Charge upgraded for accused shooter in HFD inspector death

Alain Bell now faces a capital murder charge in the shooting death of David Stoneham

Alain Bell

HOUSTON – The charge against a man accused of killing an Houston Fire Inspector has been upgraded.

The Harris County District Attorney's office has filed a capital murder charge against Alain Bell.

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Investigators say Bell shot and killed David Stoneham in front of his home on July 15. Stoneham's 17-year-old daughter said she saw the entire thing.

Bell married Stoneham's ex-wife. According to a friend, the two men had argued recently.

Police said it appeared that Bell waited for Stoneham to come home, parking his truck a couple of houses away.

Detectives said Stoneham's daughter told them she and her father had just pulled into the driveway at 538 West Troy near Stuebner Airline, when she got out of the car and was walking up to the house.

"All she heard was the racking of the gun, the shots and then heard dad collapse," said John Cannon with the Houston Police Department.

Police said Stoneham was shot twice point blank. The daughter told police Bell shot her father once in the chest. When her father fell to the ground, she said he was shot again.

Stoneham was a 33-year veteran of the Houston Fire Department.