On a somber Christmas Eve morning, a tragic incident unfolded in Texas when an argument turned fatal. A woman, identified as Courtney Renee Hooper, 36, is accused of fatally shooting her boyfriend in the chest, reportedly following a dispute over a car and cellphone. This unsettling event has now led to Hooper being charged with murder.

The Bexar County Sheriff’s Office has confirmed the death of the victim, a 42-year-old man whose identity is yet to be disclosed. Details of the incident were shared by Sheriff Javier Salazar during a press conference, where he recounted the morning’s harrowing events. Authorities were called to the scene around 6:30 a.m. on Wednesday, responding to reports of a shooting at the 100 block of Mallow Grove in San Antonio. Upon their arrival, deputies discovered the victim with a critical gunshot wound to the chest. Despite paramedics’ efforts to save him, the man was pronounced dead shortly thereafter.

In the wake of the tragedy, investigators quickly apprehended Hooper. The altercation, according to officials, escalated from a heated argument over personal belongings—a car and a cellphone. Local media captured footage of Hooper being escorted to jail, where she made a brief statement claiming she acted in “self-protection.”

This case highlights the dire consequences that can result from domestic disputes and serves as a poignant reminder of the fragility of life, even during what should be the most joyful of seasons.

The shooting stemmed from an argument about a car and a cellphone that escalated, according to law enforcement. Local TV cameras captured Hooper as she was being taken to jail. Asked if she had anything to say in her defense, she claimed she was “protecting” herself.

“Notably, she provided us with a video that she felt would exonerate her,” Salazar said. “But in reality, after watching that video, it just seemed like that made her seem even more guilty…It’s a pretty clear-cut case at this point.”

Salazar said there is an “extensive” history of prior domestic-related calls at the address, though most of them involved men other than the victim.

The sheriff noted his office sees an increase of domestic violence-related homicides and other crimes around the holidays.

“Just want to use it as a reminder once again, that domestic violence doesn’t just go away. It doesn’t stop happening on its own. It doesn’t go away if you ignore it,” he said. “It’s one of those crimes that continues to escalate. And unless some sort of external factor happens, a breakup, you separate yourself from that situation, it keeps escalating to the point where somebody is going to die.”

Hooper is detained at the Bexar County Jail without bond. She has a court hearing scheduled for March 24.