ROUND TOP, Texas (KBTX) — A Houston man who died by suicide Tuesday after an armed standoff at a historic Catholic church near Round Top has been identified as Djone Reeves, 56, Fayette County Sheriff’s Office Lt. David Beyer said.
Reeves had been wanted for questioning in connection with the death of Arik Lerner, 59, a Round Top antique dealer from San Diego, California, according to the sheriff’s office.
Beyer said the two men were acquaintances. He said the homicide investigation remains open and had to do with a woman.
Reeves’ criminal record
Reeves had a criminal record, Beyer said.
Collin County court records show Djone Renoir Reeves was convicted by a jury on April 12, 1991, of delivery of a controlled substance, a felony, and sentenced to 60 years in state prison. The records list the offense date as June 1, 1990.
A Dept. of Corrections record lists a scheduled release date of March 29, 2018.
Harris County District Clerk records show Reeves was arrested May 12, 2011, on a driving while intoxicated charge. The records show he pleaded no contest and was sentenced May 27, 2011.
The same record lists a parole violator hold placed May 18, 2011, and lifted July 8, 2011.
Harris County District Clerk records also show Reeves was arrested Dec. 24, 2025, on a driving while intoxicated charge and released Dec. 25 on a $100 bond. The records show the case ended May 12, 2026, with a plea and a sentence.
Homicide investigation
Deputies responded around 7:44 a.m. Thursday, Oct. 22, to a report of an unresponsive man lying in a driveway in the 2200 block of South State Highway 237 north of Round Top in Fayette County. Emergency personnel pronounced the man dead at the scene.
The man was Lerner, Beyer said.
An autopsy by the Travis County Medical Examiner’s Office ruled Lerner’s death a homicide from a gunshot wound, according to Beyer.
Marburger Farm said in an Instagram post that it is dedicating its 2026 Fall Show in memory of Lerner, whom it called “a beloved dealer, friend, and longtime member of our Marburger Farm community.” The post announced a celebration of life for Lerner at 7 p.m. Friday, Oct. 23, at Blue Hills in Round Top.
Standoff at St. Martin’s Catholic Church
Fayette County Sheriff Keith Korenek said the incident unfolded Tuesday, Oct. 27, at St. Martin’s Catholic Church along State Highway 237. The church is known as the world’s smallest active Catholic church.
According to the sheriff’s office, investigators learned Tuesday that Reeves was in Houston and planned to travel to the church. The sheriff’s office said Reeves arranged for a rideshare driver to take him to the church.
After dropping him off, the driver contacted authorities and reported that Reeves had held him at gunpoint and forced him to drive from Houston to the church. The driver was released and was not physically injured.
Fayette County deputies located Reeves inside the church, where a standoff began. Texas Rangers and a regional Special Response Team of tactical officers from Fayette, Austin and Colorado counties responded to assist.
Authorities negotiated with Reeves for several hours before the standoff ended when he took his own life, according to the sheriff’s office. The sheriff’s office said there was no danger to the public during the incident.
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