Deandra Citizen, a 36-year-old Black woman, was tragically shot and killed on July 25, 2021, in the parking lot of a Food Town grocery store in Houston, Texas. The incident occurred around 11:30 p.m. when Christine Fesus, a 34-year-old white woman, claimed that Citizen aggressively approached her while she was walking her dog. Fesus initially told authorities that she acted in self-defense, alleging that Citizen was reaching for a handgun.
However, surveillance footage and witness statements contradicted Fesus's account, leading to her arrest and subsequent charge of first-degree murder.
Witnesses at the scene reported that Citizen, who was homeless and known to the community, was talking to herself due to mental health issues when Fesus approached her. A homeless man, who claimed to be in a relationship with Citizen, stated that he was lying down nearby when the shooting occurred. He recounted that words were exchanged between Citizen and Fesus before the fatal shot was fired. Despite attempts by bystanders to perform CPR, Citizen was pronounced dead at the scene.
Fesus's actions following the shooting further raised suspicions. She went home, changed her clothes, and put away her gun before calling the authorities to report the incident. The surveillance footage obtained by the police showed Fesus shooting Citizen and then running away, which contradicted her claims of being threatened. Harris County Sheriff Ed Gonzalez confirmed that the video evidence did not support Fesus's version of events, and she was subsequently charged with murder.
The case drew significant attention due to the racial dynamics involved, as Fesus allegedly made a racially charged comment during the encounter. Fesus was released on a $75,000 bond, and the investigation into the incident continued. The tragic death of Deandra Citizen highlighted issues of homelessness, mental health, and racial tensions within the community.
