Background: The apartment complex in Houston, Texas, where Willie Simpson III allegedly fired shots at his ex-girlfriend’s children (KHOU). Inset: Willie Simpson III (Harris County Sheriff’s Office).
A Texas man is behind bars after police said he allegedly attempted to kill his ex-girlfriend’s four teenage children.
On Friday, Willie Simpson III, 32, was taken into custody after being charged with three counts of aggravated assault on a family member. As detailed in a criminal complaint reviewed by Law&Crime, Simpson arrived at the Timber Creek apartment complex in Houston on the evening of July 27. There, he encountered the teenage sons of his former girlfriend. The 16-year-old boy informed Simpson that their mother wasn’t present, leading Simpson to call her.
According to the complaint, Simpson told his ex that he would shoot her children unless she came home.
After concluding the call, Simpson allegedly threatened the 16-year-old and 19-year-old boys, warning them to return indoors or he would shoot. According to the 16-year-old’s statement to the police, Simpson purportedly fired as the boys fled. The 19-year-old, shot in the abdomen, only realized his injury after reaching the apartment.
The brothers then ran through the apartment, out to the second-floor balcony, and jumped off to escape Simpson.
There were more children at home during the incident. Authorities also interviewed the woman’s 13-year-old daughter, who had just returned to the apartment with her 12-year-old sister and friends from the pool. The 13-year-old mentioned seeing Simpson near the apartment with a gun in his pocket as their brothers left the apartment and the girls went inside to change.
The complaint states that the 12-year-old heard gunshots. Her 13-year-old sister went to investigate while she hid in the bathroom. The older girl soon encountered Simpson, who allegedly aimed his gun at her. In fear, she ran to a closet, hiding under clothes.
Simpson looked inside the closet, but he did not see the girl.
While in hiding, the 13-year-old reportedly heard shots within the house. By then, the police had arrived at the scene and discovered the 12-year-old in the bathroom, wounded in the abdomen by gunfire.
Both the 19-year-old brother and 12-year-old sister were expected to survive their wounds after being taken to the hospital in critical condition. The boy had his spleen removed as a result of his injuries, per cops.
When the mother arrived at the scene, she told police that she and Simpson had been dating but were no longer together. On the day of the alleged shooting, he reportedly sent her “numerous” text messages asking to go back to the apartment where he used to live with her and the kids. When she told him he was not allowed to do so, he started calling her.
Simpson allegedly “demanded” that the woman return to the apartment “or else he would kill her kids.”
The woman told police that after he ended their phone call, she called one of her sons and could hear him running away.
Simpson was apprehended by police on Friday and charged with three counts of aggravated assault of a family member, unlawful possession of a firearm, and burglary with intent to commit murder. During a court appearance on Monday, his bond was set at $1,465,000. He is in custody at the Harris County Jail and is due in court again on Thursday.
