Lashawn Grays was a 22-year-old preschool teacher from Houston, Texas, and mother of a 2-year-old daughter. Friends and family remembered her for a smile that never faded and a beautiful laugh.

On November 25, 2022, Grays was visiting a friend at an apartment complex in the 8500 block of Point Park Drive in northwest Harris County when authorities say her ex-boyfriend, 28-year-old Javian Paley, forced his way into the apartment and shot her. Grays was pronounced dead at the scene; the Harris County Sheriff’s Office described the killing as an act of domestic violence. Paley fled after the shooting but was located and taken into custody the following morning and charged with murder.

In 2023 Paley was released on bail, later fled, and became a fugitive. As of January 2026 he remained at large and the FBI’s Houston field office was offering a reward of up to $5,000 for information leading to his arrest. If anyone knew Lashawn or has information on Paley’s whereabouts, please contact the FBI at 1-800-CALL-FBI.