Suspect in May homicide found dead in Central Lubbock motel room
The search for a 40-year-old man suspected of shooting his 18-year-old girlfriend to death and leaving her body in the trunk of his vehicle ended Monday after police officials believed he was found dead from a what they said was a self-inflicted gunshot wound at an Central Lubbock motel.
Police officials confirmed Monday evening that the man found dead at a motel room in the to the Stadium Motel in the 4100 block of 19th Street is Christopher Carter, the sole suspect in the May 21 shooting death of 18-year-old Lakaria Moore.
Lubbock Police Lt. Brady Cross said a Crime Line tip led investigators assigned to Moore's murder case to the motel. He said the tipster gave information that the suspect in that case was staying there.
Carter was identified publicly as a suspect in Moore's shooting death two days after her body was found in an abandoned vehicle east of Lubbock, according to court documents.
Investigators obtained a warrant to arrest Carter for murder, officials said.
Cross said investigators following up on the lead began surveillance on the motel room about 10:30 a.m. Monday.
At the scene, investigators were negotiating with Carter, through one of the occupants in the room, to leave the room. However, he said a man left the room around 1:40 p.m. saying Carter appeared to have killed himself.
"Officers went inside the room and found one male deceased from what appears to be, initially, a self-inflicted gunshot wound," Cross said.
The Lubbock County Medical Examiner's office arrived and identified the body as Carter, officials said.
Meanwhile, the Lubbock Metropolitan Special Crimes unit is investigating Carter's death as an in-custody death.
Carter's charge stems from a Lubbock Metropolitan Special Crimes Unit investigation that indicated Carter shot Moore in the front yard of his home in the 2400 block of East 5th Street, then tried to cover up the crime.
The case initially began as a missing person's case for Moore. Court documents state Moore was last seen with her boyfriend, identified as Carter, leaving a party in the early morning hours of May 21. That evening, Moore's family reported her missing and believed she was in danger.
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The next day, detectives with the Lubbock Police Department’s Major Crimes unit obtained information on the location of Carter’s vehicle, a Dodge Charger, which was found abandoned in a parking lot near North County Road 3000 and East County Road 6650.
Investigators found blood on the trunk area of the vehicle. In the trunk, they found the body of a woman who matched Moore's description.
Meanwhile, Moore's mother learned that Carter shot her daughter and went to his home to check on her. She arrived and entered the home through the open front door, finding the house was cleaned out and smelled strongly of cleaning chemicals.
Lubbock police arrived at the scene and found a bloody blanket and towels in the dumpster behind the house.
Carter's neighbor in the 2400 block of East 5th Street, reported hearing gunshots from Carter's home the night before.
According to court documents, investigators obtained a sworn statement from a witness who said Carter shot Moore in the front yard of his home and that blood evidence was cleaned from the inside, front entry way of the home.
A search of the home yielded five spent shell casings.
Investigators obtained an arrest warrant for Carter shortly after but were unable to find him. Police officials issued a news release asking the public's help finding him, saying he should be considered armed and dangerous.
This article originally appeared on Lubbock Avalanche-Journal: Sole suspect in Lakaria Moore murder case found dead
