Suspect charged in woman's shooting death over the weekend on south side

  

HOUSTON (KTRK) -- A man has been charged in the death of a woman after he broke into her home and shot her over the weekend.

Police say on the morning of December 23, the suspect, Herbert G. Gardner, forced entry to the female victim's home in the 4800 block of Brisbane by breaking a front window and crawling through it. He then got into a physical altercation with the woman and shot her with a shotgun.

The victim, 39-year-old Connie Leatrice Bowie, died of the wounds sustained in the shooting.

According to police, when the first officer arrived on scene, Gardner fired a shotgun numerous times, striking the patrol car several times and shattering two passenger side windows. Gardener then fled the scene in a vehicle, which he stole from Bowie's driveway.

During the pursuit, Gardner stopped at the intersection of Airport and Almeda and fired shots at pursuing officers. One officer discharged his duty weapon at that location. Gardner then continued in the vehicle to the 5300 block of Glen Rio, where he again pointed a shotgun at officers. Two officers discharged their duty weapons at that time. No one was injured.

Officer Gomez was sworn in as an officer in September 2007 and Officer Garza was sworn in as an officer in June 2012. Both officers are assigned to the Southeast Patrol Division.

Gardner, 43, was then taken into custody and transported to Ben Taub General Hospital for treatment of injuries he sustained during the commission of the initial crime.

He is charged with murder and aggravated assault against a public servant.

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