Texas Mom Killed by Stray Bullet While Chatting in Backyard—Family Devastated

Lifestyle
Paul Johns
February 26, 2025
10 minutes read

( Image: CBS)

A Texas mother of two with a “beautiful smile” was tragically killed by stray bullets while enjoying a family gathering in her own backyard, police said. Officers responded to reports of gunfire on Frisco Avenue around 7:15 p.m. Saturday, where they found 36-year-old Marie Marisela Trujillo-Camarillo and her brother wounded near a fire pit. Authorities believe the bullets came from a block north of the home, piercing through the fence before striking the siblings.

Family members described the devastating moment the tragedy unfolded. “She was just there talking to her brother, having a nice conversation, when it was sudden that she was hit,” said her niece, Jessica Casas, speaking to NBCDFW. Despite life-saving efforts by officers, paramedics, and the Forest Hill Fire Department, Trujillo-Camarillo did not survive.

Casas recalled receiving a frantic call from her uncle, who survived the shooting but remains hospitalized. “He just kept saying, ‘They took her away from me! They took her away from me!’” Casas said. Adding to the heartbreak, Trujillo-Camarillo had planned a birthday party for her niece the following weekend. “I want to call her, but she’s not here. I’m just remembering her beautiful smile and how she always wanted everyone together,” Casas added tearfully.

Her husband, Carlos Camarillo, is struggling to cope with her sudden and senseless death. “The special thing about her is that we were always together. We were never separate,” he said. Trujillo-Camarillo leaves behind two teenage children, aged 14 and 15, who are now mourning the loss of their devoted mother.

Marie Marisela Trujillo-Camarillo (left) and her husband Carlos (right) ( Image: CBS)

“She was an amazing mother and sister,” Casas said. “She was selfless, caring, nurturing, and hardworking.” The Forest Hill Police Department has yet to identify a suspect but confirmed that multiple firearms were recovered in the area.

Chief David Hernandez stated that investigators are working to determine who fired the fatal shots. Juliet Venegas, a neighbor, expressed her sorrow and shock at the incident. “She was very nice, very respectful. I used to see her outside with her two little dogs. This is just so heartbreaking,” she said.

As Trujillo-Camarillo’s family prepares for her funeral, they are also seeking answers and justice for the senseless act of violence that ended her life. Meanwhile, her brother remains hospitalized but in stable condition as authorities continue their search for the shooter.