Man Accused of Killing Roommate Over Rent Dispute

For several months, a man resided in a Texas home without paying rent. When he was eventually asked to contribute financially, he allegedly responded by shooting and killing one of his roommates and attempting to harm others.

Angel Gomez Montanez, 21, was sought by the Harris County Sheriff’s Office for the alleged murder of Christopher Rodriguez Lara, 18. Following a manhunt lasting at least two days, Montanez was captured, charged with murder, and detained at the Harris County Jail.

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On June 12, just after 10 p.m., deputies from Harris County arrived at the 17000 block of Butte Creek Road, where they discovered Rodriguez Lara with gunshot injuries. Emergency responders soon arrived but pronounced him deceased at the scene.

Detectives investigating the crime learned the shooting arose out of an argument over paying rent, according to Sheriff Ed Gonzalez.

The suspect reportedly wasn’t just a random roommate either, but a man with familial ties to the victim.

“The only thing we told him is we needed the money for rent,” Zuleyka Ortiz told KTRK, adding that Gomez Montanez is her children’s older brother and was offered a place on their apartment’s couch for three months before being asked to help out. “I told him this can’t be happening. We have bills to pay.”

After being asked to pay rent, days before the shooting, Gomez Montanez gathered his belongings and left the apartment, Ortiz told the outlet. When he came back, he said he needed to speak with Rodriguez Lara, who he then allegedly shot outside of his front door.