A 17-year-old is facing a murder charge after allegedly shooting and killing a 16-year-old at a basketball court in Galena Park on Sunday afternoon.
Authorities identified the suspect as Angel Elizalde, accused of fatally shooting Jayden Solis outside the Alvin D. Baggett Community Center.
Friends and Family Mourn the Victim
On Monday, friends and community members gathered at the court to remember Solis. Adam Escalante, a close friend, recalled playing basketball with him before some of the group left to play soccer nearby. Moments later, gunshots rang out.
“I wish I had stayed,” Escalante said. “I heard the shots and ran back as fast as I could. I was just praying it wasn’t him. When I saw him on the ground, I just dropped down crying. It hurt me deeply.”
Calls for Increased Security
Parents in the community expressed concerns about safety. Jennifer Hernandez, Escalante’s mother, urged for more police presence in Galena Park.
“The city needs to have more officers patrolling,” she said through tears. “That’s why these things keep happening.”
Another mother, Lolita Dixon, shared her fears. “I’m very scared. And for that mother who lost her child yesterday, I think about my own child.”
Evidence and Legal Proceedings
Prosecutors revealed that three eyewitnesses identified Elizalde as the shooter. Surveillance footage from the recreation center also captured the incident.
Elizalde did not appear in court on Monday, as officials reported he was being combative while in custody. The magistrate judge set his bond at $500,000.
