TEXAS CITY, Texas — Texas City police believe they've solved the shooting death of a 76-year-old woman on Friday the 13th.
Irene Gray was shot multiple times in her home on N. Amburn Road, near College of the Mainland.
TCPD officers found her body after a child in the home called 911. Homicide detectives questioned several family members and searched the home and a nearby field.
A week later, Gray's daughter was arrested and charged with murder and terroristic threat of a family member. Sherene Lavett Washington-Harper, 54, was booked into the Galveston County Jail on a $250,000 bond, according to the Texas City Police Department.
Gray's granddaughter said her own three children were in the home when the shooting happened.
“My eight-year-old called 911," Irene Smith told us.
She's the daughter of Harper-Washington.
Smith said her mother has long struggled with drug dependency and that Gray was in the process of kicking her out of the house.
She said Gray was more of a mom to her than the suspect was.
“Growing up, we were very close – entering my adulthood, we became estranged, almost non-existent," Smith said regarding Harper-Washington.
She has nothing but fond memories of Gray.
“She was a very peaceful, very peaceful spirit – very fun and loving," Smith said. "It’s hard to believe such a spirit is gone so tragic and so violently."
The grandmother, great grandmother, mother sister and friend was fondly called "Momo" and "Ms TNT."
"Momo was the life of any party and most importantly, the best of friend you could ask for in a person. She never met a stranger and would give her all for the ones she love," Smith posted online. "Momo leaves behind many people all over the globe that will miss her dearly. May the impact that Momo had in our lives forever remain."
Smith started a GoFundMe account to help cover funeral expenses.
Investigators have not released a possible motive or whether there are any other suspects.
Anyone with information this case is asked to call Texas City Police Detective Larry Williamson at (409) 643-5720. For those who prefer to remain anonymous, you can reach out to the Mainland Community Crime Stoppers at (409) 945-8477.