A Texas mother was shot dead outside a PetSmart after confronting a young woman who failed to say ‘thank you’ when she held the door open for her.
Cecilia Simpson, 41, was out shopping with her daughter in Dallas’s Oak Cliff neighborhood on Tuesday when an argument over a woman’s lack of manners exploded into gunfire – leaving the mother dead from multiple bullet wounds.
The suspect, 22-year-old Keona Zachyua Hampton, told police she was ‘just trying to get Simpson away from her,’ according to an arrest affidavit obtained by Fox 5 News.
She was taken into custody at Dallas County Jail on a murder charge, with bond still pending a judge’s decision.
DON'T MISS
The arrest affidavit revealed that the deadly dispute erupted early Tuesday afternoon as Simpson and her 20-year-old daughter left a Five Below, located right in the PetSmart shopping center.
As she held the door for the suspect on her way out, Hampton allegedly brushed it off without a ‘thank you,’ according to the affidavit.
An argument quickly erupted after Simpson scolded Hampton for her rudeness, before she and her daughter walked back to their car and drove a short distance to PetSmart.
The mother spotted Hampton heading toward PetSmart just moments later, prompting her to dash inside and warn an employee that she was being followed, according to the court documents.
Cecilia Simpson (pictured), 41, of Texas, was shot dead outside a PetSmart on Tuesday after confronting a young woman who failed to say ‘thank you’ when she held the door open for her
Simpson was out shopping with her daughter in Dallas’s Oak Cliff neighborhood on Tuesday when an argument over a woman’s lack of manners exploded into gunfire – leaving the mother dead from multiple bullet wounds in the parking lot (pictured: scene aftermath)
The suspect, 22-year-old Keona Zachyua Hampton (pictured), told police she was ‘just trying to get Simpson away from her’
Hampton allegedly stormed into the store, argued with Simpson’s 20-year-old daughter, left, and then came back just minutes later.
Both Simpson and Hampton, locked in another heated argument inside PetSmart, were told to leave by employees – but the suspect allegedly continued following them back out to the parking lot.
According to the arrest affidavit, Hampton hurled a drink bottle at Simpson’s car as she and her daughter climbed inside, sparking yet another argument.
Authorities said that Simpson immediately walked out of the car and charged at Hampton, which only ignited a physical fight between the two.
Simpson’s daughter alleged that during the violent altercation, her mother hit Hampton multiple times while yelling for her to leave them alone, according to the court documents obtained by Fox.
As the brawl outside PetSmart boiled over, a 27-year-old ER nurse leaving the store sensed danger and stayed nearby, keeping a watchful eye on the unfolding chaos.
‘The shooter was saying, “Come outside. Let’s handle this outside. Let’s fight outside.” And the mom and daughter were just telling her to go away,’ the nurse told Fox.
‘The mother and daughter tried to get in the car to de-escalate the situation but the lady wasn’t having it,’ she added.
According to the arrest affidavit, Hampton hurled a drink bottle at Simpson’s (pictured) car as she and her daughter climbed inside, sparking a violent physical fight between the two
Simpson’s daughter alleged that during the physical altercation, her mother hit Hampton multiple times while yelling for her to leave them alone (pictured: scene aftermath)
An unnamed 27-year-old ER nurse (pictured) leaving PetSmart witnessed the argument and said that after Simpson’s daughter stepped aside, Hampton allegedly pulled a black-and-silver handgun and fired three shots
That’s when, she claimed, the altercation turned deadly.
Just seconds after Simpson’s daughter stepped aside, Hampton allegedly brandished a black-and-silver handgun and fired three shots – leaving the mother bleeding on the ground.
The ER nurse leapt into action, performing CPR on Simpson as her young daughter desperately awaited paramedics.
Hampton fled the scene immediately afterward.
‘The daughter was next to the mom the whole time. It’s hard, you know, because the screaming of a child for her mother is never easy and it’s never going to leave my head,’ the unidentified nurse told Fox.
‘I’ve been trying not to cry, but like, you know, being in high school, my mom was such an important person in my life and she’s the reason I became a nurse,’ she added. ‘My whole family is.’
‘Honestly, if I could just hug that daughter. I just want her to know I did everything I could. Those other people did everything they could.’
Simpson was rushed by Dallas Fire-Rescue to Methodist Central Hospital, where she was tragically pronounced dead shortly after.
Hampton (pictured) allegedly waived her rights during a police interview and admitted to arguing with Simpson and the witness, following them into PetSmart twice, and continuing the confrontation
During questioning, Hampton allegedly admitted to throwing a bottle at Simpson’s car as they tried to leave, but said she only drew and fired her gun when the witness got involved (pictured: scene aftermath)
Hampton was taken into custody at Dallas County Jail on a murder charge, with bond still pending a judge’s decision. An investigation into Simpson’s (pictured) death is still ongoing
Dallas police launched an investigation and recovered surveillance footage showing Hampton driving away from the shooting scene in a black Ford Five Hundred, according to Fox.
Authorities traced the address from the registered driver’s license, staked out the property, and eventually spotted Hampton on the apartment balcony wearing the same clothes seen in the surveillance footage.
The arrest affidavit revealed that police also obtained a cellphone video of the shooting, capturing both the heated argument and the gunfire.
Investigators said that the cellphone video clearly showed the suspect, armed, swiftly walking away from Simpson, who was sprawled out on the ground.
Later that evening, at roughly 7:45pm, officers stopped the black Ford Five Hundred captured on video driving along Trail Glen Drive. They subsequently escorted Hampton to Dallas Police Headquarters for an interview.
During questioning, Hampton allegedly waived her rights and admitted to arguing with Simpson and the witness, following them into PetSmart twice, and continuing the confrontation.
She also allegedly admitted to throwing a bottle at Simpson’s car as they tried to leave, but said she only drew and fired her gun when the witness got involved, according to the affidavit.
Hampton claimed that she shot Simpson simply because she was ‘trying to get her away,’ authorities said.
With the investigation ongoing, Hampton remains behind bars, arrested and booked as bond details are sorted.
