Texas woman dragged out of her birthday party, shot dead by ex-boyfriend who 'had a bone to pick'
TEXAS: A woman was fatally shot by her former boyfriend on Christmas Eve as the family had gathered for her birthday celebration.
The deceased Carolee Taylor's uncle, Dominic Ortiz, shared with the authorities that he had been hosting the evening party inside his home in a gated community in Houston. As Ortiz stepped outside the house, he saw a black Jeep Cherokee arrive.
The driver, Taylor's former boyfriend Al Simon, parked the car outside the house got out of the vehicle. He was armed with two weapons, a long-barreled rifle and a handgun. As per a murder warrant obtained by People, Simon had allegedly said, "I have a bone to pick."
He then held the handgun to Ortiz's head and said, "Don’t smile at me mother******. We are going inside."
Taylor's daughter Mya shared with the authorities that they had just finished singing 'Happy Birthday' for her mother when everybody started yelling 'to go outside', according to the warrant. Mya turned to see Simon walk into the house with the guns. The daughter added that she had received a text message from Simon that read: "You ready to party with Jesus tonight?" Upon entering the house, Simon allegedly pointed the handgun at Taylor and said, "You and I are going to talk."
He then dragged her outside and warned the party guests, "If I see the police I am going to blow her ****ing head off." Shortly after this, Ortiz heard five gunshots and upon rushing out, found Taylor lying on the porch.
Simon's friend Jim Campbell later shared with the authorities that Simon warned him not to watch the news. Simon allegedly confessed to Campbell when he got there and said, "I killed her tonight," the warrant reads.
Simon allegedly admitted to shooting Taylor once in the head and then four more times when she was on the ground. The warrant also revealed, "[Campbell] said [Simon] was angry because he felt [Taylor] betrayed him."
The police later found him at Hermann Park in Houston. According to Harris County sheriff Ed Gonzalez, Simon was fatally shot by a deputy as he "made a sudden move."
As reported by ABC13, Taylor's family released a statement saying she "changed the lives of everyone she met through her dynamic smile and personality. She was such a giving person and loved life to the fullest."