A tragic scene unfolded in Seabrook on Friday when a 23-year-old woman was fatally shot and two young children were discovered unharmed inside the same apartment. The woman was later identified by Seabrook police as Mary Jane Collins; the children have since been safely removed from the premises, the Houston Chronicle reports.
The incident took place at the Teakwood Apartment Complex and was first reported around 11:30 a.m.; upon arrival, authorities not only found Collins dead but also encountered her two young children left alone, SWAT was dispatched to the scene to search the apartment complex securing the area, and residents were instructed to stay inside, keeping their doors locked until the all-clear was given, according to Click2Houston.
Officials from the Seabrook Police Department have indicated that their preliminary investigation points to Collins knowing her assailant, easing community concerns of a wider threat. "The Seabrook Police Department is continuing efforts to identify the (shooter). Preliminary findings suggest that Mary Jane Collins knew her assailant, and there is no ongoing threat to the Seabrook community," stated an SPD news release obtained by the Houston Chronicle.
The case remains under active investigation as officers work to ascertain the suspect's identity but, the suspect was not found in the initial search and residents were informed later on Friday night that it was safe to return to their homes, all these details emerging from the ongoing efforts by the authorities to piece together the tragic circumstances surrounding Collins's untimely death, as per details shared by Click2Houston.
