Neighbor says he heard loud banging, crashing prior to man's shooting death outside W. Houston home

HOUSTON, Texas (KTRK) -- An argument between a boyfriend and girlfriend led to the man's shooting death outside a home in west Houston, according to police.

Officers were called to the shooting scene Sunday at about 9 a.m. in the 2100 block of Hayes near Briar Forest.

A neighbor, Doug Martell, told ACB13 he heard crashing and banging coming from next door.

"You could hear what sounded like cabinets getting hit. People banging up against stuff. Glass breaking, like people throwing dishes," said Martell.

After the argument, the man left but immediately came back to find that his girlfriend had locked him out, according to Sgt. Adrian Lopez with HPD's Homicide Division.

Lopez said the man tried to get in through a window, which he attempted to smash through. That's when the woman got her pistol and ran out the front door, officials said.

The woman discharged her weapon outside the front lawn, killing her boyfriend, Lopez said.

"I ducked on the floor because you never know where people may be shooting," said Martell when asked what he did when he heard the gunshots.

Lopez said the man is believed to be in his 30s and the woman in her 20s. He said she was detained for questioning but was going to be released.

It was unclear what the couple was arguing about.

The case will go to a grand jury to determine whether the woman will face charges.

If you need help getting out of a domestic violence situation, call the Houston Area Women's Center 24/7 hotline at 713-528-2121 or call AVDA at 713-224-9911. You can also click here to chat with an advocate online. If you are deaf or hard of hearing and need help, call 713-528-3625.