FAYETTE COUNTY — Fayette County Sheriff Keith Korenek reported that on the evening of May 19, Fayette County deputies received a report of a property owner locating a male subject trespassing inside a residential construction site in the 1300 block of Knape Rd, near La Grange, along with a female subject who appeared to be in distress.
The caller advised they were attempting to detain the male subject at gunpoint when he placed the female between himself and the caller as a shield and exited the property with her.
The male subject entered the caller’s vehicle outside with the female and left the area at a high rate of speed.
Deputies began searching for the stolen vehicle as well as processing the scene on Knape Road. Through evidence located at the scene and the initial caller’s information deputies were able to identify the male subject as Justin Joseph Howard, 40, of Houston and the female subject as Ashley Renea White, 39, of Houston, who had last been seen with Howard on May 17.
White had been reported as a missing person through the Houston Police Department earlier on May 19. Deputies learned that Howard had just been released from jail after being arrested for a family violence assault against White.
A statewide CLEAR alert was issued for White with Howard and the information for the stolen vehicle.
On the morning of May 20, at approximately 8:07 a.m., Fayette County Sheriff's Office received a call of a possible sighting of the stolen vehicle in a pasture in the area off Old Plum Highway and Egypt Road near La Grange. Deputies arrived and located the vehicle in the pasture near a tree line approximately a quarter mile from the roadway.
Fayette County Investigators launched a drone to approach and were able to confirm that it was the stolen vehicle and to observe that Howard was still inside.
Deputies established a perimeter around the area to prevent the vehicle from leaving and to place deputies between the subject and occupied residences in the area.
The Austin County Regional Special Response Team (SRT) was requested to make scene and Fayette County EMS units were staged nearby to respond while deputies continued to hold the perimeter and observe Howard.
It appeared that Howard had entered the pasture in an attempt to hide there and was later unable to move the vehicle due to the mud after the significant rainfall.
The SRT team approached to make contact with Howard who exited the vehicle while restraining White in front of him as a shield. Howard displayed a pistol forcing SRT members to engage him out of concern for the safe- ty of White and the officers on scene. White was removed from the scene by the SRT team safely and SRT medics began rendering aid to Howard.
Despite lifesaving measures Howard succumbed to his injuries on scene. White was transported to an area hospital by FCEMS for injuries previously inflicted by Howard. White was later flown to another medical facility and at this time is still receiving medical care for her injuries.
The incident is currently being investigated by the Fayette Coun- ty Sheriff's Office and the Texas Rangers at this time.
The Fayette County Sheriff’s Office would like to thank local citizens for being attentive to the information that was put out and calling in the location of the vehicle and their deputies, Fayette County EMS, Lee County Constable 1 and 2 and the other agencies involved on scene. Schulenburg Police Department for their assistance with the initial scene. and to the Austin County Regional SRT Team which is made up of personnel from Austin, Colorado, and Fayette counties.
The SRT team ends a stand-off on May 20 in a pasture near Old Plum Highway and Egypt Road near La Grange. Courtesy photo
