On May 29, 2023, 26-year-old Jansen Marquise Pullom was fatally shot during a custody exchange at the Azul Apartments in northwest Harris County, Houston, Texas. The incident occurred around 10:20 p.m. when Pullom met his ex-partner and her new boyfriend to return their child. An altercation ensued between Pullom and the new boyfriend, leading to Pullom being shot multiple times. The new boyfriend fled the scene with his girlfriend and the child.
The following day, the suspect, identified as 22-year-old James Lewis Spencer III, and his girlfriend turned themselves in to law enforcement. Spencer was subsequently charged with murder and booked into the Harris County Jail. According to court records, Spencer was found to have a mental illness or intellectual disability.
Pullom's mother, LaShonda Petties, expressed profound grief over her son's death, describing it as senseless and highlighting that Pullom took his last breath in front of his 4-year-old son. She emphasized her son's dedication to his three children and mentioned previous issues between Pullom and his ex-partner regarding custody exchanges. Petties also noted that she had not heard from her grandson's mother or her family since the incident, adding to her pain during the mourning period.
The tragic event underscores the potential dangers associated with custody exchanges, especially when underlying tensions exist between involved parties. Authorities continue to investigate the circumstances leading up to the shooting, reviewing surveillance footage and interviewing witnesses to piece together a comprehensive understanding of the incident.
