HOUSTON – Houston police have arrested a man accused of fatally shooting his ex-girlfriend. According to police, the shooting occurred on Jan. 17 at an apartment complex in west Houston.
Just after 7 p.m., officers arrived at the Turtle Point apartment complex in the 3400 block of Dunvale Street and found Jaynice Ferguson, 23, suffering from a gunshot wound to her right thigh. Medics rushed Ferguson to Memorial Hermann-Texas Medical Center, where she later died.
A medical report from the Harris County Medical Examiner’s office indicated a bullet hit Ferguson’s femoral artery, causing her to bleed to death.
Officers found six fired casings along the sidewalk where Ferguson was shot.
On Jan. 19, the Harris County District Attorney’s office issued a homicide warrant for Algie Mac Washington, 46, in connection to the deadly incident.
Ferguson’s sister reached out to KPRC 2 and provided insight into Ferguson and Washington’s tumultuous relationship. They began dating around three years ago, the sister said. During the course of the relationship, Ferguson became physically abusive.
“He beat her so bad, she had to stay in the hospital,” Ferguson’s sister stated.
In addition, KPRC 2 obtained court records that indicated Washington had four felony convictions in cases where Ferguson was the victim. The convictions included aggravated assault causing serious bodily injury, assault of a family member with a previous conviction, assault impeding breath, and continuous violence against the family.
When officers arrived at the complex on the night of the shooting, Ferguson was lying unconscious and bleeding profusely from a gunshot wound to her thigh, according to court documents. Arriving medics revived Ferguson before loading her into the back of an ambulance.
A Houston police officer told homicide detectives that the officer got into the back of the ambulance to hand Ferguson her cell phone. While handing Ferguson her cell phone, she told the officer her ex-boyfriend shot her, according to Washington’s arrest warrant. The officer then found previous Houston police reports indicating several instances of domestic violence charges filed by Ferguson against Washington.
Ferguson’s current boyfriend spoke with investigators at the crime scene. According to Ferguson’s current boyfriend, she called him at 6:48 p.m., “hysterically shouting that she had been shot by her ex-boyfriend.” Moments later, Ferguson’s current boyfriend arrived and saw a large amount of blood on Ferguson’s leg. He carried her back into her apartment while she talked with a 9-1-1 dispatcher.
“[Ferguson] continued to have issues with the ex-boyfriend since ending their relationship. In September 2023, Washington showed up at their apartment, demanding to speak to her,” Ferguson’s current boyfriend told detectives. During the September incident, the couple refused to let Washington inside their apartment, and the current boyfriend told Washington to leave the premises.
Also, during a February or March incident, Ferguson’s sister said Washington told family members, “If I can’t have her [Jaynice Ferguson], then nobody can.”
HPD’s Crime Reduction Unit and SWAT arrested Washington on Wednesday at an apartment complex in the 2500 block of Winrock Street.
He is in the Harris County Jail with no bond on a murder charge.
In an effort to help victims, KPRC 2 News created a series, “Breaking Free,” reporting on domestic-related violence and its horrific consequences. The series showcased various stories of survival, heartache, and some even ending in death, but each shared a list of free domestic violence resources on how to get help. Do you know someone in need of help? KPRC 2 released the following features in “Breaking Free.”
- Help is also available immediately if you need it through the following numbers:
- Houston Area Women’s Center: (713) 528-2121
- National Domestic Violence Hotline: (800) 799−7233
- If you are in immediate danger, call 911.