Erika Carriere said she wants answers about the death of her daughter, Sierra Reed, who was shot and killed in September 2024.
"As her mother, it's something I want to read. It's something I want to see. It's something I want to understand," Carriere said.
According to police records, the man who shot Reed told investigators he fired his weapon after she allegedly tried to run him over with a vehicle following an argument at a party. Carriere said investigators had limited witness accounts when determining what happened.
"Detectives got there and determined no one saw it, so it was just his version of things," she said.
A Harris County grand jury later declined to indict the shooter, effectively ending the criminal case without charges.
Carriere said she has since sought her daughter's toxicology report and other records through multiple public information requests. However, she said those requests have been denied, with responses citing an ongoing law enforcement investigation.
Records obtained by ABC13 show one denial referenced the "law enforcement exemption," which allows agencies to withhold information if its release would interfere with the detection, investigation or prosecution of a crime.
The Harris County Institute of Forensic Sciences told ABC13 it received an objection from the Harris County District Attorney's Office regarding the release of the records.
"I'm a law-abiding citizen. I just feel like there should be some things that should be straightforward and I'm getting the runaround," Carriere said.
Attorney Brian Foley, who is not involved in the case, said records are often released after a case has been "no-billed" by a grand jury.
"A no-bill. That basically means the grand jury found there was a lack of probable cause for the offense, and that means the case is dismissed - it's over," Foley said.
Foley said if administrative avenues fail, Carriere could potentially seek the records through civil court.
"A civil court could issue a subpoena requiring the agencies to give up the records," he said.
Carriere said obtaining the records is important not only for understanding the circumstances surrounding her daughter's death, but also because she hopes the documentation could help her secure crime victim benefits to offset funeral expenses and assist Reed's 2-year-old son.
"If this is the last thing I can do for her that would benefit my grandson, it would kind of at least help," Carriere said.
ABC13 has asked the Harris County District Attorney's Office why the law enforcement exemption would continue to apply in a case that appears to have concluded. The office had not responded as of publication.