Houston, TX: Man Charged in Wife's SWAT Scene Death

Updated: Monday, 10 May 2010, 6:58 AM CDT
Published : Monday, 10 May 2010, 6:58 AM CDT

FORD ATKINSON
Reporter
HOUSTON - A man who held Houston police at bay for several hours will face a murder charged in the death of his wife.

Police say that the woman died during a standoff with officers on Saturday night.

During the standoff as the Special Weapons and Tactics unit waited outside, one officer used a loudspeaker to say, "Ken McAfee, this is the Houston Police Department."

The Houston police SWAT team tried for hours to communicate with McAfee after they were called to his West University-area house. The standoff began shortly after officers arrived.

"Officers first responded to an alarm call. There was a male inside the residence, slammed the door in their faces, would not initiate any contact with them," said Sgt. C. Howard.

Police quickly realized that there was a woman inside the house. She was later identified as the suspect's wife, Janet McAfee.

"The first responding officers did make verbal contact with the female. She said she was not okay when asked," said Sgt. Howard.

At some point, police say Ken McAfee shot his wife, but it is unclear whether the officers heard the gunfire as they tried to communicate with him.

"We need for you to pick up the phone. No one wants to hurt you. We are trying to help you," said an officer using the loudspeaker to address Ken McAfee.

Eventually, SWAT officers tried to enter the home.

Officers say that McAfee responded to their entry by shooting himself in the face. He was taken to Ben Taub General Hospital and is expected to survive.

Janet McAfee, who investigators say was divorcing the suspect, was found in a back room shot to death.

Neighbors say that there had been many police calls to the house before.

"That couple has been kind of, I don't know, there's always that one neighbor on the block. They call the cops, always crying wolf about things. They're kind of on the edge," said neighbor Grayson Brewer.

Ken McAfee is scheduled to appear in court on Monday, but it is not certain if his gunshot wound will prevent him from appearing.