On April 7, 2023, in Hallsville, Texas, 56-year-old Ricky Ellis was fatally shot. Authorities responded to a call just after midnight at a residence on Saddle Brook Circle. Upon arrival, they encountered 54-year-old Cassandra Harris, who informed them that she had shot Ellis, her common-law husband, during a domestic dispute.
Officers found Ellis unresponsive in the master bedroom with apparent gunshot wounds. Despite immediate life-saving efforts by first responders, Ellis was pronounced dead at the scene by Precinct 3 Justice of the Peace Greg Greer. Harris was detained and taken to the Hallsville Police Department for questioning. Following the interview, she was charged with murder and booked into the Harrison County Jail in Marshall, Texas, with bond set at $100,000.
In October 2023, a Harrison County grand jury indicted Harris for the murder of Ricky Ellis. Subsequent legal proceedings revealed that the Harrison County District Attorney’s Office was disqualified from prosecuting the case due to a conflict of interest, necessitating the appointment of a special prosecutor.
As of December 2024, the case remains pending, with pretrial motions and hearings ongoing. The disqualification of the local district attorney's office has introduced additional complexities, potentially delaying the trial. The community continues to follow the case closely, seeking justice for Ricky Ellis while grappling with the tragic circumstances surrounding his death.
