Shooting Incident
North Montgomery County
On July 21, 2009 Montgomery County Sheriff’s Office Patrol was dispatched to the 9000 blk of Zapata Drive in Willis, Texas in reference to the report of a shooting. On arrival deputies found the victim, Sarah Hanel, 27 year old female, in the master bathroom with one gunshot wound to the chest. She was being treated by her husband, Justin Hanel, 25 year old male. EMS was also on scene and transported Sarah Hanel by ground to a landing area where she was transported to Hermann Hospital in Houston by air ambulance.
Montgomery County Major Crimes Unit and Crime Scene Units responded to the scene and learned that Justin Hanel said that he woke in the middle of the night and believed that there was an intruder in the home. He fired a handgun several times at a figure walking towards the bedroom. Following the shots he found that the person he believed was an intruder was his wife. Sarah Hanel was shot one time in the chest. She was transported to Hermann Hospital in stable condition.
The investigation is continuing. Justin Hanel was not arrested and the case will be forwarded to the District Attorney’s Office for review.
Detective Michael Landrum
Montgomery County Sheriff’s Office
Major Crimes Unit
936-760-5876
