HARRIS COUNTY, Texas — A man whose wife was gunned down in August was found shot to death in his garage in north Harris County on Halloween night, according to the sheriff’s office.
The victim has been identified as 38-year-old Eric Pait.
The shooting happened between 10 p.m. and 11 p.m. at a home on Hawks Nest Drive off I-45 near the Greenspoint area just west of Ella Boulevard. Investigators said they were called to the home after reports of multiple shots being fired in the neighborhood.
It was a busy night in the area with people out and about for Halloween. Witnesses told investigators they saw someone in a Michael Myers mask from the "Halloween" slasher films walk up to the victim and start shooting.
“Someone of that description was seen in the area during the shooting. Again, we’re reviewing video, processing the scene, and interviewing witnesses to gather as much evidence as we can,” HCSO Homicide Sgt. Michael Ritchie said.
Crime scene investigators were still there on Friday as they tried to piece together what happened.
“I was in my room, and I heard about three or four shots, and it was so loud that I thought it was my backdoor neighbors but it was over there," Monica Melgar told us. "Things like that don’t happen in this neighborhood."
They're reviewing any available surveillance video of what neighbors hope was not a random crime.
“I’d like to think that someone’s not just randomly going out and killing anyone that’s outside – but it still makes you want to stay inside a little bit," Melgar said.
Victim's wife killed over the summer
Family members of Pait's estranged wife told KHOU 11 told us she was also gunned down two months ago. On August 16, 37-year-old Carman Peterson was shot and killed as she slept in her new apartment on FM 1960, according to the Harris County Sheriff's Office. A family member found Peterson's body when she went to check on her because she hadn't been able to reach her.
Before the couple separated, Peterson lived in the home on Hawks Nest Drive with her husband and three of their children. Peterson's family told KHOU 11 they believe the estranged husband was involved in her death. Authorities have not commented on that but Pait had not been charged.
Investigators said two of the couple's children were inside the home when their father was shot but were unharmed.
According to court records, Peterson filed for divorce from Pait in March of this year.
Anyone with information on either case is encouraged to contact Crime Stoppers at 713-222-TIPS (8477) or the HCSO Homicide Unit at 713-274-9100.