3rd UPDATE: Suspect Charged in 2021 Fatal Shooting at 5912 Newport Street Re-Arrested

A suspect previously arrested and charged in the fatal shooting of one man and the wounding of another at 5612 Newport Street about 7 p.m. on August 8, 2021 has been re-arrested.
The suspect, Giovanni Matt Ornelas, 31, is charged with murder in the 176th State District Court and with bail jump – failure to appear in the 262nd State District Court.  A booking photo of Ornelas is attached to this news release.
In addition, a female suspect, Anastasia Marie Hernandez, 34, is charged with hindering apprehension in the 179th State District Court.  A booking photo of Hernandez is also attached to this news release.
A third suspect, Jose Leonel Cabrera, 30, is charged with murder and aggravated assault with a deadly weapon in the 482nd State District Court.  He was already in the custody of Texas Department of Corrections (TDC) authorities for an unrelated case.  His booking photo (below) was previously released.
Ornelas and Cabrera are charged for their roles in the killing of Albert Castillo, Jr., 22, and the wounding of  Albert Castillo, Sr., 39.
HPD Homicide Division Detectives L. Palma and B. Stephens reported:
Officers responded to a drive-by shooting call outside a residence at the above address and found Mr. Castillo (Jr.) deceased from a gunshot wound to the upper torso and Mr. Castillo (Sr.) with a gunshot wound to the arm.  Paramedics transported Castillo, Sr. to a hospital in stable condition.
The suspect was described only as a white or light-skinned Hispanic male, thin with an athletic build, short back or brown hair, a tattoo sleeve on his left arm and a thin beard.  He was armed with an AR-15 style rifle and was last seen traveling eastbound on Newport Drive toward the North Freeway (North Interstate Highway 45).  One or two other suspects were also being sought.
In the early stages of the investigation, Ornelas was identified as one of the suspects.  On August 19, 2021, members of the HPD SWAT and Southwest Patrol Division Crime Suppression teams arrested Ornelas without incident.  Further investigation identified Cabrera as another suspect in the case.  Detectives learned he was in TDC custody.  On July 11, 2023, Cabrera was subsequently charged in case.
In September 2024, detectives were advised by the Harris County District Attorney’s Office that Ornelas removed his ankle monitor and fled before his trial could take place.  Additional investigation developed information on Ornelas’ whereabouts.  On Tuesday (January 7), Ornelas was arrested by members of the U.S. Marshal’s Gulf Coast Violent Offenders Task Force without incident.
Additional investigation determined Hernandez, Ornelas’ girlfriend, assisted him in his escape and was harboring him at the time of Tuesday’s arrest.  Hernandez was taken into custody and booked into jail.

Giovanni Matt Ornelas

Anastasia Marie Hernandez

Jose Leonel Cabrera   (2022)
3rd Update: VHS/JFC  1-8-25
2nd Update: JFC/SOA    7-13-23
Update: JFC/JKS    8-23-21
VHS/JKS   8-9-21Inc #106921821

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