Lakiesha Lewis, 23, was fatally shot at her northeast Houston apartment on June 7, 2016. Her ex-boyfriend, Darrell P. Mitchell, went to the apartment that night; after Lakiesha’s then-boyfriend Johnel Francis answered the door, both were shot. Lakiesha died at the scene; Johnel was critically injured and later died at a nearby hospital.

Mitchell, 28 at the time, was arrested and charged with capital murder. He later pleaded guilty to two counts of murder, admitted to the killings and received two concurrent life sentences with the possibility of parole after 30 years. The families of the victims were instrumental in the decision not to pursue the death penalty. Investigators said Mitchell had a prior assault charge involving Lakiesha in 2012, and after the shooting he sent a text to Lakiesha’s best friend claiming he had killed Lakiesha and her new boyfriend.

The deaths drew attention to domestic violence and its consequences. If anyone knew Lakiesha, Johnel, or the circumstances around that night, please share what you remember.