A 20-year-old Houston woman and her boyfriend are facing capital murder charges after police say they were involved in the fatal shooting of her older sister at a west Houston apartment.
Alaya Sadae Jones, 20, and Kaleb John Maglott, 25, were arrested after 27-year-old Aveyia Webb was found suffering from a gunshot wound inside her apartment at 8155 Richmond Avenue on Oct. 1. Houston police said paramedics pronounced Webb dead at the scene.
The case has left Webb’s relatives struggling to understand how someone so close to her could allegedly be involved in her death.
Family became concerned when Webb stopped responding
According to police, a family member became concerned after not hearing from Webb and went to her apartment to check on her. The relative found the front door unlocked and Webb unresponsive inside.
Family members later told local media that Jones had recently been living in Florida with Maglott and had told relatives she wanted to return to Houston and get closer to family.
Investigators, however, say the circumstances surrounding the trip to Houston were much more serious than the family initially believed.
Police identified Jones and Maglott as suspects during the investigation. Both were taken into custody and interviewed. Houston police said Jones admitted to her role in her sister’s death.
Investigators say the killing was connected to a robbery
Court records allege that Webb was killed while Jones and Maglott were committing or attempting to commit a robbery.
Investigators also found evidence they say connects the suspects to Webb’s vehicle. Surveillance footage allegedly showed Jones leaving the apartment complex in Webb’s vehicle while Maglott left in another vehicle. Police later found Webb’s vehicle parked near a vehicle rented by Maglott, according to court documents.
Investigators also reported finding a fired 9mm casing and a fixed-blade knife inside the apartment, according to the probable-cause information reported by KPRC.
Police said a search of Jones’ phone uncovered messages that investigators believe indicate the killing had been discussed before the suspects arrived in Houston. Family members previously told local media that Jones and Maglott had allegedly discussed killing Webb and taking her belongings.
Webb was preparing for the next chapter of her life
While investigators work to determine exactly what happened inside the apartment, Webb’s family is remembering her for the life she was building.
Webb worked as a hairstylist and also had other work and creative interests, according to relatives. She was preparing to begin a pharmacy-related certification program later in October, with her employer expected to help pay for it. Her family also described her as independent, artistic and deeply protective of the people she loved.
Relatives said Webb had recently established her own apartment and had a car of her own. They also described her as someone who enjoyed spending time near the water and traveling to Galveston.
Her family says that makes the circumstances of her death even harder to accept.
They had believed Jones was returning to Houston to rebuild her life, and Webb was reportedly willing to help her younger sister get back on her feet. Instead, police now allege that Jones played a role in Webb’s death.
Jones and Maglott remain jailed
Jones and Maglott are both charged with capital murder in Harris County. Houston police said the investigation led to their arrests after detectives developed information identifying them as suspects.
Prosecutors are seeking to keep the two defendants in custody without bond, according to recent local reporting.
The allegations remain criminal charges, and the defendants are presumed innocent unless proven guilty in court.
For Webb’s family, the focus now is on remembering the 27-year-old for the future she was working toward rather than only the circumstances surrounding her death.
