HOUSTON – A mother and father are dead after a child swap took a violent turn Sunday night at a Spring Branch apartment complex, according to Houston police.
It happened at a parking lot at around 11 p.m. in the 1500 block of Ojemon near Manire Drive.
Investigators said the 25-year-old mother showed up at the apartment complex to pick up her 2-year-old son. Her new boyfriend and her friend carrying her newborn baby followed her.
When they arrived at one of the apartments, the parents began to argue. That was when, police said, the father pulled out a gun and shot her, killing her.
The friend’s newborn baby was hurt after glass shattered from the shooting.
No one else, including the friend and the mother’s new boyfriend, were hurt.
A K9 police dog found a man’s body down the street from the apartment complex. Investigators said they believe he may have been the father who fatally shot the mother.
Police said investigators are calling the case a possible murder-suicide.
Family members told KPRC 2′s Sabirah Rayford that the victim was a good mother.
The 2-year-old, who did not witness the shooting, is now being cared for by other family members.
Attorneys recommend the following steps when exchanging custody:
- Stick to a regular exchange day and time and avoid making last-minute changes
- Be on time, have everything ready to go
- Use a neutral location/public place
- Have a neutral third party present, avoid a current love interest or partner