Two suspects charged with capital murder in drive-by shooting that killed two outside Myst Hookah Lounge
Arrests follow early-morning shooting outside Northwest Side business
Two people have been arrested and charged with capital murder after a drive-by shooting outside MYST Hookah + Ultra Lounge left two men dead on San Antonio’s far North Side.
The shooting occurred in the early hours of Wednesday, Feb. 18, 2026, at the business located in the 4500 block of North Loop 1604 West near Lockhill Selma Road in the Ridge Shopping Center area. Officers were dispatched shortly after 1:20 a.m. and found two men suffering from gunshot wounds; both were pronounced dead at the scene.
Victims identified
The men killed were identified as Derek Dashaun Brown, 27, and Kyung Lee, 50. Investigators have treated the case as a homicide from the outset, with the deaths attributed to gunfire outside the venue.
What investigators say happened
Based on witness statements gathered during the initial response, police say an altercation began inside the lounge. A man involved in the disturbance was removed from the business. Investigators allege that, not long after being ejected, the man returned in a vehicle and fired multiple shots toward people gathered in an outdoor patio area.
No additional injuries were publicly reported in the immediate aftermath, and the shooter drove away from the scene.
Charges and suspects
Authorities later arrested Joseph Anthony Amador, 34, and Lauren Tayler Machado-Juarez, 35, in connection with the shooting. Both were booked on two counts of capital murder, reflecting allegations that two people were killed in the same criminal episode.
Amador also faces a separate charge of driving while intoxicated in addition to the capital murder counts.
- Joseph Anthony Amador, 34: two counts of capital murder; driving while intoxicated
- Lauren Tayler Machado-Juarez, 35: two counts of capital murder
Scene details and business response
The incident occurred outside the lounge in a shared parking-lot area of the shopping center. In a public statement, the business said the shooting did not take place inside the building and indicated the venue would implement additional security measures following the killings. The lounge was reported as temporarily closed in the days after the incident.
The investigation remains active, and detectives continue working to establish a complete timeline of events leading up to the shooting and the roles alleged for each suspect.
Capital murder is among the most serious charges under Texas law and can carry the possibility of life imprisonment without parole, depending on case circumstances and prosecutorial decisions.