Courtney Renee Hooper (WOAI/YouTube).
A Texas woman is accused of fatally shooting her boyfriend on Christmas Eve morning during a dispute over a car and a cellphone.
Courtney Renee Hooper, age 36, has been charged with murder in connection with the death of her 42-year-old boyfriend, whose identity has not been disclosed, as reported by the Bexar County Sheriff’s Office.
During a press conference, Sheriff Javier Salazar explained that deputies were dispatched to the 100 block of Mallow Grove in San Antonio around 6:30 a.m. on Wednesday in response to a shooting. Upon arrival, they discovered a man suffering from a gunshot wound to his chest. Despite paramedics’ efforts, he was declared dead at the scene.
Hooper was apprehended by investigators shortly thereafter.
The altercation, which centered around a car and a cellphone, escalated into violence, according to authorities. As local news cameras recorded her being escorted to jail, Hooper claimed she was acting in self-defense.
“Interestingly, she presented us with a video she believed would prove her innocence,” Salazar stated. “However, after reviewing the footage, it appeared to further implicate her. It seems like a straightforward case at this point.”
Salazar said there is an “extensive” history of prior domestic-related calls at the address, though most of them involved men other than the victim.
The sheriff noted his office sees an increase of domestic violence-related homicides and other crimes around the holidays.
“Just want to use it as a reminder once again, that domestic violence doesn’t just go away. It doesn’t stop happening on its own. It doesn’t go away if you ignore it,” he said. “It’s one of those crimes that continues to escalate. And unless some sort of external factor happens, a breakup, you separate yourself from that situation, it keeps escalating to the point where somebody is going to die.”
Hooper is detained at the Bexar County Jail without bond. She has a court hearing scheduled for March 24.
