Authorities in Houston say a 34-year-old White woman who fatally shot a homeless Black woman “falsely claimed” she opened fire because the deceased “had threatened her and approached her aggressively.”
According to The Charlotte Observer, the victim, identified as 36-year-old Deandrea Citizen, was fatally shot by Christine Fesus during a confrontation outside a Food Town grocery store parking lot on Sunday night.
In the aftermath of the fatal encounter, Fesus told authorities she was walking her dog around the said location when Citizen “aggressively” walked up to her and also threatened her. Fesus, who also claimed Citizen was armed with a gun, said she subsequently opened fire in self-defense before fleeing home. The suspect called 911 to report the shooting when she got home.
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Despite Fesus’ claim of what led to the shooting, authorities said a review of surveillance footage that captured the incident contradicted Fesus’ version of the fatal encounter. “Fesus falsely claimed the woman had threatened her and approached her aggressively,” Harris County Sheriff Ed Gonzalez shared Monday on Twitter.
Citizen’s boyfriend also told investigators the deceased homeless woman had “mental health issues” and she was talking to herself – which was not out of the blue because of her condition – before the fatal encounter with Fesus, The Houston Chronicle reported. He added that Citizen got into an argument with Fesus and he saw the suspect brandish a gun before shooting Citizen.
“Did she shoot you?” Citizen’s boyfriend reportedly asked. The victim responded “yes” and then collapsed.
Authorities arrested Fesus hours after the shooting and charged her with murder. She was released on a $75,000 bond on Tuesday.
“She [Citizen] really didn’t deserve that,” Ilsse Diaz, a lady who knew the deceased victim, told The Houston Chronicle. “Everyone knew her not to be aggressive.”
