Lashawn Grays, a 22-year-old Black woman from Houston, Texas, was known for a smile that never faded and a beautiful laugh. A preschool teacher, she was the mother of a 2-year-old daughter. Friends and family remembered her as a precious person who never let anything make her frown.
On November 25, 2022, Grays was visiting a friend at an apartment complex in the 8500 block of Point Park Drive in northwest Harris County.
According to authorities, her ex-boyfriend, 28-year-old Javian Paley, forced his way into the apartment and shot her. Grays was pronounced dead at the scene. The Harris County Sheriff's Office described the killing as an act of domestic violence.
Paley, who shared a daughter with Grays, fled after the shooting. Harris County deputies located him the following morning in east Harris County and took him into custody. He was booked into the Harris County jail and charged with murder.
In 2023, Paley was released from jail after posting bail. He later fled and became a fugitive from justice. The FBI’s Houston field office subsequently placed him on its regional most wanted list.
As of January 2026, Javian Paley remains at large. The FBI is offering a reward of up to $5,000 for information leading directly to his arrest. Anyone with information on his whereabouts is encouraged to contact the FBI at 1-800-CALL-FBI.
