Houston, Texas – A 24-year-old man has been arrested for the murder of a registered sex offender, whom he allegedly targeted through a social media app. James Lewis Spencer III was taken into custody by the Gulf Coast Violent Offenders Task Force without incident, according to authorities.
The arrest comes after the discovery of the lifeless body of 37-year-old Sean Connery Showers in the 900 block of Northwood Street in the early morning hours of May 29, 2023. Surveillance footage in the area captured a car stopping at the location, firing multiple “automatic-like” shots, and then speeding off within seconds. Investigators later found Showers’ phone under his body and discovered that he had arranged to meet someone at Montie Beach Park.
According to Rehman Merchant, the chief prosecutor for the 179th District Court, Spencer and Showers had been communicating through a social media app, with the conversations being of a sexual nature. Merchant also stated that Spencer had been posing as someone underage during their conversations.
Showers had a history as a registered sex offender, having been previously convicted for possession of child pornography and failure to comply with sex offender regulations. The prosecutors believe that Spencer made comments expressing dissatisfaction with the police’s handling of pedophiles and had expressed a desire to harm them himself.
Spencer’s phone records led investigators to speak with his girlfriend, who confirmed his remarks regarding pedophiles. Furthermore, his phone was tracked to and from the murder location, and he admitted to being there multiple times. The authorities are now investigating whether Spencer may be involved in any other cases.
While a judge set Spencer’s bond at $250,000, the district attorney’s office has filed a motion to have him held without bond, citing his current out on bond status for another charge. Merchant described the murder as a “planned execution,” indicating that Spencer had targeted Showers, set up a meeting, and then discharged a weapon multiple times before returning home.
Spencer is due to return to court on February 5 for further proceedings. The investigation is ongoing, as authorities work to gather more evidence from Spencer’s phone and explore potential connections to other cases.