In Houston, Texas, police have arrested a man accused of murdering his 23-year-old ex-girlfriend, Jaynice Ferguson. Responding to a call on January 17, officers found Ferguson with a gunshot wound in her thigh at an apartment complex on Dunvale Street. Despite efforts, she succumbed to her injuries at the hospital.
Court records reveal that, while in the back of an ambulance, Ferguson identified her ex-boyfriend, Algie Mac Washington, as the assailant. Washington, 45, was subsequently charged with murder. Authorities had announced a $5,000 reward for information leading to his arrest.
A week after the shooting, officers from the Houston Police Department’s Crime Reduction Unit and SWAT located Washington at an apartment complex on Winrock Street. He was apprehended and taken to the Harris County Jail.
Washington has a disturbing history of domestic abuse against Ferguson, with four prior felony convictions, including aggravated assault causing serious bodily injury, assault of a family member with a previous conviction, assault impeding breath, and continuous violence against family. In March 2023, he was sentenced to one year in prison for assaulting Ferguson. Instances of physical abuse, threats, and controlling behavior were documented, including Washington’s violent reaction when Ferguson refused to hand over her phone.
Despite multiple instances of reported abuse, Ferguson’s family expressed concerns that law enforcement did not adequately address the situation. Washington’s bond has been set at $1 million, with conditions including 24-hour house arrest, GPS monitoring, and no contact with Ferguson’s family.
Maisha Colter, CEO of Aids to Victims of Domestic Abuse (AVDA), highlighted the risks associated with domestic violence situations, emphasizing the importance of consequences and interventions to address the root of the problem. Colter encouraged victims and families to seek resources and hold the system accountable.
