On September 15, 2024, 24-year-old Joselyn Alicia Espinoza was shot in the head in the parking lot of the Palace Inn motel in the 15000 block of Mesa Drive in Houston. Surveillance shows Joselyn and her boyfriend, 19-year-old Francisco Javier Ochoa, arrived in a green Chevrolet Silverado shortly before 1:30 a.m. An argument broke out; Joselyn locked herself inside the truck and Ochoa struck the driver’s side window with a handgun. The firearm discharged and Joselyn was struck. Ochoa drove her to St. Joseph Medical Center; she was later transferred to Memorial Hermann-Texas Medical Center and pronounced dead at 9:15 a.m.

Houston Police investigators say Ochoa gave conflicting statements and refused consent to a vehicle search. A warrant search found blood inside the truck and a shattered driver’s side window, consistent with surveillance. On September 20, 2024, Francisco Ochoa was charged with manslaughter, surrendered at Harris County Jail, and was booked with bond set at $200,000. Joselyn’s family has spoken about their grief, said they were unaware of how serious the relationship had been, and created a fundraiser to help with funeral costs while urging awareness of domestic violence.

If anyone knew Joselyn or observed the couple at the motel that night, can you share information that might help clarify what happened?