RICHMOND - A 20-year-old man charged with murder in connection with the shooting of a Sugar Land woman apparently removed his ankle monitor and is now being sought by police.

A warrant was issued Friday by Fort Bend County Associate Judge Pedro Ruiz for the arrest of James Hao-Hu Taylor who was out on $200,000 bond.

He is charged in the death of Patricia Zehler, 46, who was shot on the evening of May 17, 2005 in the doorway of her home in the 3900 block of Flintrock Court.

Leighton Iles, director of the Fort Bend County Community Supervision Department, said the monitor stopped sending signals Thursday.

"We were alerted that he had tampered with the system in some way and (that he) took off," Iles said today.

Iles said officials then obtained a warrant.

"He had to have cut it off. You can't slip them off," he said.

Hao-Hu Taylor and Keith Klepper, 19, were arrested shortly after the slaying.

Police said the suspect may be driving an off-white 1992 Oldsmobile Toronado 2-door, bearing license plate 710-RJG.

Police said Hao-Hu Taylor and Klepper, both of Houston, were at Zehler's house to buy marijuana from her 20-year-old son when a dispute broke out, police said.

At least one shot was fired, and then Hao-Hu Taylor and Klepper ran from the house.

As the suspects were running from the house, one of them turned and fired back into the home, striking Zehler in the head.

Klepper remains in the county jail.

Assistant District Attorney Mark Hanna said the trial for Hao-Hu Taylor was set for Jan. 23.

Anyone with information about the case is asked to call Fort Bend Crime Stoppers at 281-342-TIPS (8477). Crime Stoppers is offering a $5,000 reward.

eric.hanson@chron.com