A man has been arrested in Houston after allegedly shooting his girlfriend in front of her children. Howard Devon Ruffin, 39, is facing murder charges for the killing of Jackelyn Denesha Wilson, 32, which took place on October 2 at around 8.15pm, according to Houston police. Responding to a shooting call at an apartment complex, officers found Wilson with gunshot wounds in one of the units. Despite paramedics’ efforts, Wilson was pronounced dead at the scene.
Ruffin later surrendered himself and cooperated with detectives. He has been booked into the county jail by the Harris County District Attorney’s Office and charged with one count of murder, carrying a potential life sentence if convicted. Shockingly, Wilson’s own children witnessed the tragic event unfold. Two women from the complex encountered the children near their apartment shortly after the shooting, with one child revealing, “I know, but he shot my mom.”
Despite efforts from the two women to assist Wilson, she tragically succumbed to her injuries. Prior to the incident, a neighbour mentioned hearing Ruffin threaten Wilson, stating, “Okay b****, I’m going to kill you.” The neighbour also recounted witnessing Wilson discard Ruffin’s belongings from their apartment just before the shooting. Reports indicate that Ruffin had a history of violence towards Wilson, with a previous assault charge in 2022 for impeding her breathing by applying pressure to her neck.
In a separate incident three years ago, Wilson had bruises all over her body following an attack by Ruffin, during which he punched her multiple times and choked her while driving. Wishing to avoid police involvement, Wilson declined medical attention and refused to participate in a police investigation. Despite concerns for her safety, no emergency protection order was granted. Ruffin also had a prior assault conviction in Walker County.
Houston police are now seeking to deny Ruffin bail as the murder case progresses. This harrowing story serves as a stark reminder of the grave consequences of domestic violence and the urgent need for protection of victims in abusive situations.