HOUSTON – A woman known fondly as "Mother Theresa" was found dead on a sidewalk in southeast Houston.
Houston police said her body was discovered about 2 a.m. Monday on Chennault Road near Martin Luther King Boulevard.
Police said it appeared the woman was shot in the head.
According to investigators, no one in the area heard the gunshots, but someone did hear yelling just moments before the woman was found.
"I heard a woman's voice," said Marcus Burks, who lives in the area. "She said, 'Help me,' so I opened my door and cut my porch light on. When I came outside, I seen a body laying on across the street, so I called 911."
When emergency crews arrived, they found Theresa Landry, 63, still bleeding from a gunshot wound. Landry died at the scene.
"What happened? Why her? She don't bother nobody," said Ida Batiste, one of Landry's friends.
"I can't explain ... would would someone do that to my mom?" said Landry's daughter, Charise.
"My mom did not hurt anybody. My mom was barely 100 pounds, so who would beat her up like that and leave her on the side of the street?" said Landry's daughter, Andrea. "If you know anything, please come forward."
Landry's daughters said their mother left to run an errand before her death.
Investigators said that Landry's purse was found near her body, and her wallet was inside it.
"I have a grandmother. She's here. Ever since that happened, she's elderly, she's afraid since someone around here is just killing people. For whatever reasons, it's highly concerned," said Frank Gray, who lives in the neighborhood.
Detectives were looking into the events that led up to the shooting to try to figure out who pulled the trigger.
Anyone with information is asked to call the HPD Homicide Division at 713-308-3600 or Crime Stoppers at 713-222-TIPS.