Woman, 79, shot by pellet gun

A teen boy was arrested this week after his 79-yearold Cypress neighbor was shot by a high-powered pellet gun while she was gardening, officials said.

Matthew Bittner, 17, was charged Tuesday with aggravated assault with a deadly weapon, according to Harris County court records.

The woman called authorities about 3 p.m. Feb. 8 from her house in the 13700 block of Pegasus Drive after she was shot, court records show.

The woman told deputies from the Harris County Precinct 4 constable’s office that she bent over to pull weeds in her backyard when she was struck in the back of the leg, felt pain and discovered she was bleeding. She heard the teenager in his backyard and saw him holding a pellet gun, investigators reported.

She told investigators that a year ago the boy shot her in the face with the same gun. She was injured but did not report that incident to law enforcement.

The woman sought medical treatment for the leg wound and will likely need follow-up treatment, according to the criminal complaint.

Bittner was released from jail Thursday on $20,000 bail, under the condition that he have no contact with the victim. He is also forbidden from possessing or using a gun or pellet gun, court records show.