Left: Sherene Lavett Washington-Harper (Galveston County Sheriff’s Office); Right: Irene ‘AnNee’ Gray (GoFundMe)
A beloved and lively septuagenarian was shot and killed in Texas on Friday the 13th, and now police have arrested her own daughter for the crime that has left family members perplexed, shocked, and sad.
Irene “AnNee” Gray, 76, was shot multiple times at her own home near the College of the Mainland in Texas City, a medium-sized city in Galveston County along the Lone Star State’s Gulf Coast.
Exactly one week later, Sherene Lavett Washington-Harper, 54, was arrested on a murder warrant for her mother’s death, according to a press release issued by the Texas City Police Department. The department identified the alleged shooter as the victim’s daughter.
Officers had responded to the residence on North Amburn Road as part of a “welfare concern,” police said. The initial press release identified Gray’s cause of death as “injuries consistent with gunshot wounds.”
Gray’s granddaughter told Houston-based CBS affiliate KHOU that her three children were in the residence at the time of the slaying.
“My 8-year-old called 911,” Irene Smith told the TV station.
There is no known motive for the alleged murder as of this writing – at least not by law enforcement; at least not explicitly.
In comments to KHOU, Smith said her mother, the accused, was largely absent from her life as years went by; that her grandmother, the deceased, became more of a mother figure. Smith added that Washington-Harper had a history of drug abuse and that Gray was trying to evict her from the family home when the killing occurred.
“Growing up, we were very close – entering my adulthood, we became estranged, almost non-existent,” Smith said – referring to her mother.
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As for Gray, Smith said, the loss is palpable but hard to process.
“She was very peaceful, a very peaceful spirit – very fun and loving,” Smith told the TV station at interview in a park near the home. “It’s hard to believe such a spirit is gone so tragic and so violently.”
In a GoFundMe for wholly unexpected funeral expenses, Smith – who is named after the deceased – fondly recalled the life of her grandmother, who was known to loved ones as “Momo” and “Ms TNT.”
“Momo was the life of any party and most importantly, the best of friend you could ask for in a person,” Smith wrote. “She never met a stranger and would give her all for the ones she love. Momo leaves behind many people all over the globe that will miss her dearly. May the impact that Momo had in our lives forever remain.”
Gray is remembered as a loving great-grandmother, grandmother, sister, aunt, friend, and “many more titles,” the fundraiser goes on to say.
“The family was not prepared for this horrible tragedy,” Smith wrote.
Washington-Harper is currently charged with one count each of murder and terroristic threat of a family member; the latter charge is from a case that predates her mother’s murder. She is being detained in the Galveston County Jail on a combined $255,000 bond.
The defendant is currently awaiting trial for both charges though no trial dates have been set, according to Galveston County records.
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