Texas Woman Cleared of Murder Charges in Self-Defense Shooting of Estranged Partner has drawn national attention for highlighting the tragic intersection of domestic violence and the right to self-defense. This week, Cassandra Harris was acquitted by a Texas jury after being accused of murdering her estranged partner, Ricky Ellis, during a terrifying encounter in 2023.
The verdict brought relief to Harris, who had claimed from the start that she feared for her life when she fired three rounds at Ellis, hitting him twice. What began as a dispute over Ellis refusing to leave the home quickly escalated into a dangerous confrontation that left Harris barricaded in a locked bedroom behind a mattress—desperate to protect herself from a man she said had made death threats.
Though prosecutors brought murder charges, jurors sided with the defense’s argument: Harris acted in self-defense and had no reasonable means of escape. For survivors of domestic abuse, this case is yet another example of how critical the legal right to self-protection can be.
Self-Defense Shooting Was the Last Option, Not the First
That Self-Defense Shooting Was the Last Option, Not the First became the foundation of Harris’s legal defense. According to courtroom testimony, Ellis had been living in the home with Harris despite being estranged. When the two began arguing over his refusal to move out, Harris retreated to her bedroom and locked the door using a keypad lock. She added a mattress against the door to reinforce the barrier.
Still, it wasn’t enough. Harris testified that Ellis forced his way through the barricade while continuing to threaten her. She told authorities that he made a chilling statement: “If I can’t have you, no one will.”
Fearing for her life, Harris fired her weapon. Her attorney, Kyle Dansby, reminded jurors that it’s easy to judge in hindsight—but in the heat of the moment, the threat was very real. “That is why the law says you have the right to defend [yourself], because in those moments, you can’t wait for one guy [to respond],” Dansby argued.
Harris immediately called the police and cooperated with investigators. She expressed that she never wanted to take a life—only to preserve her own. Despite this, she was arrested and charged with murder. Her case became emblematic of how domestic violence victims can be doubly victimized—first by their abusers, then by the justice system.
Cleared of Charges, but Not Without a Fight for Her Life
Although Cleared of Charges, but Not Without a Fight for Her Life, Harris’s journey to justice wasn’t easy. From the moment Ellis forced his way into the room, she was forced to choose between inaction and survival. Even after surviving the encounter, she faced the trauma of criminal prosecution for what jurors ultimately determined was justified self-defense.
Attorney Dansby underscored how essential Harris’s access to a firearm was during the attack. “She had to shoot a guy, unfortunately,” he said, “and she had to beg the police to get here, and they still don’t get here, and she doesn’t know if he’s dead or alive.”
His statement cuts to the heart of a much broader issue: victims of domestic violence cannot always wait for help. In situations where seconds count and lives hang in the balance, the Second Amendment becomes more than a constitutional clause—it becomes a means of survival.
The Harris case also reaffirms the importance of legal protections like Stand Your Ground and Castle Doctrine laws that allow individuals to defend themselves in their own homes without a duty to retreat.
Though cleared of legal charges, Harris—like so many survivors—must now focus on emotional recovery. Her story is a powerful reminder that true justice is not just about court rulings—it’s about preserving the right to life, liberty, and safety in one’s own home.
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