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Mother, Grandmother Shot During Visitation Exchange

Children May Have Witnessed Shooting

POSTED: Monday, August 15, 2005

A man fatally shot the mother of his two children and wounded their grandmother in the parking lot of a Pearland bank Sunday night while his children were being returned during a visitation exchange, authorities told Local 2.

Regions Bank, McHard Road at F.M. 2234, Pearland
Regions Bank, McHard Road at F.M. 2234, Pearland

Investigators with the Brazoria County Sheriff's Department said Leza Maddalone, 31, was picking up her two children with her mother, Debra Sanchez, at about 7 p.m. at the Regions Bank on McHard Road near F.M. 2234 from her former mother-in-law, who had the children.

Maddalone's ex-husband, Bruce Milner, pulled up in a third vehicle and began shooting, officials said.


Video: Officials Have Not Said Why Father Opened Fire

"(I) don't know if (the children) saw anything or not, but they were here on the location," said Ryan Batson, with the Brazoria County Sheriff's Department.

Bruce Milner

Deputies said Milner fled the scene and led officers on a chase reaching speeds up to 120 mph until he crashed in a field near Highway 6 and County Road 48.

"Basically, we heard the sirens and my wife was looking out the front window. Here comes the car barreling through the neighbors yard and then just drove right through our front two acres and took off back in the field," witness Dudley Rayner told Local 2.

Maddalone died at the scene. Sanchez, who was shot three times, is in the intensive care unit.

The children were not injured. They were placed with the suspect's mother.

Investigators said Milner confessed to the shootings but did not give a reason. He was charged with murder. Other charges are pending.

Milner is being held in the Brazoria County Jail on a $500,000 bond.

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