A Texas man who claimed his common-law wife killed herself while they were fighting was exposed as her alleged murderer — when their 3-year-old told police, “Daddy shot mommy.”
Dabreon Banks, 27, is accused of fatally shooting Kimberly Hernandez, 24, inside their Houston apartment on Monday night.
The couple’s toddler daughter and 20-month-old son were both inside the home at the time, the Harris County Sheriff’s Office said.
Banks had initially claimed that he and Hernandez were “play fighting” when the gun went off, but later said she shot herself in the head during a physical argument over text messages on his phone.
Neighbors told authorities they’d heard Banks screaming that his wife had just shot herself moments after the gunshots rang out.
But deputies said the couple’s daughter witnessed the shooting, telling them “Daddy shot mommy.”
Kimberly Hernandez’s father holds up his daughter’s photo. ABC13“Officers spoke with a juvenile eyewitness who told officers that, ‘Dad shot mom.’ She gestured with her hand as a pistol,” prosecutors said in court on Wednesday, according to KTRK.
“Officers spoke to another witness who stated that that same child told her, ‘Daddy shot mommy.'”
Banks was arrested at the home and charged with murder. He’s being held on a $75,000 bond.
Police vehicles seen at the scene of the incident. ABC13The two children were not injured and are currently being cared for by family members.
