HOUSTON – The woman charged after shots were fired at a local TV station in southwest Houston appeared before a judge Friday morning.
Michelle Monique Burks is charged with deadly conduct and evading arrest.
"As a reminder to you, I am in self-defense."
Prosecutors say that's what Burks said to police after she was arrested for allegedly firing several shots at the KTRK-TV station on Bissonnet. Investigators say they found five .40 caliber shell casings in the parking lot where they say she was first spotted shooting at the building.
While no one was hurt, this morning in court, Local 2 learned of the bullets fired into a second story office window could have easily killed an employee seated at her desk.
"Five shots were fired into that office where she was sitting and one of those bullets came into close proximity where her head would have been positioned," prosecutors say.
Burks, 44, is accused of leading police on a chase after firing those shots. West University Place police were in close pursuit as she drove her Chevy Camaro west on Bissonnet, north on Edloe and west on Richmond. She finally stopped at Richmond and the West Loop and was brought back to the television station.
"As soon as she was pulled out of the back of the patrol car, the witness stated, 'Yep. That's definitely her,'" prosecutors say.
While a motive is still not clear, prosecutors say emails, along with strange Facebook comments that Burks allegedly sent to newsroom employees starting back in January, were also tagged as evidence.
"There were pictures posted to Facebook that showed she was in the building," prosecutors say.
A judge increased her bond from $10,000 to $40,000 for both charges.