Teen Charged with Manslaughter After Elderly Woman Fatally Shot in West Harris County

HARRIS COUNTY, Texas — A teenage suspect has been arrested and charged after an elderly woman was fatally struck by gunfire inside her home, according to the Harris County Sheriff’s Office.

Deputies responded around 10:20 p.m. on March 7 to an aggravated assault call in the 5600 block of Saddlebred Drive in west Harris County. Upon arrival, they found 84-year-old Joanne Bennett on the kitchen floor suffering from a gunshot wound to the abdomen.

Bennett was transported to a local hospital, where she later died on March 28 as a result of her injuries.

During the investigation, detectives learned a nearby resident had reported hearing multiple gunshots coming from a bayou area behind the neighborhood. Investigators located evidence indicating firearms had been discharged in that area.

Homicide detectives identified Joshua Ramos, born Aug. 28, 2006, as the suspect. Authorities said Ramos was allegedly firing a weapon recklessly toward homes in the neighborhood when one of the bullets struck Bennett inside her residence.

Detectives filed a manslaughter charge against Ramos.

Members of the Harris County Sheriff’s Office Violent Criminal Apprehension Team, with assistance from the Texas Department of Public Safety, located and arrested Ramos without incident. He was booked into the Harris County Jail.

The investigation remains ongoing.