Dallas woman accused of shooting other driver, claims it was self-defense

DALLAS – The daughter of a woman arrested this week for shooting a man on I-20 in Dallas says her mother was not the attacker and they feared for her life.

44-year-old Latuita Holland is facing aggravated assault and deadly weapon charges after she shot a man in the stomach Tuesday evening, according to police.

Latuita's daughter, Laderrika Holland, was in the passenger seat with her mother that evening.

“I feel like she thought it was a matter of life and death, and I thought so too,” she said.

Laderrika says she and her mother were on their way to work for a night shift. She says it all started when the driver of a Chevy Suburban jumped onto the highway.

“So that he doesn't hit us, we move into another lane and accelerate so that he doesn't hit us. But in the end he switches completely to the left lane. And then he changes to “he got into the right lane and turns on the hazard lights,” she remembers. “We overtake him and an 18-wheeler, and then out of nowhere we overtake too fast again and he cuts us off. Jump in front of us, cut us off and hit the brakes.”

Laderrika says she called 911 during the incident. Her phone is in police custody, but her current log on her Apple Watch shows her call just before 11 p.m. Tuesday night.

“He's right here trying to ram the side of our car,” she said.

According to an arrest warrant affidavit, Latuita told investigators a similar story. Police said she told them the suburb “aggressively cut her off” and she “reached for her pistol and fired a warning shot.”

The scene video shows the rear window of the suburb shot out.

Laderricka also confirmed to police that her mother opened fire.

“She felt like she had no choice but to do what she did,” the daughter said.

The affidavit goes on to say Latuita told police she attempted to exit the highway at Lancaster Road, but the Suburban driver “stopped his vehicle in the middle of the exit, blocking the roadway.”

Laderrika told police the Suburban driver acted as if he had something in his hand. Her daughter confirmed this.

“He came towards us with his arm raised. We couldn’t see if he had anything in his hand,” she said. “And then my mother gave the injection. I spoke to 911 and everything happened quickly.”

Laderrika says after her mother fired the second shot, her mother and another driver got out and applied pressure to the man's gunshot wound.

When police arrived, officers made contact with Latuita and found her gun on the hood of her vehicle.

Dallas police said, “No weapon was found on or near the man.”

The man was taken to Baylor Hospital in critical condition.

“I'm afraid for my life. I just wanted to go to work,” Laderrika said. “My mom and I, that’s all we wanted to do. Just go to work.”

A Dallas detective rightly called Laderrika on Thursday and asked her to explain her side of the story again.

Laderrika's mother remains in the Dallas County Jail.

Prior to this arrest, Latuita had not committed any crimes.

The District Attorney's Office will ultimately decide whether to proceed with prosecution.