Mother Of 2 Allegedly Shot And Killed By Ex At Their 6-Year-Old’s Birthday Party

A Texas man who was previously suspected of shooting at his ex-girlfriend’s townhouse was taken into custody on Monday on suspicion of fatally shooting her in front of their two daughters at a birthday celebration.

Jalin J. Foreman, 27, was booked on one count of murder after turning himself in Monday. Houston authorities have accused him of fatally shooting Jalen Whitlock Easterling, 25, with whom he shares two children, according to a probable cause affidavit obtained by HuffPost.

Easterling’s cousin, Ashlynn McBride, said in a GoFundMe appeal that the victim was a mother of two young girls, ages 6 and 4, and was celebrating the oldest’s birthday at the time of the shooting. McBride claimed that Foreman had been stalking and harassing her cousin before the shooting.

Police said in the probable cause document that Foreman and Easterling had dated for about a year before ending their relationship, and he has been giving her and her current boyfriend trouble since June 2023. He was also listed as a suspect in a drive-by shooting at Easterling’s home in July.

Easterling’s current boyfriend, who was with her at the time of the shooting on Sept. 12, told police that Foreman came to the victim’s home that day to give his daughter a birthday gift but was not allowed inside, according to the affidavit. Foreman went back to his car to grab a gun after getting into an argument with Easterling and her boyfriend.

A witness who was on the second floor of the home told detectives that he heard Foreman screaming phrases like “I know where you live” and “Come at me,” according to the probable cause affidavit.

The boyfriend told police he went into the kitchen to retrieve a gun, believing a gunfight was going to happen with Foreman, according to witness statements in the affidavit. At this point, Easterling grabbed her kids near the door while her boyfriend and Foreman shot at each other.

During the shooting, Foreman allegedly shot and killed Easterling. Easterling’s boyfriend then told the kids to go upstairs, according to the affidavit.

A witness said Foreman left the scene in his vehicle briefly after the initial gunfire but returned, yelling “We going to end this now,” according to the affidavit. Another witness who went outside after hearing the gunshots told police that Foreman yelled, “I will reload. Come outside, let’s finish this.”

Responding authorities arrived at Easterling’s home at about 8:35 p.m to find her dead at her doorway, according to the police document. She had at least one gunshot wound to the left side of her face.

Foreman’s attorney did not immediately respond to HuffPost’s request for a statement.