PASADENA, Texas – Two brothers were arrested after they hit a 29-year-old woman with an assault rifle and stole her vehicle, according to Houston police.
Police said one of the brothers, who is friends with the woman, was at her home and asked to borrow her truck.
The man drove the truck, while the woman sat in the passenger's seat, to his home on Axilda Street at about 1 a.m. Tuesday. When they got to the man's home, the man’s brother came out of the home with an assault rifle and attempted to steal the woman’s purse, police said. When the woman refused for him to take her purse, the armed brother hit her in the face with the gun, knocking her teeth out and possibly breaking her jaw, according to police.
Police said the brothers then left the home in her vehicle. The woman was taken to a hospital and expected to be OK.
Police said the woman’s purse and vehicle were recovered a short time later.
Some neighbors said they heard the commotion.
“I saw one lady on the floor right there and then another three or four girls that tried to help her, you know, but everyone was screaming, making a lot of noise, you know, but I was thinking maybe she was drunk or something,” one neighbor said.
During the investigation, detectives found several females, including minors, staying at the man's home. Police said all of them knew each other.
One of the minors found at the home was a 15-year-old who had been reported as a runaway, according to a relative.
Detectives detained three of the females for questioning, and they were later released.
Before detectives returned to the home with a search warrant, Annette Salinas picked up her two younger children, who were being babysat by their 19-year-old sister at the home. Salinas said her 19-year-old daughter is married to one of the men involved in the carjacking.
“Yeah, they’re fine, but I still don’t know what’s going on. They (won't) let me know until later what’s going on,” Salinas said.
Police have not released the identities of the brothers or said when they were arrested. Police said the men are facing multiple charges, including aggravated robbery.
Investigators said police went to the home before on April 23 when a 1-year-old baby was shot in the leg during a drive-by shooting. Police said the baby survived its injuries.
The home was still riddled with bullets Tuesday.
Anyone with information is asked to call Crime Stoppers at 713-222-TIPS.
