HOUSTON –A Houston mother, who was shot eight times by her own son during a shooting rampage Wednesday night, has died from her injuries, according to Houston police. James Allen Rogers, 26, was charged with murder in the death of his mother Reyna Rogers. He also allegedly killed the family’s two pets.
James Rogers was home with his mother and brother at the Willowick Court Apartments, located on Las Palmas at West Main, around 9:30 p.m.
For some reason he snapped and opened fire; shooting his 50-year-old mother eight times in the chest area and possibly also in the face, according to police. He also allegedly shot a dog and cat.
Reyna Rogers was transported to Ben Taub Hospital in critical condition, but was pronounced dead Thursday morning. Both of the pets died at the scene.
Police found an arsenal of weapons stacked in an upstairs closet. Friends said James Rogers was an Iraqi vet.
His younger brother, Joe Rogers, managed to escape to a neighbor’s home when the shooting began.
Sam Hoger, Joe Roger’s mixed martial arts instructor, said his stunned student told him details of the shooting.
“Apparently he (James Rogers) started saying, ‘I want my soul mate, I want my soul mate,’ and started going crazy. And then next thing you know, he pulled out his gun and started shooting everywhere,” said Kevin Hoger, mixed martial arts instructor. “And apparently, like in the middle of the shooting, he targeted, you know, he obviously, he shot his mom and Joe – thanks to his training and thanks to his work—was able to get out of here.”
Bond for James Rogers was set at $50,000.
