HOUSTON – A man was charged Tuesday with shooting and killing his estranged wife and her niece in a northwest Harris County garage, deputies said.
Harris County sheriff's deputies said Ricardo Prado, 31, was charged with capital murder after he opened fire outside a house in the 7800 block of Mosewood Street at Vernwood at 1:20 a.m. Monday.
Rachel Prado, a 28-year-old mother of two, and her 19-year-old niece, Jasmine Rhodes, were killed.
"They were shot inside the garage and the suspect ambushed them after they parked," said Sgt. Greg Pinkens with the Harris County Sheriff's Office.
Prado's two young children were inside the home with their grandmother at the time of the killing. The grandmother called 911. They were not injured.
Investigators said Ricardo Prado has a history of domestic violence against Rachel Prado. Relatives said Rachel Prado feared for her life and tried to get a restraining order against her estranged husband.
According to the Harris County Sheriff's Office, deputies had been called out to the home at least six times in the past two months for a variety of complaints.
Ricardo Prado is being held without bond.