Drive-by shooter sprays elderly women’s east Fort Worth home

Susie Bonner was sound asleep early Thursday when the sound of gunfire jolted her awake.

The 92-year-old woman “jumped straight out of bed” and ducked for cover.

Later, investigators counted at least 20 shots fired at the tiny house on East Annie Street. Bullets shattered windows, a mirror and a front glass door. At least three bullets went into Bonner’s bedroom.

“I’m doing pretty good considering what happened,” Bonner said Thursday, hours after the shooting.

Bonner and her 71-year-old daughter, Laura Ruth Boatley, escaped without being hit.

“I knew immediately they were gunshots,” Boatley said Thursday. “I walked into Mom’s bedroom and told her that someone was shooting at the house next door.”

But Bonner, who was already on her knees taking cover near her bed, told her daughter, not, the shots were at their home.

Within seconds, the gunfire stopped. Boatley walked to the front door and saw the damage.

The shooting was reported just before 2:30 a.m. in the 1000 block of East Annie Street. Police released little information on Thursday.

Family members believe the shots were fired at the wrong house.

In March, someone shot at the home next door. “No one was hurt then,” Boatley said.

Boatley said that she and her mother have lived in the house for 35 years.

“I can’t believe this happened,” Boatley said. “If Mom had been up, she would have been hit.”

“Oh, Lord,” Bonner said. “I’m just thankful for being alive.”

This story was originally published April 28, 2016 at 12:58 PM with the headline "Drive-by shooter sprays elderly women’s east Fort Worth home."