Woman fatally shot outside PetSmart after dispute over not saying 'thank you': officials
Share and Follow

NEWYou can now listen to Fox News articles!

A woman in Texas was shot and killed in a PetSmart parking lot after an argument over not saying “thank you” for opening the door, according to police.

Cecilia Simpson, 41, was shot several times outside a PetSmart in Dallas on Tuesday at around 1 p.m., Dallas police told FOX 4. A witness told police that Simpson held the door open for Keona Zachyua Hampton, 22, at a Five Below store, an arrest affidavit states.

Simpson allegedly became irritated that Hampton didn’t thank her for holding the door open, triggering an argument. Simpson and her daughter went to their car and drove to PetSmart, which was in the same plaza.

When Simpson and her daughter entered the PetSmart store, she told employees they were being followed by Hampton. Hampton allegedly walked into the store and began arguing with Simpson’s daughter. Hampton exited the store, but returned a few minutes later, when she allegedly started another argument with Simpson.

Picture of Cecilia Simpson smiling

Cecilia Simpson died as a result of her injuries, officials said. (Simpson Family)

An ER nurse who saw the incident told FOX 4 her perspective on what happened.

“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 like go away,” she said. “The mother and daughter tried to get in the car to de-escalate the situation but the lady wasn’t having it. They started to fight and that’s when the lady pulled out her gun and shot her.”

PetSmart sign

A PetSmart logo is displayed outside a store on Feb. 28, 2025. (Kevin Carter/Getty Images)

The nurse said she performed CPR before paramedics arrived.

“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,” she said. “I’ve been trying not to cry, but just 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. My whole family is.”

Share and Follow
You May Also Like
Alabama man sentenced to 60 years in prison for child sexual abuse material charges

Alabama Resident Receives 60-Year Sentence for Child Exploitation Charges

DEKALB COUNTY, Ala. — A Rainsville man has been sentenced to 60…
'Very alarming': Man partially paralyzed after Murray Hill shooting, advocates call it a hate crime

Advocates Label Murray Hill Shooting as Hate Crime After Man Suffers Partial Paralysis

Amid the unfolding tragedy in Jacksonville, court records have come to light,…
FILE - This image provided by the U.S. Department of State shows Joaquín Guzmán López after he was arrested by U.S. authorities in Texas. (U.S. Department of State via AP, File)

El Chapo’s Son Faces Major Shift in U.S. Drug Case: Change-of-Plea Hearing Announced

CHICAGO (AP) — Joaquin Guzman Lopez, son of the infamous Mexican drug…
Teen with dreams of lion taming mauled to death after climbing into enclosure at zoo

Tragic Incident: Aspiring Teen Lion Tamer Fatally Mauled After Entering Zoo Enclosure

A tragic incident unfolded in Brazil on Sunday morning when a 19-year-old…
Emma Heming gets 'choked up' over harsh backlash for moving Bruce Willis out of family home

Emma Heming’s Emotional Struggle: The Truth Behind Bruce Willis’ Relocation Amid Public Criticism

Emma Heming recently shared an emotional account of the challenges she faced…
Ellie Goulding and Sienna Miller announce baby news at Fashion Awards

Ellie Goulding and Sienna Miller Reveal Exciting Baby Announcements at Fashion Awards

In a delightful surprise for fans, Ellie Goulding and Sienna Miller revealed…
Brian Walshe defense says he found wife dead in bed, denies uncovering affair as murder trial begins

Brian Walshe Claims Innocence Amidst Shocking Revelations of Wife’s Death as High-Profile Murder Trial Kicks Off

The trial of a Massachusetts man, previously convicted of fraud and now…
Oklahoma student flunked by TA after touting Christian beliefs in gender essay, directs others to ‘push back’

Oklahoma Student Challenges TA’s Grading Over Christian Views in Gender Essay, Urges Peers to Advocate for Beliefs

A student at the University of Oklahoma claims that her Christian beliefs…