A young mother was tragically killed by her ex-boyfriend while hosting a birthday party for their 6-year-old child.
Jalen Easterling, 25, was shot and killed on the evening of Thursday, September 12, at a home in Houston, Texas. According to local authorities, Easterling and her new boyfriend were celebrating her child’s birthday when her former partner arrived and a dispute ensued.
Witnesses reported that gunfire erupted following the argument, resulting in Easterling being shot in front of her children and boyfriend. She was pronounced dead at the scene.
A nearby resident described the chaos to KHOU, saying, “My heart dropped. I was terrified. It was loud and it sounded like it was coming into my house.”
Felicia Adams recounted hearing shouting before the shooting started, noting, “He was angry. He was shouting and screaming. It was frightening. My kids were terrified; my five-year-old couldn’t stop crying.”
Houston Police indicated they had previously responded to child custody issues at the location.
The shooter remains at large and was last seen leaving the scene in a white Chevrolet Tahoe.
Adams expressed hope that the authorities would identify the suspect soon and bring him to justice, saying, “I know they know who he is, and I hope I can help identify him correctly.”
Lt. R. Willkens of the Houston Police said, “Our suspect arrived and shots were fired from the door. We are unsure if the shooting was random or targeted.” He confirmed that Easterling was hit in the upper extremities and declared deceased on the scene.
Lt. Willkens urged the suspect to turn himself in, adding, “If he’s smart, he’ll come forward and explain his actions. There might be more to this story.”
