Teen Accused Of Murder, Shooting 16-Year-Old Girlfriend 22 Times Released On Bond

Houston, TX – A 17-year-old boy whom police said shot his 16-year-old girlfriend 22 times last week in southwest Houston was released on bond on Tuesday.

The incident occurred at about 9:30 p.m. on Jan. 11 when Diamond Alvarez was walking her dog at a park near her home, KRIV reported.

Alvarez met up with her boyfriend, 17-year-old Frank DeLeon, at a park located in the 15400-block of Park Manor, KPRC reported.

Her family said he had recently learned that DeLeon was romantically involved with another girl, too, and planned to end her relationship with him, KHOU reported.

Alvarez’s mother told KRIV that she didn’t know her daughter was going to meet up with DeLeon when she left to walk the dog.

The family told KPRC that while Alvarez was out walking, they heard gunshots not far away and become worried, KPRC reported.

Her mother tried to call her daughter but Alvarez didn’t answer.

When Peanut, the family dog, returned home without Alvarez, her family knew something was wrong and went looking for her.

They found the 16 year old shot multiple times in a field just down the street, KRIV reported.

“My son found her,” Diamond’s mother, Anna Machado, said. “I tried so hard to keep her alive. I couldn’t, I couldn’t.”

She had been shot 22 times, KHOU reported.

“I tried CPR. I couldn’t bring her back. I tried so hard to keep her alive,” Machado said, according to KPRC.

Houston police said witnesses described hearing multiple gunshots and then screeching car tires as a vehicle fled the scene.

Detectives later determined that the individuals in that vehicle were not involved in the shooting, KPRC reported.

Police arrested DeLeon on Monday and charged him with Alvarez’s murder.

Prosecutors said at DeLeon’s arraignment that most of the 22 shots were fired at Alvarez as she was lying on her back on the ground, KHOU reported.

Despite the apparent viciousness of the murder, court records showed that DeLeon’s bond was set at $250,000 and he bonded out of jail on Tuesday, KPRC reported.

His victim’s family is devastated.

“He was just angry at my daughter. It wasn’t love, it wasn’t a breakup, he was angry at my daughter,” Machado told KPRC.

Alvarez’s parents said that the sophomore honor student at Madison High School had planned to attend cosmetology school.

“I loved everything about my daughter, I don’t regret anything. I’m at peace because I gave her all the kisses and all the hugs,” her mother said. “I have to be strong now. I can’t break, this is not over.”