Russell Todd Howard, a 51-year-old male from Manor, Texas, tragically died on February 10, 2022, from a gunshot wound. The incident occurred at the 11300 block of Runnel Ridge Road in Manor, where Howard was found by deputies from the Travis County Sheriff's Office and Manor Police Department. Despite immediate CPR efforts by the officers and later by EMS staff, Howard could not be saved.
The investigation revealed that Michael Todd McKee, Howard's partner of nearly 30 years, was the
one who called 911 to report the shooting. McKee, who is 52 years old, was later taken into custody and charged with murder. According to McKee's arrest affidavit, he claimed that during an argument with Howard, he tried to take away a handgun from Howard, accidentally pulling the trigger and shooting him in the head.
In December 2024, McKee pled guilty to a manslaughter charge and was sentenced to three years in prison. The court documents indicated that there was a deadly weapon finding and a family violence finding related to the case. McKee received a jail credit of 636 days towards his sentence.
This tragic incident marked the fourth homicide investigation for the TCSO in 2022. The case highlights the serious and often devastating consequences of domestic violence.
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