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Houston Zoo parking dispute ends with security guard shooting woman who ran into him with her car

March 15, 2024: Houston police say a woman with a car full of kids crashed into a tree by the zoo after a security guard shot her when she hit him first with her car. (Copyright 2024 by KPRC Click2Houston - All rights reserved.)

HOUSTON – An armed security guard for the Houston Zoo shot a woman driving a car full of kids, after she ran into him with her car, according to the Houston Police Department.

It was a violent ending to what started as an argument over a parking spot at the zoo Friday afternoon.

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Police said the woman assaulted a man she was arguing with over a parking spot inside one of the zoo lots.

When an armed security guard tried to step in, the woman drove off zoo property and onto Herman Park Drive where another security guard tried to approach her.

Police said she ran into him and he opened fire, hitting her multiple times.

She crashed her car -- with four kids inside -- into a tree.

The woman is in stable condition, police said, and Child Protective Services is figuring out who should care for the children.

The security guard is also in stable condition with minor injuries.

Houston police said no one’s been charged because everything slows down when they have injuries and people are hospitalized.

Assistant Chief of Police Patricia Cantu said so far in their investigation, they’ve got multiple witnesses, video evidence and have also talked with the man involved in the initial argument over the parking spot.

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Houston bred and super excited to be back home! I grew up in The Heights with my 8 brothers and sisters and moved back in 2024. My career as a journalist spans a lot of years -- I like to say there's a lot of tread on these tires! I'm passionate about helping people. I also really love sharing success stories and stories of redemption. Email me!

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Award-winning journalist, mother, YouTuber, social media guru, millennial, mentor, storyteller, University of Houston alumna and Houston-native.

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