Prosecutors detail triple killing at party

The shooting that left three people dead at a birthday party last month started with a man taking a partygoer’s phone at gunpoint and ended with him shooting wildly down at other people from a balcony as they ran from the home, prosecutors said.

Jaylon McIntyre, 24, of Port Arthur made his first court appearance in a Harris County District Court on Friday morning, McIntyre on Thursday was charged with capital murder of multiple people in connection with the Jan. 21 deaths of Nicholas King and Ellesha Rice, both 24, a couple who were shot dead in the kitchen of a short-term rental home in western Harris County.

Another man, Michael Odobo, 24, was also killed. McIntyre hasn’t been charged in Odobo’s death, but officials said Friday he was the only suspect for his killing and more charges could come.

The shooting happened around 1:20 a.m. at a short-term rental home at 4643 Russet Leaf Trace, where people had gathered for Odobo’s birthday party, according to prosecutors.

McIntyre allegedly knew people at the party, but it was unclear if he’d been invited, Assistant District Attorney Jaime Burrow said.

According to a probable cause statement read in court, McIntyre pulled out a gun at the party and used it to take a woman’s phone while they were in the upstairs part of the house. The woman ran from McIntyre, leading Odobo to go upstairs to try to talk to him, Burrow said.

A short time later, McIntyre shot Odobo, Burrow said. The gunfire caused people to run from the house and during the panic, McIntyre is accused of firing on people from an upstairs balcony, hitting King and Rice, Burrow said.

Witnesses told police a green laser could be seen coming from the balcony as shots were fired, Burrow said.

The Harris County Sheriff ’s Office described what happened next as a shootout, as other people took out weapons and began firing back toward the house. McIntyre was shot in the left forearm and was found lying wounded in the house by deputies who responded to the shooting. A Ruger 5.7 handgun was found near him, Burrow said.

Witnesses, some of whom had known McIntyre since elementary school, identified him as the shooter to investigators, Burrow said.

During his brief court appearance, his arm was enveloped by a yellow foam cast.

He was taken to the hospital to be treated and was eventually booked into Harris County Jail, first on an aggravated assault charge related to taking the cellphone and then on murder charges, according to court records.

McIntyre declined to be assigned a public defender, and was told to hire an attorney before his next court appearance in April. He was being held without bond.