Houston Police Department

August 10, 2005 -- Charges have been filed against a suspect in the fatal shooting of a female at 8700 Gustine Lane on Tuesday, August 9, 2005 about 12:45 p.m.

The victim is identified as Brooke Shorter, 17, of 8700 Gustine Lane. She suffered a gunshot wound to the head and was pronounced dead at Ben Taub General Hospital.

The suspect is identified as Joey Mata (H/m DOB: 03-21-80). He was seen driving away in a gray 1984 Oldsmobile Cutlass gray in color. He was charged with murder in the 179th State District Court.

HPD Homicide Division Sergeant S. R. Kennedy and Officer J.C. Bonaby reported:

Shorter and Mata were romantically involved. Shorter broke up with Mata in March of 2005 and since then he has made attempts to reconcile with her. Last week, Shorter made a police report with HPD alleging that Mata threatened to kill her and then himself if she did not take him back.

Mata went to Shorter's apartment to return some clothes that he took from her last week. Shorter went out to Mata's vehicle in the parking lot to get her clothes. While Shorter was inventorying her clothes, two of her friends went to check on her welfare. Mata told Shorter to make her friends leave. As her friends were leaving, they heard three gunshots and turned around to see Mata jump in his car and leave at a high rate of speed. They noticed Shorter lying in the parking lot bleeding and with the bag of clothes laying on top of her.

JGA/JFC 8-10-05
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For additional information, please contact the HPD Public Affairs Division at 713-308-3200.