Texas – Authorities have charged a Texas man with murder for reportedly impersonating a minor to encounter and subsequently murder a convicted sex offender.
The Houston Police Department asserts that James Spencer III, aged 22, fatally shot 37-year-old Sean Connery Showers in May 2023.
According to police, Showers approached a vehicle in the early hours of May 29 and was then shot by an at-the-time unknown assailant. Following an in-depth investigation, officers apprehended Spencer, who is said to have confessed to the crime.
Police discovered Showers in a ditch, suffering from multiple gunshot injuries.
According to reports from Click 2 Houston and ABC 13, citing law enforcement, Spencer is alleged to have pretended to be a minor on the internet to bait Showers, whom he targeted because of his status as a sex offender, under the pretense of sexual activity.
In 2009, Showers had admitted guilt to charges of possessing child sex abuse material, as stated by federal authorities at that time, ABC 13 reports. Following his plea, Showers was sentenced to 30 months in prison and later, in 2019, received a two-year sentence for not registering as a sex offender, according to the news outlet.
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During a press conference broadcasted by ABC 13, prosecutor Rehaman Merchant revealed that Spencer had arranged a meeting, being fully aware of Showers’ location on the night of the murder.
Merchant emphasized the principle of lawful governance during the press conference, stating, “Regardless of the likability of the victim, we’re a nation of laws. So no one gets to be judge, jury, and executioner depending on how they feel.”
There is no immediate information available on whether Spencer has pleaded or if he has legal representation.
