Woman found shot to death at SW Houston apartment complex

HOUSTON – Police continue to search for the person who shot and killed a woman at an apartment complex in southwest Houston.

 According to the Houston Police Department, the shooting happened around 5:50 a.m. Monday at the Ludren Park Apartments near Fondren Road and Ludington Drive. 

“Residents reported hearing multiple gunshots shortly after  5 this morning,” said Brian Evans with the Houston Police Department’s Homicide Division. “A resident, when she was leaving to go to work, found the body of the female here at the apartment complex.” 

Police said the victim's body was found outside building number 2. She had sustained several gunshot wounds. 

"That is so sad, I just feel so sad that that happened right before New Year's Eve," said neighbor Tiffany Johnson, who heard the gunshots. 

"Was just in my room late last night sleeping and then I heard gunshots rang off. I hit the floor because it sounded like they was actually shooting in my apartment," Johnson said.

One neighbor, who did not want to go on camera, said she heard six gunshots last night, and woke up this morning to see the body in her hallway. 

Another resident, who did not want to share his full name, said he and others heard the gunshots.

"Three shots, I looked out and I didn't see nobody," he said.

Evans said investigators do not believe the victim lived at the complex.

 He said while they are still looking for clues, they think whatever led up to the shooting took place through the courtyard near the area where she was found. 

Police collected at least three shell casings from that area. 

In a statement, Houston Police said residents reported hearing a verbal altercation between a female and an unknown male just before hearing gunshots in the early morning hours. 

Police said the victim was a black woman in her early 20s, but investigators are currently waiting for the Harris County Institute of Forensic Sciences to identify the woman. 

HPD said it received two other calls for service at the complex overnight.  One was a call at 9:55 p.m. from a woman who said she was locked out of her house by a male who lived at the apartment.  A different call came in around 1:30 a.m., according to police, about a discharged firearm.  An officer went out to look around and didn’t see anything, according to police.

 A spokesperson with HPD said they will look into calls for service as part of the investigation to see if there are any clues and if the calls were connected.

 Evans told reporters that the complex did not have any cameras and police are currently looking for any tips.

 Anyone with information is being asked to contact Crime Stoppers at 713-222-TIPS.
 


About the Authors:

Daniela Sternitzky-Di Napoli has been a digital news editor at KPRC 2 since 2018. She is a published poet and has background in creative writing and journalism. Daniela has covered events like Hurricane Harvey and the Astros World Series win. In her spare time, Daniela is an avid reader and loves to spend time with her two miniature dachshunds.