An incident unfolded at an apartment complex in Harris County last week, where Willie Simpson III allegedly shot two children of a woman with whom he had a previous relationship. As reported by Click2Houston, Simpson has been charged with three counts of aggravated assault of a family member, unlawful possession of a firearm, and burglary with intent to commit murder.
The events took place on the evening last Sunday, around 8:30 p.m., when Simpson reportedly confronted the siblings outside their apartment on Timber Creek Place. After a phone conversation with their mother escalated the situation, Simpson threatened to shoot them if they did not quickly go back inside. In what appears to have been a desperate attempt to flee, the children ran to their apartment, with Simpson chasing and firing shots at them as they ascended the stairs, according to court documents.
Inside the apartment, the 19-year-old son, Devante Martin, realized he had been shot in the abdomen, while his 12-year-old sister, Katelynn Martin, was shot by Simpson after he broke down the bathroom door where she was hiding. Meanwhile, the 13-year-old daughter encountered the shooter and managed to conceal herself under clothes in a closet, eluding Simpson. Devante and Katelynn were rushed to the hospital in critical condition, as KHOU reports, with the brother needing surgery to remove his spleen, both are expected to survive.
The chase did not end at the apartment; to escape, the siblings jumped from their second-floor balcony. This detail was recounted in documents obtained by authorities following the incident. Simpson successfully evaded arrest for almost a week before authorities took him into custody last Friday. He is presently being held on a $1,050,000 total bond, which includes $350,000 from each of the assault charges. Investigators were informed by the children's mother that she had expressly denied Simpson entry to the apartment, despite his repeated requests through text messages and a subsequent threatening phone call.
The Harris County Sheriff's Office has not yet disclosed additional details surrounding Simpson's motives or the family's current condition.
