HOUSTON — A man accused of kidnapping a 17-year-old in North Texas a day before leading police on a chase through Houston on Sunday is in custody and is being accused of an even more serious crime thank kidnapping and evading arrest.
Spencer Orlando Gilbert, 19, appeared in court Monday morning. He's accused of leading police on a chase from the Museum District to the Galleria area before crashing into a utility pole.
But, according to prosecutors, Gilbert was also wanted for murder out of Johnson County, which is near Fort Worth. After shooting and killing 20-year-old Ja'Den Blake Moblin, authorities said Gilbert kidnapped a witness who he had never met.
Gilbert was charged with felony aggravated kidnapping and evading arrest with a motor vehicle. He also was charged with unlawful carry of a weapon by a felon and had his bond set at more than $1 million.
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The shooting/kidnapping
Police said Gilbert shot and killed Moblin on Saturday night when a fight broke out at a party.
Prosecutors said there was no indication that Gilbert knew the teen he's accused of kidnapping, but that he forced the teen to leave the scene with him after the shooting.
Gilbert then drove Moblin's car from Johnson County to Houston, officials said.
The chase
According to prosecutors, Gilbert led police on a 2-mile chase and reached speeds of 90 to 100 mph before crashing into a utility pole at Richmond and Yorktown on Sunday.
Gilbert then ran from the crash site but was taken into custody a short time later, police said. One witness said it was a good thing that the driver crashed before things got worse.
"It was a blessing," the witness told KHOU 11's Zack Tawatari. "Man, it would have been all of us because we were standing right there. I mean, somebody could have really gotten hurt."
The kidnapping victim suffered non-life-threatening injuries, according to authorities.
Victim's family speaks out
Moblin's mother, Genell Jones, and sister, Wendellyn Moblin, said he was a light in everyone's life.
"He did so much. He would give his shirt off his back. If you're down and out, he's going to pull you up with him. He would go out of his way to make sure you're having a good day," Jones said.
"A lot of people looked up to him. He had a huge influence from, like, people around him. Just, like, setting a good example," Wendellyn said.
The family started a GoFundMe to help cover funeral expenses.