Teen charged in death authorities attribute to gunplay
Two Houston teenagers allegedly pointed loaded guns at each other as part of an internet fad “challenge” that turned deadly at a Fonderen-area home in mid-December, according to court records.
Christian Estes-Johnson’s family contends that the pretense of the game was used to cover that the man was murdered during a robbery. They are angered that the accused gunman, Mohamad Alajil, who was arrested Wednesday, faces only a manslaughter charge. He is scheduled to appear in court Friday.
“Manslaughter is a slap in the face,” said Pearla Estes, Christian’s mother. “My son doesn’t play a gun game.”
Estes-Johnson allegedly pointed an AR-15 at Alajil, and Alajil stretched out his arm to point a semi-automatic pistol at EstesJohnson while playing the “No Lackin’ Challenge,” according to a witness. The game, according to Urban Dictionary, aims to show that players are armed and ready and not “lackin’ ” a gun.
Alajil, who was 17 at the time of the Dec. 11 incident, pulled the trigger and fatally hit Estes-Johnson, according to records. The 19year-old died at 11:45 p.m. at his home in the 5300 block of Ivyknoll.
Alajil dropped the pistol and began to run out of the house, according to court records. Two of Estes-Johnson’s brothers tried but weren’t able to stop him. The witness called police later and gave a statement.
Original police reports detailed a different account. Police said at the time that Estes-Johnson was inside his bedroom arguing with two other men when a gunshot was heard.
One of Estes-Johnson’s family members went into the room and saw that the teen was dead, police said after the shooting. The family member then struggled with the two men, who eventually fled the scene.
Police later went to Alajil’s apartment, and he said there was a fight that ended with him shooting in self-defense. After they mentioned the first witness’ account of the No Lackin’ challenge, he changed his story and said that was the truth, according to court records.
The Harris County Institute of Forensic Sciences has not released whether it has ruled the death a homicide or accidental death.
Alajil and Estes-Johnson were close friends, and Pearla Estes had effectively opened her home to Alajil, sister Shyra Estes-Johnson said.
“He was just another family member,” she said. “That’s why we were very, very shocked. That was Christian’s best friend, his brother.”
Estes-Johnson was a twin and a great older and younger brother, his sister said.
He previously played varsity football and basketball for Sharpstown High School, the school said on Facebook. He wanted to enlist in the Army, and he was an active member of Young Life, a Christian organization, Shyra Estes-Johnson said.
“He was very happy every day,” she said. “I mean, everybody loved him.”
At the time of the shooting, Alajil was out on $50,000 bail for a charge of aggravated robbery with a deadly weapon Sept. 17, according to court records.
Prosecutors requested bail of at least $100,000 in the manslaughter case, citing the fact that Alajil was on bail at the time of the incident. “It is clear that the defendant presents a grave danger to the community,” prosecutor Teresa Cannady said.
Estes-Johnson’s sister is upset that Alajil was out on bail in the first place. “If he was put away, this would never have happened,” she said.
Public defender Genesis Draper, with the Harris County Public Defender’s Office, requested $30,000 bail in the case, mentioning other deaths that have been caused by the game.
“Even if the facts are to be believed as is, this is a terrible and unfortunate situation,” Draper said. “It is not the first of its kind; that particular game has caused similar outcomes across the country. I would say it’s a little bit different than an outright intentional act.”
A judge set bail at $250,000 for Alajil, a Syrian citizen who is now 18.