Ex-beau called victim 140 times before fatal shooting

HOUSTON — A man suspected in a murder and attempted suicide Wednesday called his ex-girlfriend 140 times before he showed up at her job, police said.

The shooting happened at about 3:40 p.m. Wednesday inside the rental office of the Greenbriar Apartments. An employee from the rental office called police saying her co-worker had been shot.

Police identified the victim as 26-year-old Takita Mathieu.

A cousin said Mathieu was a young single mother who loved life and her little girl.

"To see her daughter just to grow up without her mother is very sad," Morris Williams said.

He said Mathieu ended her relationship with the suspect about four months ago. Relatives said his behavior was so erratic that she had filed police reports because he "constantly harassed" her over the phone.

"She was afraid," Williams said.

Mathieu's cousin said she recently came home to Louisiana for Mardi Gras and told family members she was afraid to return to her house and job in Houston.

Houston police said she had filed complaints against the suspect because of his telephone harassment.

"Right now this is a very sad day for my family, and she's going to be truly missed by so many people," Williams said.

Police refused to name the suspect because he is still alive. They said he is on life support at Ben Taub hospital where he may become an organ donor.