Man sentenced to life in killing of ex-girlfriend

Victim called in name of attacker after she was shot 7 times

Copyright 2009 Houston Chronicle

June 12, 2009, 6:47PM

Fort Bend Co.

Eric Bounds, 23, pleaded guilty to murder on Thursday. The jury deliberated for about 40 minutes before handing down the life prison term.

A Fort Bend County jury has sentenced a Houston man to life in prison and a $10,000 fine after he changed his plea to guilty for the shooting death last year of his ex-girlfriend, authorities said.

On June 12, 2008, Eric Bounds lured Candace Alexander to a vacant home in Houston’s Briargate subdivision. He shot her seven times and left her for dead as he fled the scene, officials said.

Alexander was able to call 911 and identified Bounds as her assailant. The 20-year-old died on the way to an area hospital, officials said.

A week before Alexander’s death, Bounds was heard telling friends that he was tired of Alexander and that his cousin had a gun — later identified as the murder weapon, Fort Bend County prosecutors said.

Bounds, 23, pleaded guilty to murder on Thursday. The jury deliberated for about 40 minutes before handing down the life prison term.