A life sentence was handed down Wednesday to Kentrell Obrien Brumfield, 36, for a deadly shooting at a Houston apartment that left one woman dead and another critically injured. Harris County authorities say Brittani Simmons, a 23-year-old mother, was killed during the incident on June 29, 2022, while having dinner at her neighbor's place when Brumfield, the neighbor’s ex-boyfriend, burst in and opened fire.
Brumfield had a history of violence against the surviving victim, Lioneicia Malveaux, including charges of robbery and assault in June 2022, FOX 26 Houston reported.
Neighbors recall hearing screams before the fatal gunshots were fired. Following a four-day trial, it took the Harris County jury a mere 16 minutes to reach a verdict, convicting Brumfield of murder, according to KHOU.
Assistant District Attorney Lara Hogue pressed on the senselessness of the tragedy, "This was such a senseless crime—neither of these women deserved to be shot—Brittani was just an innocent neighbor who was over for dinner," she stated. In the aftermath of the attack, Brumfield engaged law enforcement in a chase and shootout in Mississippi, where he was later apprehended, KHOU reported.
District Attorney Kim Ogg underscored the dire consequences of domestic violence, "Our office takes all allegations of domestic violence so seriously because we see, far too often, that it escalates to murder," Ogg told FOX 26 Houston.
For those facing the shadow of domestic violence, resources such as the Houston Area Women’s Center, which operates a 24-hour hotline at 713-528-2121 or 1-800-256-0551, and the Family Time Crisis Center available at 281-446-2615, offer assistance and support, as highlighted by KHOU.
