A man is charged with murder in the death of a woman who was shot to death in front of her children in northwest Harris County, police said

HARRIS COUNTY, Texas (KTRK) — A day after a woman was shot to death in front of her children in northwest Harris County, authorities said the suspect in the case has turned himself in.

Howard Devon Ruffin, 39, is currently charged with murder in the death of a 32-year-old woman, police said. Court documents show the victim is Jackelyn Wilson, 32.

The Houston Police Department said the woman was shot around 8 a.m. Wednesday at the Willow Green Apartments near 249 and FM 1960. Officers responded to the scene and found the victim suffering from multiple gunshot wounds.

RELATED: Only on 13: Video shows moment mother was shot in front of children in northwest Harris County

Eyewitness News spoke with two women who said they were stopped by one of the victim's sons.

“We said, 'Hey, you all missed the bus,'” the witness recalled. “Her little six-year-old said, 'I know, but he shot my mother.'”

On hearing this, the women said they immediately took action but unfortunately the woman succumbed to her injuries.

HPD said further investigation and evidence from the crime scene, as well as witness statements, led them to Ruffin, who they believe was the victim's boyfriend.

Hours after the shooting, police were told Ruffin wanted to turn himself in and talk to investigators. Ruffin has since provided a statement to investigators and has been arrested and charged. He is currently being held in the Harris County Jail.

Days before the shooting, a neighbor told ABC13 she heard Ruffin threatening Wilson.

“The only time I heard him, and I want to say it was last week, was when he said, 'Okay, bitch, I'm going to kill you,'” the neighbor recalls.

On Monday, she said Wilson threw Ruffin's belongings out of the apartment. The day before the shooting, the neighbor spotted Wilson sitting in an SUV in the parking lot in the dark.

“When he looked up and saw me looking at him because I had to get past him, I just ran away from him,” she remembers. “I can’t explain the feeling I had, but it wasn’t a good feeling.”

Court documents show Ruffin has a pattern of family violence. Three years ago, Ruffin was convicted in Walker County of assaulting a family member. He spent three days behind bars.

Two years ago, he was charged in Harris County with beating and strangling Wilson. Prosecutors sought a protective order.

She never understood it. Despite the warrant, he was not arrested in Harris County.

We've learned that Ruffin was arrested in West Texas. It's unclear why.

However, in Maverick County, officials granted him a $7,500 bond for the Harris County assault charge. They classified the charge as a misdemeanor even though it was a felony.

Harris County records show they didn't hear about the bond for 16 months. They just found out last week and scheduled a hearing for Thursday.

We contacted Maverick County officials and asked about the bail that was granted 16 months ago. We have not received any response.

As for the murder charge, prosecutors are asking a judge to deny him bail.

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