Fatal Shooting of Female at 4503 Beechnut March 21, 2008 - A female fatally shot herself while inside a vehicle parked outside the Houston Police Southwest Patrol Division Station at 4503 Beechnut about 12:30 p.m. on Thursday (March 20). The victim, identified as Li Dong, 54, of 5742 Yarwell, suffered a gunshot wound and was pronounced dead at the scene. HPD Homicide Division Senior Police Officer A.J. Palos and Officer C.T. Hufstedler reported: Ms. Dong parked her vehicle near a large tree on the east side of the Southwest Police Station. A citizen leaving the station saw Dong slumped over in her car and went to check on her. The citizen observed a shotgun in Dong’s lap and went back inside the police station to notify officers. The officers went outside to the vehicle and called Houston Fire Department paramedics who pronounced Dong dead. Investigators arrived and located a lengthy note stating that Dong believed she was being poisoned and that she had placed the poison in a container in the trunk of her vehicle. Personnel with the HFD Hazardous Materials Team were called as a precaution and conducted a thorough examination of the vehicle and were unable to locate any signs of a hazardous chemical in or near the car. JFC/GO For additional information, please contact the HPD Public Affairs Division at 713-308-3200. |