MONTGOMERY COUNTY, Texas — A 17-year-old is accused of shooting his parents, leaving his father dead and his mother seriously injured.
Tra Vontay Constantine was charged with murder and aggravated assault with a deadly weapon for the shooting that happened on Wednesday on Waller Street in the Deer Pines subdivision in Cut and Shoot, near Conroe.
He faced a judge Thursday where we learned home surveillance video captured the entire incident. Prosecutors said Tra Vontay pointed a gun at his father, Leroy Constantine Jr., 41, and fired a shot. Prosecutors said the same bullet passed through him and hit his wife in the neck.
Investigators said Tra Vontay got into an argument with his parents because his father found his gun and took the ammunition. Prosecutors said Tra Vontay knew he had one bullet in his car so he got it, loaded his gun and shot at his father.
When first responders arrived on scene, they tried to save Leroy's life, but he died. As for his wife, she was taken to a hospital where she is expected to survive.
"I think my heart goes out to the mother more than anyone," a neighbor said. "Just trying to deal with, you never think about needing to forgive your child or something like that. What might’ve been going through his mind at the moment also."
Neighbors said the family seemed to be close and it's heartbreaking knowing what happened.
"It’s really hard," a neighbor told us. "I can’t imagine what they are going through."
Prosecutors said Tra Vontay had previously been on juvenile probation but was let off due to good behavior. It's not clear how his age will factor into the charges.
Tra Vontay has asked for a court-appointed attorney and the case is expected to go to a grand jury.