HOUSTON – A 40-year-old woman was shot to death in front of her children after a domestic dispute in northeast Harris County Thursday night, officials said.
Harris County Precinct 3 deputies said they found Alma Canales shot inside the home on Graycliff Drive and Morinscott Drive at 10:45 p.m.
She was flown to Memorial Hermann Hospital by Life Flight helicopter and later died.
Deputies said they believe the shooting followed a dispute. Officials are looking for Canales' live-in boyfriend and the father of her baby. He fled on foot following the shooting, according to investigators.
Officials said they know what he looks like, but they are not sure of his identity since he has used many aliases in recent years. Canales called him "Mauricio."
Anthony Palafox is Canales' teenage son's best friend. He got a call Friday morning.
"He woke up to arguing, gunshots. She was on the floor bleeding. He held her until the cops came," Palafox said.
Palafox said Canales was like a mother to him and although she had been dating the suspect for more than two years, he described him as mysterious.
"When he came along, he was always quiet. He didn't really speak to me and kept things to himself," he said.
But Palafox said he is shocked at the brutal crime.
"He was taking care of the baby and came to live with the baby," he said.
Canales was the mother of five.
Anyone with information is asked to call Crime Stoppers at 713-222-TIPS.