Family members identify woman found dead in Spring-area neighborhood

HOUSTON – Deputies are investigating after a 20-year-old woman was found dead in the street in front of a home in the Spring area.

According to authorities, someone from inside the home on Pepper Ridge Lane and Bellchase Drive called them around 1:30 a.m. Thursday saying they had found Alyssa Reagins shot to death in the street.

When they arrived, deputies said they found Reagins with a gunshot wound to the head in front of the home where she was staying.

Steven Johnson, one of the people who lived with Reagins said, “It all happened so fast.”

“I heard a gunshot and we came outside and we found her lying in the street,” Johnson said. “My daughter in law started doing CPR on (Reagins) trying to revive her until the ambulance and the laws got here.”

John said he ran back inside and called 911. 

The initial call came in as a suicide, but authorities said they have not found a weapon and have gotten conflicting stories from the people in the home.

After searching the house, authorities found several weapons but none of them are believed to be gun used in the shooting. Deputies also said they do not believe the incident was a suicide.

Johnson said Reagins had been “arguing with somebody on the phone all through the day and it lead up to this.”

Moments after the shooting, Johnson said he heard what sounded like something speeding away, saying, “It was like a car. I heard a car burning out.”

Just like that, the usually quiet, desolate street became an active crime scene, putting neighbors on high alert.

“It’s really scary, obviously.” said area resident Kellee Williams. “I’m taking (my kids) to school this morning, instead of letting them walk to the bus stop.”

Surveillance cameras caught a white car speeding by around the time of the incident, but there is no word on whether it was related to the crime.

Investigators questioned and collected DNA samples from Johnson, his daughter-in-law and the other adults who were inside the home at the time of the incident, deputies said.

Deputies said there were also several children in the home ranging in age from 2 to 10.

Authorities have not yet taken anyone into custody. All the people who were inside the home when the shooting happened have been let back inside.


About the Authors

Reporter, family-oriented, sports fanatic, proud Houstonian.

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.

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