She was murdered by her husband at the time she denounced him for domestic violence

By Mirna Alsharif -

A Texas woman was fatally shot by her husband at the same time she was filing a domestic violence complaint against him and while holding their baby in her arms, authorities said.

Takara Hightower, 34, was being interviewed by two Navy Criminal Investigative Service (NCIS) officers in connection with a domestic violence investigation she filed against her husband at their home in the town of Humble, the late on September 22, NCIS spokesman Jeff Houston told NBC News.

Gregory Hightower, her husband of 37 years and who works as a Navy recruiter, was also at the home.

At one point during the interview, the man pulled out a handgun and fired, striking one of the NCIS agents in the upper shoulder and lower abdomen, according to Sheriff's Office Officer Thomas M. Gilliland. Harris County.

The two officers returned fire, hitting Gregory Hightower in the lower stomach.

Police respond to a shooting at a Texas residence where a woman was fatally shot by her husband on September 22, 2022, after accusing him of domestic violence.NBC affiliate in Houston

Takara Hightower attempted to flee the house while carrying the couple's baby, but was also shot by her husband.

Police have not released the exact age of the baby, who is reported to be about a year old, and was not injured in the shooting.

Neighbors who witnessed the shooting ran to the mother to help her and the baby.

Another minor, about 3 years old, was also in the house when the shots were fired, police reported.

[This woman killed a pregnant woman to steal her baby: “The pain when she started cutting her abdomen must have been indescribable”]

Gregory Hightower got into his vehicle and fled the scene.

The Harris County Sheriff's Office responded to the home at 3200 Tullich Run Drive in Humble, about 30 minutes northeast of Houston, around 1:30 pm.

The injured NCIS agent was taken to a local hospital and has since been released, according to the agency.

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Sheriff's deputies found Gregory Hightower outside his mother's apartment complex about 40 minutes from the house and exchanged fire with him.

He died on the spot, according to police.

The two children who were in the house during the shooting have been handed over to Takara Hightower's relatives.

According to the police, it was not the first time that the woman tried to report her husband for domestic abuse.

On July 16, the Harris County Sheriff's Office responded to the home for reports of a verbal and physical altercation between the couple.

“There were mutual claims that they had hit each other and neither was willing to be arrested or charged,” Gilliland said, adding that the district attorney ordered one of them to leave the house for 24 hours as a result of the incident.

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Just two days before the fatal shooting, Takara Hightower had called the sheriff's office again to ask how she could file a restraining order.

An agent provided him with the necessary information, Gilliland added.

Friends remembered her as “a protective lioness and mama bear” on a verified GoFundMe account set up to help the family with funeral expenses and support their children.

If you or someone you know is experiencing domestic violence, contact the National Domestic Violence Hotline by calling 1-800-799-SAFE (7233) in Spanish or by visiting

https://espanol.thehotline.org/