On May 1, 2024, in Houston's Independence Heights neighborhood, 39-year-old Mary Arredondo and a 22-year-old woman were fatally shot in an ambush-style attack. The incident occurred around 1:30 a.m. as the women sat on the front porch of a residence on East 37th Street near Yale Street. A man dressed in a blue hoodie, camouflage pants, mask, black shoes, and black gloves approached them and opened fire, discharging at least seven shots before fleeing the scene.
A third woman present during the attack managed to escape unharmed by hiding behind a trailer and used her Apple Watch to call 911. Inside the home, five children were present but were not injured. Family members identified one of the victims as Mary Arredondo, a mother of four. Her mother, Selinda Trevino, expressed profound grief over the loss of her only daughter, stating, "It shouldn’t have happened at all. They were just enjoying their night."
Investigators suspected that the shooting was related to domestic violence, focusing on the ex-boyfriend of one of the victims as a person of interest. Later that day, around 5:30 p.m., Houston police attempted to contact this individual at a location on Chapman Street. Before they could obtain a statement, the person of interest died by suicide. Detectives confirmed that he was not considered a suspect at the time but was someone they intended to interview regarding the case.
Surveillance footage from the scene showed the assailant hiding behind a fence before launching the attack, indicating a premeditated ambush. The suspect's attire and actions suggested a deliberate attempt to conceal identity and evade capture. Despite the death of the person of interest, the investigation into the murders of Mary Arredondo and the 22-year-old woman continued as authorities sought to piece together the events leading up to the tragic shooting.
