Early Saturday morning, a 28-year-old woman was shot by Harris County Sheriff's deputies who mistook her for an intruder in her own apartment, as they responded to a break-in call at the Pines of Woodforest Apartments on Uvalde Road, according to the Houston Chronicle.
The deputies had been called to the scene around 2:10 a.m. for a burglary, and while at the location, were alerted by neighbor Robert Mitchell to noises suggesting another break-in above his apartment. "I was sitting on my couch and I just started hearing glass breaking," Mitchell told ABC13 Eyewitness News. He flagged down the deputies, who had initially searched an adjacent apartment.
Upon approaching the apartment with the broken window, deputies announced their presence and found the 28-year-old woman, weapon in hand, approaching the door. Both deputies discharged their firearms, wounding the resident. A later investigation revealed that the woman and her girlfriend had broken into their own apartment through a window after they were locked out without a key, stated the Harris County Sheriff's Office in a news release.
After the shooting, the woman can be heard in a cell phone video pleading, "I live here, please don't shoot," as deputies ordered her downstairs and handcuffed her. The woman was transported to the hospital, and returned home later in the day, according to a neighbor. In a turn of regrettable events, the involved deputies are now on administrative leave pending internal and grand jury investigations, as mentioned in the official statements from law enforcement.
According to policy, the Harris County Sheriff's Office is set to release body-worn camera footage within 45 days. As the case unfolds amidst public scrutiny and concern, the community awaits clearer answers. Eyewitnesses or individuals with information have been urged to come forward and contact the Harris County Sheriff's Office directly at 713-221-6000.
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