Woman breaks up with abusive ex, then he kills her in ambush at home, TX cops say

A Texas woman was shot to death by her ex-boyfriend, who police say ambushed her outside her home after they recently broke up.

Thomas Sonnier, 44, is accused of killing 39-year-old Colencia Davidson on Sunday, May 4, at a home in Atascosita, Harris County Sheriff Ed Gonzalez announced on May 6.

Sonnier and Davidson had children together, but he was physically abusive “and they had recently separated,” Gonzalez said.

Deputies responded to 911 calls at 11:20 p.m. the night of the shooting and found Davidson in the front yard of her home with “multiple gunshot wounds all over her body,” officials told KHOU.

Davidson had gone out to a club with friends, and when she arrived back home, Sonnier was waiting for her, deputies told KPRC.

Deputies say Sonnier opened fire on Davidson as she got out of a friend’s car, then he fled, the outlet reported.

Davidson was pronounced dead at the scene, Gonzalez said, adding she worked for the Texas Department of Criminal Justice, though it’s unclear in what position.

Deputies arrested Sonnier on a charge of murder, according to Gonzalez.

Atascosita is a suburb of Houston and a roughly 25-mile drive northeast from the city’s downtown.

This story was originally published May 6, 2025 at 1:47 PM with the headline "Woman breaks up with abusive ex, then he kills her in ambush at home, TX cops say."