A suspect tied to a 2021 fatal shooting in Houston has been taken back into custody after evading trial by removing his ankle monitor, officials report. Giovanni Matt Ornelas, 31, was apprehended on Tuesday by the U.S. Marshal's Gulf Coast Violent Offenders Task Force, after fleeing prior to his court appearance. An official City of Houston news release confirmed Ornelas faces charges of murder and failure to appear in court.
In the incident that took place over three years ago on August 8, 2021, Ornelas, along with Jose Leonel Cabrera, 30, are accused of a drive-by shooting that resulted in the death of Albert Castillo, Jr., 22, and the wounding of his father, Albert Castillo, Sr., 39. Despite the gravity of the crime, it seems Ornelas had managed to elude his day in court until now. A third individual, Anastasia Marie Hernandez, 34, Ornelas' girlfriend, has been charged with hindering apprehension for allegedly aiding Ornelas' escape.
The Houston Police Department's Homicide Division, led by Detectives L. Palma and B. Stephens, initially responded to the shooting at 5912 Newport Street on the evening in question. The first responders discovered the younger Castillo deceased and his father injured. The elder Castillo was then rushed to the hospital and treated for a non-life-threatening injury to his arm.
Early into the investigation, Ornelas was named a suspect and arrested on August 19, 2021, without incident. Cabrera's connection to the crime surfaced later and, although already incarcerated for an unrelated case, he was charged in July 2023 for his involvement. Following a tip from the Harris County District Attorney’s Office in September 2024, Ornelas' flight from justice was confirmed when he detached his ankle monitor and fled. Hernandez is alleged to have provided refuge for Ornelas, leading to her subsequent arrest during the operation that recaptured Ornelas.
Both Ornelas and Hernandez remain in custody, and the legal process continues. The booking photos of the suspects and further details on the crime can be found at the provided link to the City of Houston's news release.
