A Dripping Springs woman was arrested earlier this month after she was suspected of assaulting her ex-boyfriend, which then led her to prevent him from calling authorities before she ultimately threatened him with a gun.
Suzette Burnam, 46, of Dripping Springs, was charged with aggravated assault with a deadly weapon, which is a second-degree felony, and theft of a firearm, which is a state jail felony. Burnam was also charged with interference with emergency request, which is a Class-A misdemeanor.
According to a Hays County probable cause affidavit, a Hays County Sheriff’s deputy was dispatched to Hays Country Acres Road in Dripping Springs at approximately 12:32 a.m. Jan. 2 in reference to a verbal disturbance where a gunshot had been fired.
According to the affidavit, Burnam, who called authorities, advised dispatchers she had grabbed a handgun belonging to Marty Williams, 48, whom she said was her ex-boyfriend.
When the deputy arrived on scene, he made contact with Williams, who said Burnam had been in the residence and was angry with Williams, which led to an argument.
According to the affidavit, Burnam alleged Williams struck him on the back with her hand, which prompted him to reach for his phone to call law enforcement.
When Burnam realized what he was doing, Williams alleged that she grabbed the phone and threw it away so he would not be able to contact police. When he tried to pick up the phone, Burnam was alleged to have confiscated the phone and threw it away again, which broke the phone.
According to the affidavit, Williams then began to dress and start looking for his car keys in order to leave the residence to contact authorities. Burnam was alleged to emerge from Williams’ bedroom with his handgun.
Williams alleged that Burnam pointed the gun at him multiple times and even fired a shot into a door. The gunshot prompted Williams to exit the residence and hide in the brush.
The deputy then made contact with Burnam, who admitted to firing the weapon. However, she couldn’t give an explanation as to why she retrieved Williams’ gun in the first place.
According to the affidavit, the combination of Williams’ statement and Burnam telling the deputy she fired the gun led to the aggravated assault with a deadly weapon charge.
Burnam told the deputy she discarded the handgun in Williams’ front yard before leaving the residence.
Deputies searched the area but found no trace of the firearm.
As a result, Burnam was charged with theft of a firearm for depriving Williams of his gun. The deputy filed an emergency protective order (EPO) against Burnam.
Burnam was booked into the Hays County Jail and was released Jan. 3 on $42,000 bond. A case has not yet been filed at this time, according to Hays County court records.
