29-year-old man accused of killing his sister, opening fire at officers in Kingwood

KINGWOOD, Texas (KTRK) — A man faces multiple charges, including murder, after allegedly killing his sister and opening fire on officers over the weekend.

The video above is from a previous report.

The Houston Police Department reports that 29-year-old Byron Keith Hall is accused of killing his 25-year-old sister, Taylor Ben.

On Sunday, around 2:35 p.m., HPD officers responded to an assault call at a home on Babbling Creek Drive in Kingwood.

Upon arrival, Hall began shooting at the officers. Taking cover behind their patrol cars, the officers endured continued gunfire from Hall, who was using an assault-style rifle.

No officers were injured, and they did not return fire, according to HPD officials.

Hall eventually surrendered with his hands in the air after responding to officers’ verbal commands, allowing them to arrest him without further incident.

“It appeared that [Hall] was waiting outside in an ambush-style, waiting for the officers to arrive to shoot at them,” said HPD Assistant Chief Jessica Anderson. “The officer’s vehicle sustained approximately seven shots, and the officers reported that the fire came from multiple calibers. We found pistols and short-barreled rifles on the scene.”

Preliminary information suggests the suspect may have been experiencing a mental health crisis based on his statements to officers.

Inside the home, officers found Ben’s body with gunshot wounds. A 4-year-old boy and a 16-year-old girl, who were not harmed, were also found in the home and placed with family members.

Officers determined that Hall had gotten into a physical altercation with his sister before fatally shooting her.

Hall was booked into the Harris County Jail. Court records reveal that he had received deferred adjudication for assaulting a public servant in 2017 and was charged with indecent exposure last year.

Hall now faces charges of murder, aggravated assault against a public servant, and aggravated assault of a family member. His combined bond has been set at $1 million.