A man has been arrested in a fatal shooting after allegedly pretending to be a minor, planning to meet up with a child predator, then killing him. The man, James Lewis Spencer III, 22, was arrested for the May 29, 2023 shooting of Sean Connery Showers, 37, on January 31, 2024, according to Houston police. Showers was found dead in a ditch with multiple gunshot wounds.
Spencer allegedly shot Showers because he believed he was a child predator and didn't believe enough was being done to stop child predators, reported local outlet KPRC 2.
Investigators also found Showers' phone, which showed that he had plans to meet up with someone. They found that Showers and Spencer communicated via the Kik app, ABC13 reported.
By speaking to Spencer's girlfriend, investigators learned that Spencer had previously spoken about pedophiles.
The outlet reported that Showers was charged with possession of child porn in 2009, and after being released from prison, he was required to register as a sex offender, which he failed to do.
Rehman Merchant, the chief prosecutor for the 179th District Court, said, "Regardless of the likability of the victim, we're a nation of laws. No one gets to be judge, jury, and executioner depending on how they feel," as per ABC13.
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Victim Services Director of Houston Crime Stoppers Andy Kahan called the murder "diabolically cunning."
“Nobody should be taking the law into their own hands. He completed his sentence, yes he didn’t register, but this is taking it way too far,” Kahan told KPRC 2.