Owen Vilanova-Ardon: Texas boy, 17, arrested for fatally shooting Judy Walters, 65, in carjacking
HOUSTON, TEXAS: In connection to the murder of a 65-year in a carjacking incident, a 17-year-old boy has been arrested on Tuesday, March 14. Owen Leonardo Vilanova-Ardon was charged with one count of capital murder after he and another person pulled the grandmother out of her vehicle and was fatally shot.
A white 2020 Mitsubishi Eclipse driven by Judy Walters was stolen after the deadly shooting on February 14, according to police in Houston. Cops received a shooting call from the parking lot of an apartment complex. Walters who had a gunshot wound was pronounced dead at the scene, reported Law and Crime.
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Did the slain woman know the suspects?
According to the officers, "Investigators learned at least two suspects, described only as young males with medium complexions and wearing black bandanas, shot Walters and pulled her out of her vehicle," and added, "The suspects stole the vehicle, a white Mitsubishi Eclipse Cross, and struck the woman with it as they fled the scene eastbound on St Mary’s Lane." Surveillance video showed the alleged murderers waiting for the victim for at least eight hours. Texas cops believe that the suspects targeted her and that Walters knew the duo, according to Law and Crime.
'My grandma was an amazing person'
Brandon, son of Walters said, "Ultimately, everyone wants justice. There was some relief to know they had gotten somewhere and did what they said they would do." The slain woman even worked two jobs or sell her plasma at times for raising her two grandchildren. Walters also provided support to some of the teenage friends of her grandson and also for his girlfriend. Walters' grandson, Hunter, said, "My grandma was an amazing person. She deserved the world. She took care of me, my sister, and my girlfriend. Throughout that time, she took multiple jobs to make sure we were OK. She’s just an amazing person," reported ABC 13.
Talking about Walters' plan to adopt him, the 16-year-old said, "Because I don’t have a mom or dad, I asked her to adopt me, and she said she would." Hunter demands life in prison for her murderers. He said, "The max penalty they can get regardless of who it was because it’s not like she was going to fight back," and added, "It’s not like she knew it was coming." The victim's daughter-in-law, Ashley said, "We want everyone involved to get the same penalty, the maximum penalty."