Corpus Christi, Texas



From the Corpus Christi Caller-Times of December 9, 2003

Man dies after he is shot by woman during break-in, police say



A woman shot her possibly estranged husband as he broke into a home in the 6700 block of O'Grady Drive at about 6 p.m. Monday, police said. The man died soon afterward.



Police at the scene said they did not know the status of the marriage of the man and the shooter, but neighbors said the man, 23, was the woman's ex-husband. A neighbor said it was his understanding that the woman, 22, had filed a restraining order against the man.



Police declined to give out the names of anyone involved in the incident. Several people were questioned at the scene.



Errick Townsend, a neighbor who was working at his home computer across the street, said he heard a total of seven shots.



"I heard a 'pop-pop.' I thought it was a firecracker," Townsend said. "Then I heard this guy say, 'What are you going to do, kill me?' "



Then, there was more gunfire, according to Townsend.



Police Cmdr. Mike Walsh said the weapon used in the shooting incident was a 9mm semi-automatic handgun. He said he did not know who owned the gun. The victim was found inside the home, Walsh said.



After the shooting, residents in the usually quiet dead-end street gathered as several police officers from 10 police vehicles milled in and around the house.



Another neighbor, Valerie Sitton, said that the neighborhood had always been a quiet and peaceful place but not lately.



Police had to go by the house where the shooting took place twice in the past week, Sitton and other neighbors said. Police at the scene could not confirm if officers had been to the house recently.

It is always heart-breaking to read of marriages that fail, but it sounds like she had some reason to fear this guy.