HOUSTON — A capital murder charge has been filed against Derrick Duane Jackson, 53, following the fatal shooting of two apartment leasing office employees during a lease dispute. The incident occurred on September 3 at the Park at Woodlake apartments in west Houston, where 67-year-old Rosa Linda Ybarra and 47-year-old Felix Antonio Jimenez Macz were found dead shortly after the attack.
Jackson’s arrest took place the following day as details of the case began to unfold in district court. Allegations suggest that a disagreement over Jackson’s 14-month lease led to a violent confrontation at the leasing office. Surveillance footage played a crucial role in linking Jackson to the crime, as video evidence showed him entering the office shortly before the shootings and leaving after approximately 12 minutes.
During a preliminary hearing, prosecutors laid out Jackson’s statements to investigators, revealing that an argument escalated when Jimenez Macz began speaking in a mix of English and Spanish, which Jackson referred to as “Spanglish.” The tension reportedly intensified when Ybarra joined in, prompting Jackson to describe this moment as when he “snapped.” These details, presented in court, paint a troubling picture of the volatile events that transpired but remain untested in a formal trial.
Allegations indicate that Jackson shot Ybarra first and then attacked Jimenez Macz, who was shot multiple times and also stabbed. Initial police reports confirmed that both victims suffered several gunshot wounds, with further details later emerging through court documents that clarified the sequence of the events that led to the tragic loss of life. Investigators noted that, when police arrived, the victims were already deceased, having been found by a maintenance worker and a resident who had entered the office.
After the incident, Jackson sought temporary refuge in a hotel. There, investigators recovered a pistol and a pocketknife, as well as shell casings that linked him to the crime scene. A magistrate’s order referenced forensic evidence obtained from Jackson’s motel room, bolstering the prosecution’s case against him.
Jackson now faces serious charges in the 228th Criminal District Court, where the allegation of capital murder underscores the gravity of the situation. The court has set his bond at $1 million, though the legal proceedings focus on the determination of guilt rather than pretrial conditions. As Jackson prepares for trial, the public image of the case has evolved, shifting from an initial understanding of two tragic deaths to a more detailed narrative involving complex personal dynamics.
Ybarra, a well-loved figure in her community, leaves behind a family who mourns her loss deeply. Described as a devoted mother, grandmother, and caretaker, her family spoke of her significant contributions to the lives of others throughout her life. She had been a beloved figure in her neighborhood, known for her kindness and assistance to families in need. Tragically, at the time of her death, she was caring for an adult son with a disability and was in the process of adopting a young foster child.
Details about Jimenez Macz have been less publicized, with limited information available about his personal life and the impact of his loss on his family. The community has rallied in support of the victims’ families, highlighting the emotional toll and the broader implications of such senseless violence.
As the case moves forward, the upcoming court proceedings will determine the strength of the evidence and the defenses presented. Jackson’s next steps in the judicial system may reveal more about the tragic events of that September evening, but for now, the allegations remain legally untested, and the families of the deceased are left grieving their profound losses.