Leandro Morales Jr., a 47-year-old Hispanic male, was tragically killed on November 29, 2018, during a home invasion in Cypress, Texas. Morales, a Marine Corps veteran, was at home with his wife when the incident occurred. According to reports, Morales' wife heard a noise at the back door, prompting him to investigate. During this time, two suspects, Bobby Joe Turner, 18, and Dwayne Ernest Wharton, 19, forced their way into the residence.
Turner and Wharton demanded money from Morales before fatally shooting him in the head. The suspects chose the home randomly and had staked it out prior to the invasion. Morales' wife witnessed the red dot from a laser sight pointed at her husband's forehead before the fatal shot was fired.
The investigation into Morales' death led to the arrest of both suspects. Turner was apprehended on December 1, 2018, by members of the Harris County Sheriff's Office Homicide unit, Violent Crime unit, and the Gulf Coast Violent Offenders and Fugitive Task Force. Wharton was arrested a few days later, on December 4, 2018. Both suspects were charged with capital murder and held at the Harris County jail without bond. Evidence linking Wharton to the crime included palm prints on the window panes outside Morales' home and security footage showing a black Ford Fusion with a license plate displaying the logo of a car dealership. Investigators contacted the dealer and learned that Wharton had purchased the vehicle on November 21, 2018. The dealership's tracking system confirmed the vehicle's presence within a mile of Morales' residence at the time of the shooting.
In March 2022, Dwayne Ernest Wharton, then 22, was convicted of capital murder and sentenced to life in prison without the possibility of parole. Harris County District Attorney Kim Ogg praised the jury's decision, stating that the consequences matched the severity of the crime. Wharton's accomplice, Bobby Joe Turner, also faced charges of capital murder, with his case still pending at the time of Wharton's sentencing. Morales, who had served four years on active duty in the Marine Corps and fought in Iraq during Operation Desert Storm, was remembered for his bravery and dedication. His military medals and awards were mounted in a frame on the wall of his home, a testament to his service and sacrifice.
