Escayola before fleeing the scene in an unknown direction.
According to Escayola’s partner, Mariah Chano, who is carrying Escayola’s unborn son and is due in February, the couple was common-law married and eagerly anticipating the arrival of their baby. She explained that on the night of the incident, Escayola had gone to a nearby bar to watch the Houston Astros game with some friends. When she hadn’t heard from him for some time, she contacted his friends, who informed her that he had returned home.
The Houston Police Department reported that the altercation occurred on the motel’s second-floor balcony, resulting in Escayola sustaining fatal gunshot wounds to his neck and torso.
Chano expressed her grief, saying, “He was really trying to be the man that he wanted to be for his baby one day.”
After an extensive investigation, Veal and Barber were identified as suspects in the case, and charges were subsequently filed against them. Members of the HPD South Gessner Patrol Division’s Crime Suppression Team arrested both suspects without incident on Thursday, October 26.
