Jan. 8, 2019 – Harris County Sheriff’s Office homicide investigators have filed a capital murder charge against Larry D. Woodruffe, 24, and Eric Black Jr., 20, for the Dec. 30 shooting death of 7-year-old Jazmine Barnes.
Jazmine’s mother was driving Jazmine and her three sisters southbound on the East Sam Houston Parkway feeder road near Wallisville Road at approximately 6:50 a.m. on Dec. 30 when they were fired upon by someone in another vehicle.
Investigators identified Woodruffe, and Eric Black Jr. as suspects based on a tip. Subsequent investigation revealed evidence that corroborated the tip, and both men were taken into custody on Jan. 5 in East Harris County.
Woodruffe was booked into the Harris County jail on a felony drug possession charge, pending further investigation.
Black then admitted to taking part in the shooting and was charged with capital murder.
Last Tuesday, on the basis of additional corroborating evidence, prosecutors with the Harris County District Attorney’s Office accepted a capital murder charge against Woodruffe.
“I am grateful to our dedicated investigators, the partner law enforcement agencies that provided vital assistance, and tipsters from across the nation who pulled together to support our work to get justice for Jazmine,” Sheriff Ed Gonzalez said. “Our work is not finished, but I believe the people of Harris County can take comfort in knowing we have made great progress.”
At this time, investigators do not believe Jazmine’s family was the intended target of the shooting, and that they were possibly shot as a result of mistaken identity.