Police are trying to determine why one home was struck and whether 65-year-old Princella Ross was the intended target.
HOUSTON, Texas — Houston homicide detectives are searching for surveillance video and witnesses after a 65-year-old woman was killed by gunfire that struck her south Houston home, with investigators saying they have not determined whether she was targeted.
Princella Ross was found unresponsive Saturday morning by a caregiver at her home on Beran Drive. What initially appeared to be a medical emergency became a homicide investigation after responders determined she had been shot. Police believe the gunfire occurred about nine or 10 hours before Ross was discovered.
The long gap has left detectives trying to build a timeline with little immediate reporting from the neighborhood. Houston police Sgt. Charles Lamont said authorities did not receive a 911 call around the time investigators believe the shooting happened. Residents told police that gunshots are heard in the area often enough that the overnight shots apparently did not prompt an emergency call.
Police said Ross’ home was the only residence on the block known to have been struck by the gunfire. That detail has become significant as investigators examine whether the house was intentionally targeted or whether Ross was killed by shots fired for another reason. Authorities had not announced a conclusion about either possibility.
Detectives are canvassing the neighborhood for surveillance recordings and other evidence that could show vehicles, people or activity near the home around the suspected time of the shooting. Police had not publicly identified a suspect or released a confirmed motive.
Several shell casings were found outside the home, according to reporting from the scene. Police believe the shooting happened during the early-morning hours Saturday, before the caregiver arrived and discovered Ross inside the residence.
Family members identified Ross and said she was a mother of three and grandmother of 10. Her relatives were left seeking answers as detectives worked to determine why gunfire struck the home and whether Ross herself was the focus of the attack.
Initial reports during the police response said one person was detained. Authorities had not announced an arrest or charges related to Ross’ killing, and available information did not establish a connection between the detained person and the fatal gunfire. Police have not publicly named anyone as a suspect.
The investigation remained active as detectives sought additional evidence from the area. Key questions — including who fired the shots, what prompted the shooting and whether Ross or her residence was deliberately targeted — had not been answered publicly.
Author note: Last updated August 31, 2026.