A Texas man has shot and killed his girlfriend days after he proposed to her.
Kendrick Akins, 39, is facing murder and aggravated assault charges in the death of his 33-year-old fiancée, Dominic Jefferson.
Akins proposed to Jefferson on New Year’s eve. But things turned grisly days later following a row over car issues, shooting her in the chest at his northwest Houston apartment complex.
The Houston Chronicle reports that Akins turned himself in to authorities Saturday, a day after the incident. He has since been charged with murder and aggravated assault with a deadly weapon.
A judge on Monday increased his bond on the murder charge from $150,000 to $250,000. The bond for aggravated assault after he opened fire on a good Samaritan who tried to help the victim remains at $75,000.
Akins had since asked to be placed in protective custody because he feared retaliation from the victim’s family members, some of whom are in the jail, according to a public defender representing Akins during a hearing on Saturday, the Houston Chronicle reports.
“The (victim) has brothers in jail, and I guess there have been Facebook posts indicating that once he hits the floor, they plan on attacking him,” the public defender said. “He’s just asking the court to take that into consideration.”
“Just based on the charges alone, based on the PC (probable cause) statements that are public record, it’s a good day not to have a fear of continued violence at this point,” Prosecutor Michael Hanover with Harris County District Attorney’s Office said, KHOU reports.
According to prosecutors, Akins who got a gun while out on parole has a history of domestic violence. They, therefore, described him as a danger to the community.
Jefferson was said to be with an unidentified woman outside Akins’ apartment around the time of the shooting. They intended to take Jefferson’s car to pick up the woman’s boyfriend from work, The Houston Chronicle reports but the car wouldn’t start.
Akins walked outside asking about the problem, prosecutors said and Jefferson reportedly shouted “don’t touch my car.”
Akins was said to have reached for his gun at one point and witnesses were said to have overheard Jefferson saying: “Go ahead, shoot me.” He then aimed the gun at her chest and fired once, prosecutors said.
Akins in 2008 was convicted of aggravated assault of a family member and he also has prior felony convictions for possession of a weapon as a felon and possession of a controlled substance, according to court records.
