HOUSTON – A woman accused of running down her boyfriend before fatally shooting him at Willowbrook Mall this week appeared in court Wednesday.
Emily Rose Orbe, 32, was charged with murder in connection with the death of her 40-year-old boyfriend, who was found dead in the parking lot when officers arrived Monday night.
Investigators said the couple got into an argument inside the mall before taking it outside and into the parking lot of a credit union next to the mall. The man got onto his motorcycle and was trying to get away from Orbe, who chased him around the parking lot in a silver Dodge Durango.
Prosecutors said in court Wednesday surveillance video showed the chase, and witnesses reported that Orbe was yelling at people to call the police. Those witnesses told investigators that the Durango hit the motorcycle, knocking the victim to the ground, and Orbe shot him, according to prosecutors.
Prosecutors said a witness who called 911 said she was trying to calm Orbe down afterward to get information for the dispatcher when Orbe said, “I didn’t want to do this. I didn’t want to kill him. I had to though. I had no choice.”
The witness also said Orbe claimed that her boyfriend had robbed her and had her gun, prosecutors said. Investigators found a gun and clip in the Durango, prosecutors said.
The public defender said the victim has a history of violence and has served time in prison. She said that shows that Orbe, who has four children and is five months pregnant, may have been defending herself.
The judge ordered Orbe held in jail on $100,000 bail.