Briar Forest shooting: Apparent murder-suicide may involve Harris County Ward 4 employee, Houston police say

HOUSTON, Texas (KTRK) — Authorities are investigating an apparent murder-suicide that may have involved an employee of Harris County Precinct 4 on Monday night in the Eldridge/West Oaks neighborhood of Houston.

Police responded to the Villages of Briar Forest apartment complex, located at 14504 Briar Forest Drive, around 7:50 p.m. after a woman called to report she was inside her apartment when the upstairs neighbor fired a gunshot into her apartment.

Officers tried to contact the upstairs neighbor, but no one answered the door, police said, adding that they found the door unlocked.

Authorities entered the apartment and found a woman, unconscious and suffering from gunshot wounds, lying on the living room floor, police said.

Authorities inspected the apartment and found a man in the bedroom with an apparent self-inflicted gunshot wound.

The man and woman were pronounced dead at the scene.

Investigators did not release their identities, but said the woman was 28 and the man, who police are calling a suspect, was 33.

According to a witness, the woman and the suspect had recently moved into the apartment, police said.

Anyone with additional information about this case is asked to contact the HPD Homicide Division at 713-308-3600.

If you are having suicidal thoughts or are concerned about a friend or loved one, help is available. Call the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline at 988 or text TALK to 741-741 for free, confidential emotional support 24 hours a day, 7 days a week.