Russell Todd Howard, 51, of Manor, Texas, was found with a gunshot wound and died on February 10, 2022, at the 11300 block of Runnel Ridge Road. Deputies from the Travis County Sheriff’s Office and Manor Police Department discovered Howard and performed CPR; EMS also provided care but he could not be saved.

Michael Todd McKee, 52, identified as Howard’s partner of nearly 30 years, called 911 to report the shooting and was later taken into custody and charged with murder. McKee told investigators he had tried to take a handgun away from Howard during an argument and accidentally pulled the trigger, striking Howard in the head. Court documents note a deadly weapon finding and a family violence finding in the matter.

This was the Travis County Sheriff’s Office’s fourth homicide investigation in 2022. If anyone has information about what happened that night or knew Russell and his routines, please share what you know with investigators.