Man turns himself in, charged with murder in shooting death of woman in NW Harris County, police say

HARRIS COUNTY, Texas (KTRK) -- A day after a woman was shot to death in front of her kids in northwest Harris County, authorities said the suspect in the case has turned himself in.

Howard Devon Ruffin, 39, is currently charged with murder in the killing of a 32-year-old woman, police said. Court documents reveal the victim is Jackelyn Wilson, 32.

The Houston Police Department said the woman was shot at about 8 a.m. on Wednesday at the Willow Green Apartments near 249 and FM 1960. Officers responded to the scene, where they found the victim with multiple gunshot wounds.

RELATED: Only on 13: Video shows moment mom was shot to death in front of children in NW Harris County

Eyewitness News spoke to two women who said they were flagged down by one of the victim's sons.

"We were like, 'Hey, you all missed the bus,'" the witness recalled. "Her little 6-year-old was like, 'I know, but he shot my mom.'"

Upon hearing that, the women said they sprang into action, but unfortunately, the woman succumbed to her injuries.

HPD said further investigation and evidence from the scene, as well as witness statements, led them to Ruffin, who they said is the victim's boyfriend.

Hours after the shooting, police were told Ruffin wanted to turn himself in and speak with detectives. Ruffin has since provided a statement to detectives and was arrested and charged. He is currently held in Harris County Jail.

Days before the shooting, a neighbor told ABC13 she heard Ruffin threaten Wilson.

"The only one time I heard him, and I want to say it was within the last week, is when he said, 'Okay, b*tch, I'm going to kill you,'" the neighbor recalled.

On Monday, she said Wilson tossed Ruffin's stuff out of the apartment. The day before the shooting, the neighbor spotted Wilson sitting in the dark in the parking lot in a SUV.

"When he looked up and saw me looking at him, because I had to pass him, I just rushed away from him," she recalled. "I can't explain the feeling I got, but it wasn't a good feeling."

Court documents reveal Ruffin has a family violence pattern. Three years ago, Ruffin was convicted in Walker County for assaulting a family member. He served three days behind bars.

Two years ago, he was charged in Harris County for hitting and strangling Wilson. Prosecutors asked for a protective order.

She never got it. Despite the warrant, he wasn't arrested in Harris County.

We've learned Ruffin was arrested in western Texas. It's unclear why.

However, in Maverick County, officials granted him a $7,500 bond for the Harris County assault charge. They labeled the charge as a misdemeanor, even though it was a felony.

Harris County records show they didn't learn about the bond for 16 months. They only discovered last week, and scheduled a hearing for Thursday.

We reached out to Maverick County officials to ask about the bond that was given 16 months ago. We haven't heard back.

As for the murder charge, prosecutors are asking a judge to deny bail.

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