Parker County Woman Says She Shot Boyfriend to Save Her Life

Woman says she fired in self-defense during physical altercation

A Parker County woman charged with murder in the shooting death of boyfriend says she fired in self-defense.

Roni Lisenbe, 33, called 911 Friday night and said she had shot her boyfriend, Richard Graves, 38, in their home in the 3500 block of West Highway 199.

"He's dead. He's dying. Please, somebody help me," she during the call.

Lisenbe told reporters on Monday that she fired in self-defense.

She said through tears that she was speaking publicly about the case "because I want everybody to know that I only did this to save my own life."

Lisenbe said that Graves came home drunk Friday night. The two got into an argument that quickly became physical, she said.

"I grabbed my purse and my keys, and I went for the door," she said. "And Richard stepped in front of me and wouldn't let me leave, so I stepped to the side to go past him.

She said he again stepped in front of her and blocked her.

"That's when he started hitting me in the chest and pushing me back away from the door, telling me I was a stupid [expletive] and I was going to get what I deserve," she said.

He then took her keys and her phone, she said.

Lisenbe said she grabbed her gun from the nightstand and pointed it at him. He had her on her back on the bed with the gun pointed at him, she said.

She said he leaned forward and put the barrel over his forehead and "taunted" her, asking her what she was going to do.

Lisenbe said she fired a warning shot that went over his shoulder.

"As soon as he realized that I had pulled the trigger once, he went for the gun," she said. "He grabbed it and when he did, I pulled the trigger again, and that's when it hit him in the abdomen and he stopped and it took him a second to realize what had happened. And the look on his face was like I had betrayed him or something."

Lisenbe is being held at the Parker County jail on a $100,000 bond.

Graves previously had pleaded guilty to misdemeanor family violence charge.

Lisenbe previously has been arrested on drug and theft charges but has no convictions.

NBC 5's Lindsay Wilcox contributed to this report.

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