Jeffery Archangel, 25, faces a capital murder charge for the killing of 18-year-old Javier Flores.
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On Friday, accompanied by activist Quanell X, Archangel surrendered at the Houston Police Department.
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A few hours later, Flores' mother invited Eyewitness News inside her home for a look at the memorial that has taken over half her living room. There are pictures, cards and a huge banner with the signatures of Javier's classmates, and at the center, his ashes.
"I'll keep this up," said Hilda Vasquez, Javier's mother, who wears a locket holding her son's ashes around her neck. "I just want y'all to remember Javier as a hero, never forget him."
She had softened from her earlier grief and anger as she talked about Archangel.
"I want justice. They have to pay. They took my son's life. They're supposed to get what they deserve," she said.
After Archangel's surrender, Quanell X told reporters he claimed he is innocent and that he was at a recording studio the night of the murder. He also said he knows who did commit the murder and there's an audio recording of the shooter's confession.
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"The recording is detailed, extremely detailed that only the actual killer would have known," he said.
During a news conference, Houston Police Chief Art Acevedo said the murder weapon, ballistics and an eyewitness account tie Archangel to the murder.
"We have a high level of confidence we have the right suspect," said Acevedo. The murder weapon was found at Archangel's home, he said.
Flores' mother also identified Archangel. "He was right in front of my face so I know who he is," said Vasquez.
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Flores was shot in the neck as he intervened in a robbery. Both he and his mother were closing the Subway store in the 3900 block of Broadway near the Gulf Freeway on February 22 when two men tried to rob it. Houston police say one man pointed a gun at his mother. Javier tried to protect her.
Archangel was arrested and charged with aggravated robbery for a robbery at another Subway shop about a half hour after Flores was killed.
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"We have witnesses that put him at both locations," Acevedo said.
Archangel was later released on a $30,000 bond and had a warrant for his arrest for the capital murder charge.
Quanell X said Archangel turned himself in on Friday to clear his name.
Police are still looking for information on the second suspect in the case.
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