Headlines

Suspected Shooter Charged in ‘Murder for Hire’ of Jeweler

It’s the third arrest in the case.

Published

8 years ago

July 22, 2018

INSTORE Staff

Authorities arrested a 22-year-old man in connection with the shooting death of Texas jeweler Theodore “Ted” Shaughnessy, ABC News reports.

Travis County Police took Johnny Roman Leon III into custody on Wednesday. He’s accused of criminal solicitation of capital murder, first-degree felony, according to ABC.

“We do think this is the shooter,” said Kristen Dark, spokeswoman for the sheriff’s office, according to the Austin-American Statesman. She added that there may have been another shooter as well.

It’s the third arrest in the case. Shaughnessy’s son, Nicolas Shaughnessy, and his son’s girlfriend, Jaclyn Alexa Edison, were taken into custody in May and charged with criminal solicitation to commit capital murder. Both are 19 years old.

Ted Shaughnessy, 55, owner of Gallerie Jewelers in Austin, was shot to death in a home invasion in March, authorities said. Police said they found evidence of forced entry into the residence.

Authorities say the plan was for Shaughnessy’s mother, Corey Shaughnessy, to be slain, too. However, she was not hurt.

Investigators say the younger Shaughnessy had anticipated getting about $8 million following his parents’ death. That total would have included insurance money as well as proceeds from the sale of the store and the couple’s house.

Read more at ABC News

How Howes Diamond Jewelers Closed a Location — and Opened the Door to What's Next

Dan Howes grew up in his family's jewelry business, eventually taking the helm of two locations his father launched in 1964. When it came time to consolidate, he turned to Wilkerson. "It was a pretty easy decision," Howes says, citing the company's strong reputation and a friend's successful experience. Wilkerson's proven sales roadmap delivered — meeting projected financial goals and guiding the process every step of the way. "This is their profession. They have it dialed in."