Man murdered ex-wife after Thanksgiving dinner: Houston police

Houston police officers converged on a murder scene on Thanksgiving Day 2022. (Image via KHOU-TV Screengrab.)

An ex-wife and man are dead – and two others, a teenager and another man, are recovering – after a 38-year-old ex-husband stormed into a home in Houston, Texas and started shooting, as a Family and friends were there to wrap up a Thanksgiving dinner on Thursday. That’s according to Houston Police Department Asst. boss Patricia Cantuwho provided a quick update to the assembled reporters at the crime scene overnight in the 1500 block of Baggett Lane in Houston.

The address in the city’s Spring Branch neighborhood is a short cul-de-sac lined with half-million and one-million dollar homes.

Police announced early Friday night that they had caught the man they believe was responsible for the attack, but his identity beyond his age and gender were not immediately released.

Cantu previously said at the scene that her officers received a call at 9:19 p.m. on Thanksgiving Eve about an ongoing shooting. Police and firefighters – believed to be paramedics – arrived at 9:23 p.m., she said.

Four people were said to have been shot after the attacker in the house in question burgled through a back door. Two – the ex-wife and a man – were dead at the scene. A 15-year-old in stable condition and another man in critical condition were taken to hospital, according to the deputy chief and later local news reports.

Houston cops cordoned off a home where a double homicide took place on Thanksgiving Day 2022. (Image via KHOU-TV Screengrab.)

“The families celebrated; They just finished eating,” Cantu said. “The suspect, who is known to be the ex-husband of the deceased woman, walked in through the back door and just started shooting at people in the house. There were four other people in the house. When they heard the shots, they ran to their rooms to be on the safe side. The suspect fired multiple shots and even reloaded his gun at the scene.”

Cantu said officers were unable to locate the shooter, but that changed early Friday night. The Houston Police Department said in a tweet that the previously and currently unnamed suspect is in custody and is charged with two counts of murder and two counts of aggravated assault.

ARRESTED: The 38-year-old suspect is in custody and has been questioned by HPD homicide detectives. He faces 2 counts of capital murder and 2 counts of personal injury.

No further information at this time. The suspect’s ID and booking photo will be posted here when the formal charge is made.#housenews https://t.co/b6SeKqvAz0

— Houston Police Department (@houstonpolice) November 25, 2022

“This is a very sad situation; it’s Thanksgiving; People should celebrate with their families,” Cantu said somewhere between Thursday night and the early hours of Friday morning. “And we know this was a domestic incident.”

Northwest officers are at a 1400 Baggett firing range. Adult man and woman died at scene, second adult man and 15-year-old man transported in critical condition. Media briefing to follow. 202 pic.twitter.com/xBi2BCBpP8

— Houston Police Department (@houstonpolice) November 25, 2022

Both friends and family were present at the dinner, so not everyone in the house was related, Cantu said.

HPD Asst Chief Cantu provides an update on fatal shots at 1511 Bagette https://t.co/F7YRauW38t

— Houston Police Department (@houstonpolice) November 25, 2022

Houston FOX subsidiary KRIV reported The person, who was in critical condition, was later brought to stable condition in an intensive care unit.

Houston ABC affiliate KTRK said The other victim who died was a man who lived in the house. That TV station said the other surviving victim, alongside the teenager, was also a man.

KTRK added that Child Protection Service workers were on site to tend to a 10-year-old child who somehow overslept the incident. That child was reportedly one of four other people in the home who were not injured as the chaos unfolded.

KTRK also said the shooter and his ex-wife have a child together.

Thanksgiving terror: HPD says a man walked into this house and “just started shooting,” killing his ex-wife and another man. 2 other people shot (including a 13 year old boy) and survived. The shooter took off. The police are still looking for him this morning. #abc13 pic.twitter.com/UjCD1l5UVJ

— Courtney Fisher (@CourtneyABC13) November 25, 2022

A neighbor tells CBS affiliate KHOU This crime was rare in the neighborhood and some in the area responded by making sure their home security systems were armed.

One of the local partners reported that the police did not receive surveillance video of the attack because surveillance cameras were not working properly.

The identities of those involved and the relationships between those present were not made public.

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