Update: Family of Homeowner Says They Suspect Retaliation after December Shooting
By: BCHP News Staff
Updated: January 25, 2013
The family of the homeowner has expressed their suspicion that the fire was retaliation for the event that took place between the homeowner and her ex-boyfriend in late December.
Police were checking with neighbors to see if anyone saw anything suspicious.
At this time, however, officials are still investigating the cause of the fire and have released no further details.
Check back to BigCountryHomePage.com later this evening for more information from both the family and officials.
Original Story
There has been a strange turn of events at an Abilene home where a shooting took place in late December.
Police are investigating what was originally reported as a possible small fire at 1017 Minda Lane.
Back in December, the homeowner shot and killed her ex-boyfriend, 34-year-old Ernest Gonzales, after he broke into her home the second time on Christmas night at 2 a.m. by forcing open the front door and then proceeded to assault her.
Someone in the area saw smoke coming from the home late Friday morning and called AFD.
There were originally reports of possible forced entry through the back door, but police are now saying the door had received previous damage. The homeowner had moved furniture up against the door to keep it from opening.
The neighbor who reported the fire poured water on it until the fire department arrived.
All damage from the fire was done to the front bedroom and the fire department says that early detection saved the home.
The home owner was not present at the time of the fire and the cause of the fire is still under investigation.
More information will follow as it becomes available.
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