TOMBALL, Texas – A woman was injured after she was shot four times by her ex-husband at her home in Tomball, authorities said.
The ex-husband, identified as Aaron Wright, appeared in court Tuesday. His bond was set at $175,000 and he was ordered to stay away from the victim, who has been identified as Andrea Walker, and their children. He cannot possess a firearm and he must wear a GPS-monitoring device, a judge said.
The shooting happened around 3:14 a.m. Monday at a home on the 9800 block of Memorial Crossing Drive in the Tomball area, authorities said.
Authorities said Wright cut off power to the home, broke in through a back window and opened fire on his ex-wife, all while the pair’s four children were inside the house, authorities said.
Walker was in the ICU Monday evening, according to her boyfriend. She will need multiple surgeries to remove bone and bullet fragments, her boyfriend continued.
A Go Fund Me Page has been established to help cover Walker’s medical expenses. (Click here to donate)
Authorities said Walker and Wright’s four children were home but were not injured in the incident.
Richard and Elda Carlson said they live next door. They said two of the children ran to their house after their mother was shot.
“They came over and saw us out here, a daughter and a son, and we took them in the house to protect them from what’s going on,” Richard Carlson said.
Carlson’s surveillance camera recorded Wright, and a woman, walking toward and later running away from the home after 3 a.m. Monday.
Harris County Sheriff Ed Gonzalez shared a tweet around 10:30 a.m. Monday that Wright had been arrested and charged with aggravated assault in connection with the shooting.
Investigators said they believe there have been ongoing issues between the woman, Wright and his new girlfriend.
Deputies said the pair was scheduled for a court hearing over the custody of their four children, ages 5 through 12, later Monday. Authorities said they believe the divorce and a custody issue are to blame in this incident.
“I understand he has threatened (his ex-wife’s) new boyfriend multiple times,” authorities said. “I’m sure this was also a contentious divorce but we are still looking into all of that.”
Deputies said surveillance video shows Wright and a “second figure” authorities believe to be Wright’s new girlfriend at the scene of the shooting. The video also shows both people fleeing the scene, according to deputies.
No word Monday on whether the girlfriend faces charges.
Prior allegations of abuse
Wright was an abusive husband, Walker’s boyfriend told KPRC2. That abuse continued with stalking and threats after the couple no longer was married, he continued.
Walker’s neighbors confirmed there had been trouble between the pair at Walker’s home. Neighbors said Walker feared for her life.
“Actually we talked about that before,” Carlson said.
Tiffany Beall, another neighbor, said Walker once asked her if she had seen Wright’s truck on the street.
“She walked over and she’s like hey did you see a truck go by and did you see anyone get out of it,” Beall said.
Calls for service to Walker’s address, obtained by KPRC 2, confirmed Harris County Sheriff’s deputies responded to multiple 911 calls since March, including complaints of terroristic threats as well as a suspicious vehicle on the street.
Walker’s boyfriend said she had tried to get a protective order against Wright extended, but that request was denied. KPRC 2 obtained that court document, confirming the denial of the application for a protective order.
Advocates said breaking free from an abusive relationship often doesn’t happen immediately after separation. Abuse is built on power and control, authority the abuser doesn’t want to relinquish, according to Jacklyn Guerra, manager of legal services, Houston Area Women’s Center.
“It’s one of those situations where it’s like doom if I do, doom if I don’t,” Guerra said.
Authorities suspected a scheduled custody hearing Monday for Walker and Wright’s four children could be the reason why Wright shot his ex-wife. Guerra said the act points back to the struggle to overpower and control.
We want to focus on the perpetrator here and his behavior – his actions of trying to maintain that power and control. We see there was going to be a divorce and custody hearing and that might have left him without some power and some control,” she continued.