18-year-old in shootout with deputies now charged with grandparents' murders

HARRIS COUNTY, Texas (KTRK) -- An 18-year-old who was wounded when deputies fired at him during a shootout in northwest Harris County is now charged with capital murder in the killings of his grandparents.

The Harris County Sheriff's Office said Memphis Waylon Marchand is also facing two counts of aggravated assault of a public servant in connection to the shootout.

Sometime on Wednesday evening, investigators believe Marchand shot and killed his grandparents inside their home in the 12800 block of Foxburo in northwest Harris County. They believe Marchand then went to his girlfriend's home, where he eventually ended up on the roof of the garage apartment where she lives.

Just before midnight, Harris County sheriff's deputies received a call for service in the 11800 block of Cathy Drive. The caller said someone - apparently a man they knew - showed up at their home saying he had murdered someone.

Deputies responded to the home, looked around, and eventually found Marchand on the roof of the garage apartment. Investigators said he was somewhat hidden.

"It's when they located him perched on top of the roof here, it could have been very dangerous. It was a very dangerous situation, obviously, with that vantage point and being in an elevated position - it could've been an ambush-style attack," Sheriff Ed Gonzalez said. "Our deputies acted swiftly and very well. I'm glad they're not seriously hurt."

Investigators believe Marchand fired the first shot at deputies from the roof. Two deputies fired back, hitting Marchand several times.

Marchand is in fair condition at the hospital. No deputies were hit, though, one was taken to the hospital as a precaution for minor scrapes.

After the shootout, investigators went to the Foxburo home of the grandparents. When deputies forced their way inside, they found a 72-year-old man and a 70-year-old woman dead with gunshot wounds.

ABC13 spoke to a man who grew up in the home next door to the victims. He said the husband was a mentor to him and that they were some of the kindest people he knew.

The neighbor said the couple was just trying to support their grandson.

"They are two of the greatest people I've ever known," Justin said. "It just breaks my heart. They'd do anything for you, anything for you whenever you asked."

Justin said he believes the couple had taken their grandson in and were trying to help him deal with problems he was having.

"That's all they were doing. They were, like I said, the nicest people in the world," Justin said. "They were just trying their best to do what they could for their grandson."

The exact motive of the shooting is not yet known, deputies said. The victims' names have not been released.