Authorities report that a troubled father traveled for several hours across Texas to kill a couple who had adopted his 7-year-old daughter.
Norman Lee Johnson, 42, faces murder charges for the January 12 shooting deaths of Christopher Lopez and his wife Trinette Lopez, aged 52, who had been together for nearly three decades.
Christopher was shot in the face, while his wife, who is also the suspect’s cousin, sustained two gunshot wounds to her head and another injury to her left hand.
Harris County Sheriff Ed Gonzalez indicated that the motive seemed to be linked to custody disputes, noting that Johnson is the biological father of the girl adopted by the Lopezes.
Reports suggest Johnson drove a minimum of two and a half hours from Harris County to the Lopez residence in Katy. One victim was discovered in the living room, and the other in the kitchen.
Investigators turned their attention to Johnson due to previous threats concerning his daughter, who he lost custody of after a protracted legal battle. It’s unclear when exactly the Lopezes adopted her.
He was barred from seeing the child outside of Child Protective Services and faced harassment charges in 2024 for allegedly threatening Christopher over the custody issue, according to available court documentation.
Johnson was later indicted on those harassment charges in October 2024, as per court records.
The Lopezes’ adult daughter, Christina Leiston, expressed her hope that Johnson would face the maximum legal consequences, stating, “When he lost custody, my family took our daughter. We raised her, loved her, and kept her safe. We were rewarded for the way he took their lives and the family she loved and trusted.”
Johnson was arrested on Tuesday and subsequently taken to the Williamson County Jail.
