A gunman shot his ex-wife four times Monday morning, the day they were scheduled to appear in court for a child custody hearing, deputies in Texas said.
Harris County sheriff’s deputies were called to a home on Memorial Crossing Drive near Memorial Falls Drive in response to a shooting/home invasion around 3:30 a.m. Monday.
A preliminary investigation revealed that the woman’s ex-husband cut off all power to her home, broke into the back window and shot her four times.
The woman is in stable condition, according to Sheriff Ed Gonzalez. A search is underway to track down the suspect.
According to Harris County Deputy Investigator John Mook, the couple has been divorced for about a year.
Their four children between the ages of 5 and 12 were home, sleeping in their beds during the shooting.
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Investigators say the ex-husband may have anticipated losing custody of the kids when the two were scheduled to appear in court Monday for a child custody hearing.
The ex-husband reportedly used the power box on the side of the home. It was unlocked at the time of the shooting, to cut off the power.
When asked if the ex-husband had made threats before, Mook said he had a history with the woman’s new boyfriend.
“I do understand that he has threatened the new boyfriend multiple times,” Mook said. “I’m sure this was a contentious divorce as well. We’re looking into all of that.”
Surveillance video shows a second suspect with the ex-husband at the scene. Deputies believe the second suspect is the gunman’s new girlfriend.
The pair reportedly drove to the home in the man’s work truck, parked down the street and approached on foot. They both fled the scene on foot, according to Mook.
Deputies have a K-9 unit out searching the ex-husband’s home and place of business about 40 minutes from the scene in north Harris County.
The four children are safe with their grandmother, according to investigators.
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