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HOUSTON -- A wife claimed she shot her husband as he slept in their northwest Harris County bed because he threatened her, KPRC Local 2 reported Monday.

Harris County sheriff's deputies said Angela Espinosa, 34, called 911 and told dispatchers that she shot her husband, 40-year-old Jaime Espinosa, at their home on Cannock Chase Court near U.S. Highway 290 at about midnight.

Jaime Espinosa was shot once, officials said. Angela Espinosa muffled the sound with a pillow, according to authorities, because their three daughters were at home asleep in their upstairs bedrooms.


"He had threatened her with a gun today and that she believed he would carry out that threat, so she hid in the bathroom until he went to sleep. Then, she went, got a 38-revolver, placed it close to his forehead, put a pillow over her hand to muffle the sound and shot him one time in the head," said Lt. John Denholm with the Harris County Sheriff's Department.

Angela Espinosa immediately dialed 911 after the shooting and was taken into custody where she cooperated with investigators, according to authorities.

Officials said there was not a history of calls to the home for domestic disturbances.

Investigators said the Espinosas were both sergeants in the Army National Guard.

The gun used in the shooting was registered to Angela Espinosa, deputies said.

"She does have a license," Sgt. Craig Clopton said. "I don't know if it's military-issued or not, but there are several weapons in the house."

Detectives said there were no signs of a struggle before the slaying.

Relatives are caring for the couple's children.

Neighbors said the couple seemed happy.

"They were nice people," a neighbor said. "That's crazy."

Angela Espinosa was charged with murder.

The gun used in the shooting was registered to Angela Espinosa, deputies said.

"She does have a license," Sgt. Craig Clopton said. "I don't know if it's military-issued or not, but there are several weapons in the house."

seamusTX wrote:

The gun used in the shooting was registered to Angela Espinosa, deputies said.

"She does have a license," Sgt. Craig Clopton said. "I don't know if it's military-issued or not, but there are several weapons in the house."

Even the cops don't know what they're talking about. A military-issue .38 Special revolver?

On the subject of domestic violence, people outside the home often have no clue. Abusers can hide it well.

And, yeah, this sounds like murder unless she can show in uncupable mental state.

- Jim

fizteach wrote:Actually, when I was a Marine on Embassy duty, we carried 4" S&W .38s. I don't know what MSGs carry now. That was in 1974-1976

seamusTX wrote:Huh. I thought the U.S. military gave up on revolvers 100 years ago.
- Jim

DoubleJ wrote:maybe they were talking about the license being military issued

seamusTX wrote:

. A military-issue .38 Special revolver?

shootthesheet wrote:When did verbal threats become justification for murder? They need to make an example of this woman and put her away for life or give her the death penalty. There is no excuse for murder. That includes a history of physical abuse and especially mental abuse which I see as a load of EDIT anyway. They have the option to leave. If they don't that is their decision and the consequences are on them. I feel for the abused but, it is a personal choice to stay no matter what the bleeding hearts say. The woman that murdered her Preacher husband got off with little punishment and this one thinks she can too. I only ask for equal justice under the law. And, this is my opinion.

Keith B wrote:Years ago my ex-brother-in-law's Mom shot and killed her husband (brother-in-laws step dad) after he had gone to sleep. She got off with probation.

He had come home drunk that night, beat her pretty badly, told her he was going to kill her and then went in and laid down and passed out. She waited till she knew he was out, grabbed the shotgun, shot him, and then called the sheriff.

In this case, there was a fairly long history of abuse, as well as physical evidence of abuse that night. He had also threatened that if she left he would hunt her down and kill her. They lived in a rural area, and there were no abuse shelters of any kind back then, so she basically had no where to go. The jury found her guilty, but the Judge and prosecutor gave her probation due to the duress she had been under and his verbal threat to kill her.