MONTGOMERY COUNTY, TX- A Montgomery County Grand Jury handed down capital murder indictments Tuesday against three men arrested in connection with the January 25 shooting death of Splendora area resident Steven Santillan. News of the brutal home invasion murder. According to the Complaints on file with the Montgomery County District Clerk’s Office, the motive is believed to have been robbery.

Police say around 3:20 that morning, Sheriff’s Deputies and Splendora Police Officers responded to a shooting call in the 22000 block of Morgan Cemetery Road. The 37-year-old victim’s wife called 911 and said three men in ski masks entered her home and fired multiple shots into her husband and quickly left. Splendora Police happened to be nearby when the call dropped and noticed a vehicle with three men traveling at a high rate of speed before stopping at an area gas station. The SPD Officers tried to make contact with the men while they were stopped. Only one suspect was outside of the vehicle at the time, and the two men still in the vehicle fled, leaving him behind.

A brief pursuit ensued before the suspect vehicle crashed at Hwy 59 and Fostoria Road. The two suspects still in the car hopped out and tried to run, but Splendora Police caught them and took them into custody.

The suspects are identified as Derrick Johnathan Jameel Williams, 27, of Beaumont; Andre Franklin, 25, of Houston; and 22-year-old Jose Patricio Gutierrez, Jr., of Houston. All three have extensive and violent criminal histories and have served prison time. Now, all three men are charged with Capital Murder, and eligible for the death penalty.

Franklin is held without bond, having also had an open warrant for a felony parole violation when arrested for the shooting. Williams’s bond is set at $450,000, and Gutierrez’s bond is set at $350,000.

The Patton Village Police Department, and Precinct 4 Constable Kenneth “Rowdy” Hayden’s Office also assisted in the initial investigation.