GALVESTON, Texas – A man accused of killing his terminally ill wife in a murder-suicide attempt at their Galveston home claims she “no longer wished to live,” according to a newly-released court document.
Ernest Leal Sr. has been charged with murder for the shooting death of his wife, 89-year-old Anita Leal.
He is being held at the Galveston County Jail. His bond was initially set at $250,000, but was lowered to $80,000.
Ernest appeared in court on Friday, where new details about the case and his state of mind at the time of the shooting were revealed.
New details on what happened
On Sunday, Nov. 17, around 4:45 a.m., EMS received a call about a heart monitor alert, which automatically contacts dispatch and EMS personnel to be sent to assist at a home located in the 3200 block of Dominique Drive.
When first responders arrived, they found Anita dead in a bedroom on the second floor of the home with an apparent gunshot wound to her head. The weapon used was found in the same room, lying on the floor, records show.
Police said her husband, Ernest, told paramedics he had shot his wife as she lay in bed.
He was taken to the Galveston Police Department for questioning.
During his interview, Ernest told investigators that his wife told him she was sick and “no longer wished to live.” He told them that after Anita went to sleep, he went to grab his firearm and shot her. He then attempted to use the gun on himself, but the firearm did not go off.
Ernest described his state of mind to be “going crazy” during the time of shooting his wife and attempting to kill himself.