Eboni Pouncy, a resident of Harris County, Texas, is breaking her silence after a harrowing encounter with law enforcement left her with multiple gunshot wounds.
On Feb. 3, 2024 police officers responding to a 911 call mistook Pouncy for an intruder inside her friend’s apartment, leading to a traumatic ordeal.
In an exclusive interview with ABC13, Pouncy recounted the events of that fateful night. She explained that she had accompanied her girlfriend, who is the tenant of the apartment, but found themselves locked out when her girlfriend realized she had forgotten her keys.
Resorting to breaking a window to gain entry, they unintentionally triggered a neighbor to call the police, reporting a suspected break-in.
According to Pouncy, she armed herself with a gun for protection due to the broken window, unaware that law enforcement was on the scene.
When officers arrived, body camera footage shows them identifying themselves, but Pouncy claims she did not hear them as she approached the door.
“We got into the house. We were watching TV,” Pouncy shared. “There was a knock at the door at that time, and I got up, and I grabbed my gun, and I went to go greet whoever was at the door… Because the window was broken, and I believed I was taking safety precautions at that time of night, and so I was just trying to do the right thing.”
Tragically, the situation escalated when deputies, seeing Pouncy armed, demanded she drop her weapon before opening fire inside the apartment. Pouncy sustained gunshot wounds in her leg, torso, and other areas of her body.
She is now seeking justice with the assistance of prominent civil rights attorney Ben Crump, who drew parallels between Pouncy’s case and the killing of Breonna Taylor.
“We all know that every American citizen right now is keenly aware of their Second Amendment rights and their rights to bear arms,” Crump stated. “Why is it a presumption that we don’t have a right to the Second Amendment? This reminds you of the tragic killing of Breonna Taylor, where her boyfriend was a law-abiding gun-registered citizen. And yet, the police busted in their front door, shooting and killing Breonna.”
As investigations by Texas authorities continue, the incident will also be reviewed by a grand jury to determine if the involved officers will face criminal charges.
