HARRIS COUNTY, Texas — A woman was killed and a man is in critical condition after a murder and attempted suicide, according to Harris County Sheriff Ed Gonzalez.
The shooting happened in a Walmart parking lot at 13003 Tomball Parkway near West Road at around 2 a.m. Saturday.
Gonzalez says the woman was trying to end a relationship with the suspect when he shot her and then himself.
She was pronounced dead at the scene. The suspect has been taken to the hospital where he remains at this time.
Domestic and family violence cases in the Houston area have increased at an alarming rate. Victims often suffer in silence because they feel scared, helpless or ashamed.
"Whenever there is a gun in the home there is a five times increase in a risk for homicide the murder rates increase by five times for victims,” said Houston Area Women's Center CEO Emilee Whitehurst.
Whitehurst said the Violence Against Women’s Act helps protect women in these types of cases. She also said loopholes within the legislation may be related to the gun violence we’re seeing across the country.
"There is this grey area where if you’re not married or officially co-habitat or you don’t have a child together, then your abuser could still have access to a firearm," she said. "That's really dangerous for victims and it's absolutely connected to mass shootings. As we said, more than 60% of mass shootings have a connection to domestic or family violence."
If you or someone you know is a victim of domestic violence, here are some discreet ways to reach out for help.
The Houston Area Women’s Center has a 24-hour hotline for victims of domestic violence at 713-528-2121 or 1-800-256-0551.
The Family Time Crisis Center can also be reached 24-hours a day at 281-446-2615.
The National Domestic Violence Hotline is 1-800-799-SAFE (7233).
Crisis Text Line: Text HOME to 741741.
Or text LOVEIS to 22522.