HOUSTON — A 43-year-old man has been charged with murder in the fatal shooting of a woman at a west Houston apartment complex — a killing he allegedly reported to 911 himself, claiming the gun went off by accident.
TL;DR: Fredrick Emmitt, 43, was charged with murder Oct. 7 in connection with the shooting death of a woman at an apartment complex on Briar Forest Drive in west Houston. Court records say Emmitt called 911 on himself and described the shooting as an accident. Surveillance footage reportedly showed him leading the victim into the apartment by the shoulders. Prosecutors have asked for a hearing to deny him bond.
Monday afternoon shooting in west Houston
The shooting happened Monday afternoon at an apartment complex on Briar Forest Drive and Enclave Parkway in west Houston, Fox 26 Houston reported. Officers found a woman at the scene with a gunshot wound; she was pronounced dead.
At the scene, police detained a possible suspect. On Wednesday, police announced that 43-year-old Fredrick Emmitt had been charged with murder in connection with the shooting. Emmitt is in Harris County custody. His bond has not been set, but prosecutors have requested a hearing to deny bond.
Police are not publicly naming the victim until her loved ones have been notified.
“It was an accident,” he told 911
According to court records cited by Fox 26, Emmitt called 911 on himself and reported the shooting as an accident. Witnesses reportedly saw him leave the scene — but he came back after speaking with authorities on the phone.
Surveillance footage added a troubling layer to the account: officials said the video showed Emmitt leading the victim into the apartment by the shoulders. She was then led to the bedroom, where she was later found shot. The footage reportedly did not capture the shooting itself, but it did show Emmitt leaving and entering the complex “multiple times.”
Unanswered questions
There are no public details on whether or how the suspect and the victim knew each other before the shooting. The motive remains unclear. Investigators have not said what kind of firearm was used or whether it has been recovered.
The case now moves to the Harris County courts, where prosecutors will seek to keep Emmitt jailed without bond pending trial. As in every criminal case, Emmitt is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty.
Sources: Fox 26 Houston; Harris County court records.
Featured photo: Houston, Texas. (Image via mg3law.com)
Frequently Asked Questions
Who is Fredrick Emmitt?
Fredrick Emmitt, 43, is the man charged with murder in the Oct. 5 shooting death of a woman at a west Houston apartment complex. He is in Harris County custody.
What happened at the Briar Forest apartment complex?
On Monday afternoon, a woman was found shot at an apartment complex on Briar Forest Drive and Enclave Parkway in west Houston and pronounced dead. Emmitt was detained at the scene and later charged with murder.
Did the suspect claim it was an accident?
Yes. According to court records, Emmitt called 911 on himself and reported the shooting as an accident. Witnesses reportedly saw him leave the scene but return after speaking with authorities.
What does the surveillance footage show?
Officials said surveillance footage showed Emmitt leading the victim into the apartment by the shoulders and into the bedroom, where she was later found shot. The footage did not show the shooting itself.
Has the victim been identified?
Police are not naming the victim publicly until her loved ones have been notified.
Will Emmitt get bond?
His bond has not been set. Prosecutors have requested a hearing to deny his bond, meaning they want him held in jail while the case proceeds.
What is the motive?
The motive remains unclear, and there are no public details on the relationship, if any, between Emmitt and the victim.
