Arrest made in killing of 90-year-old Navy veteran

Matt deGrood
Houston Chronicle
(TNS)

Sep. 4—A man has been arrested and charged in connection to the death of a 90-year-old Navy veteran during a carjacking.

Kyliel Denzel Arceneaux, 21, has been charged with capital murder, two counts of aggravated assault with a deadly weapon and one charge of tampering with physical evidence in connection to the death of Nelson Beckett, according to the Houston Police Department.

Beckett died Saturday after being shot multiple times in the parking lot of a southwest Houston independent living community, officials said. The shooting happened around 12:45 p.m. in the 10680 block of Westbrae Parkway.

Investigators said Beckett was at his vehicle when he was assaulted by another man, who shot him, took his belongings and then got into Beckett’s car and ran the older man over.

Detectives found the stolen car in another apartment complex about 4 miles away from the shooting, in the 12500 block of Dunlap. The complex has been the site of a substantial number of calls since February, running the gamut from disturbances and suspicious persons to assault and auto-theft, according to Victor Senties, spokesman for the police department.

Prosecutors accused Arceneaux of dumping Beckett’s vehicle and attempting to clean it as authorities searched for him. He ditched a blood-stained shirt he was wearing as well, according to court documents. Similar records contend Arceneaux threatened “two surviving complainants with the same firearm.”

Nicole Hensley contributed to this report.

This is a developing story. Stay tuned for updates.

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