Husband Killed Wife As She Filed Domestic Violence Complaint Against Him, Held Their Baby: Authorities

A Texas-based Navy recruiter fatally shot his wife and injured a Naval Criminal Investigative Service (NCIS) agent last month before being killed by sheriff's deputies, according to the Navy and local law enforcement.

Takara Hightower, 34, was being interviewed by NCIS agents about a domestic violence complaint she filed against her husband, Navy Career Counselor Senior Chief Gregory Hightower, 37, on the afternoon of Sept. 22 when Gregory burst into their home in Atascocita, Texas, the Navy Times reported, citing the NCIS and the Harris County Sheriff's Office.

Gregory pulled out a pistol and then started shooting at his wife and the agents, one of whom was struck in the upper shoulder and the lower abdomen, NBC News reported, citing Harris County Senior Sheriff's Deputy Thomas M. Gilliland.

Takara tried to flee the home while carrying the couple's baby but was shot and killed by her husband, authorities said.

The NCIS agents returned fire, striking Gregory somewhere in the lower stomach.

After firing the shots, Gregory fled the scene by car, officials said.

He raced to a relative's apartment in northwest Houston. He died during a shootout there with sheriff's deputies, according to Gilliland.

The Harris County Sheriff's Office responded to the couple's home at around 1:30 p.m. that day. Deputies pronounced Takara dead on the scene.

The baby, who police said is about 1 year old, was not hurt. A 3-year-old child the couple shared was also in the home at the time of the shooting, police said.

The children were released to family members, Gilliland said.

The injured NCIS agent was taken to a hospital and has been discharged, the agency said.

It was not the first time Takara had tried to report her husband for domestic abuse, police said.

In July, the Harris County Sheriff's Office responded to the couple's residence over reports of a verbal and physical altercation between them.

"There were mutual claims that they hit each other, and neither one of them was keen to be transported or to press charges," Gilliland said, adding that the district attorney ordered one of them to leave the home for 24 hours at the time as a result of the incident.

Two days before she was fatally shot, Takara had called the sheriff's office again and inquired about how she could file for a restraining order. A deputy provided her with the information, Gilliland said.

A GoFundMe was put up to assist her family with funeral costs and support her children.