LEAGUE CITY, Texas – A 40-year-old League City man has been charged with murder after police officers found his wife dead of multiple gunshot wounds at the front door of a home on Thanksgiving Day.
Dudley Bernand is accused of fatally shooting his wife Chauntelle Bernand, 42, at a residence in the 2300 block of Indigo Harbor Lane, according to the League City Police Department.
José Ribas lives across the street. Ribas described hearing as many as 15 gunshots. Ribas recorded cell phone video of Bernard's arrest. In the video, Bernard can be seen lying in the street, surrendering to League City Police.
"He was sprawled out with his hands to the side," Ribas said.
At around 11 p.m. Thursday, police arrived at the home in response to information about multiple gunshots. Once officers arrived, they discovered the woman dead inside the home near the front door.
A motive is unclear. Police said they had not been called to the Bernard's home before Thursday.
"We know it began with some type of disturbance or argument. The male left the house and then returned with a pistol," said John Griffith, public information officer for the League City Police Department.
The Bernard's worked for U.S. Customs and attended Clear Creek Community Church, police said.
The couple has two young boys. Police said the children were in the custody of relatives Friday. The boys were home at the time of the shooting, as were relatives visiting for the Thanksgiving holiday. José Ribas said he asked about the boys Thursday night.
“I asked [Chauntelle’s] sister, you know, when she was over here if she had a second, I just went to her and said are the kids okay and she said yeah they’re at the neighbor’s house.”
A stream of neighbors walked over to the house Friday to speak with relatives who carried storage containers of clothing and other items out of the house. José Ribas was among those to offer his condolences.
“I just met her brother. I went up there and just gave him a hug. I was like, 'Man if you need something I’m here.”
The LCPD Criminal Investigation Division and the Galveston County District Attorney’s Office are in charge of investigating the scene.
Bernard is being held at the Galveston County jail on a $200,000 bond.