Houston police make arrest in murder of 24-year-old mother who was 'shot and killed protecting her one-year-old son'

The Houston Police have made an arrest in connection with the murder of a 24-year-old mother who was shot while protecting her son from a violent attack from her ex-boyfriend. 

Layla Steele was at the park with her son when she was allegedly approached by her ex-boyfriend who shot her multiple times, injuring her child as well. 

“Layla Steele’s murderer (she was shot and killed protecting her one-year-old son at a park in a domestic violence incident) has been apprehended,” Houston City Councilwoman Abbie Kamin tweeted. 

Steele's family is devastated by the incident and an investigation has been launched into why the perpetrator was walking free, as he was on bond for multiple charges when he committed the murder. 

“We wonder what could we have done to prevent this. Once again, we don't want to put any fault anywhere, however, with the suspect being out on bond for seven (charges including) major felonies, this could have been prevented," HPD Assistant Chief Patricia Cantu said. 

The incident was not the first time that Steele and her murderer Zacchaeus Gaston were violently involved, as in 2020 he struck Steele in the head with a plastic bottle, threatening to shoot her. 

“She was scared of him. She was in love with him, but she was scared of him. There’s no way that that should’ve slipped, where seven felony bonds, a person was out, and I feel like, my sister’s blood is on their hands,” Jazz Steele, the victim’s sister, said. 

The shooter is the father of one-year-old Zeus, who was struck with a bullet and is in the hospital recovering from his injuries. Zeus was admitted on his birthday. 

Gaston was previously charged with violation of his protective order in April 2021. 

He had an ankle monitor but it is still unknown if he was wearing it at the time of the incident.