NORTH MONTGOMERY COUNTY- The Montgomery County Sheriff’s Office arrested a suspect late Saturday afternoon in connection with a homicide that occurred at the Piney Shores Resort on Lake Conroe at the end of League Line Road north of Conroe.
Francois Centers, 18, of Humble is charged with first-degree murder.
MCSO Lt. Bill Bucks said officers responded to Piney Shores around 7:15 a.m. on Saturday where they found 24-year-old Kevin Alexander Marshall of North Harris County deceased and face down by the swimming pool with multiple gunshot wounds.
“Witnesses said they heard gunfire around 5:30 a.m., but nobody called (911) until 7:15, when the body was found,” Bucks said.
Numerous shell casings were found at the scene, he said.
Pct. 1 Justice of the Peace Lanny Moriarty conducted an inquest and had the body transported to the Southeast Texas Forensic Center in Conroe.
Piney Shores is a timeshare resort where Bucks said a group of family and friends, including Marshall, were staying at one of the cottages where they were having a week-long birthday party, with many different people coming and going throughout the week.
There were signs alcohol might have been involved, but no indication drugs were a factor, Bucks said.
Several party-goers told investigators there was dispute between several individuals including Marshall and Centers.
The MCSO Major Crimes Unit and Crime Scene Investigators responded to the scene. Their investigation revealed that shortly after gunshots were heard, a male believed to be Centers fled the area in a blue passenger car.
Centers was located Saturday afternoon, and interviewed by detectives prior to his arrest. Officials say there is still no clear motive for the shooting.
The MCSO is received assistance in attempting to locate Centers and his vehicle from the Harris County Sheriff’s Office, Harris County Pct. 4 Constable’s Office and Humble Police. His vehicle was found in Harris County earlier and was towed back to Conroe, Bucks said.
In addition to the MCSO, the Texas Rangers and the Texas Department of Public Safety were on scene, as many residents wondered why yellow crime scene tape blocked their use of the swimming pool.
Anyone with information regarding this Homicide Investigation is urged to call Crime stoppers at 1-800-392-STOP or Detective Mike Landrum at 936-760-5876.
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UPDATE- April 26.
Suspect charged in murder at Piney Shores Resort
Francois Centers’ bond is set at $150,000.
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UPDATE: July 24, 2009
Accused Piney Shores killer to stand trial
CONROE- On Tuesday, a Montgomery County Grand Jury indicted Francois Centers, 18, of Humble for the April 25 murder of 24-year-old Kevin Alexander Marshall.
