HOUSTON - A recent lawsuit blames the U.S. Navy for the death of a woman shot in the face by her husband, a troubled military recruiter who was shot and killed by Harris County officers after committing the murder.
The lawsuit was filed in Houston federal court on behalf of the estate of Takara "Kai" Glenn Hightower and her six children and says the Navy failed to protect her from her abusive husband, Navy Chief Gregory Hightower. It says the Navy failed to take action on numerous warnings and pleas for intervention.
Each plaintiff expects $30 million on their wrongful death claim, an amount rejected on July 2 by the Navy.
"This Navy wife and mother of six trusted the government to provide protection, and instead, systemic failures gave her abusive husband the opportunity to commit an unspeakable act," said plaintiffs lead counsel Laurie Higginbotham of National Trial Law.
In September 2022, Naval Criminal Investigative Service agents interviewed Takara regarding a domestic violence complaint she had filed against Gregory. The suit says the husband was "tipped off by the government," and he reacted by speeding to their home in the Humble area.
Takara was shot in the face several times as she was holding her baby. The suit says commanding officers have the authority to strip servicemembers of their personal firearms if they are suspected of domestic abuse.
Two years before the murder, Gregory's severe major depressive disorder led to a 20-day stay at Laurel Ridge Treatment Center.
In 2021, he spent another 30 days at a treatment center after reporting his further struggles. The stay was organized by Navy staff.
Despite the treatment, Takara reported domestic abuse on multiple occasions. On July 16, 2022, Harris County sheriff's deputies responded to their home following reports of a verbal and physical altercation.
Four months later, she called the Navy's Family Advocacy Program to report an argument scared her and her children and that they no longer felt safe. She wanted Navy staff to remove him from their home so she could separate from him.
Takara said Gregory's mental health was worsening and that she needed help from the Navy to avoid a domestic violence act that would derail Gregory's career. Recent purchases of firearms added to her concerns.
A no-contact order forced Gregory from the home but Takara noticed one of the handguns she had hid was missing. Gregory had been granted access to the home to take his belongings.
"(O)n Sept. 22, Naval command made the shocking choice to put Takara Hightower in imminent and life-threatening danger by telling NCCS Gregory Hightower that NCIS officers were - at that very moment - at his home interviewing Takara about domestic violence," the suit says.
"As soon as he was told this information, he abruptly announced that he had to leave for a 'doctor's appointment' and left the building.
"Naval command did not attempt to detain him or otherwise request he remain under their temporary supervision while officers adequately investigated and secured Takara and the children."
Gregory had the missing handgun. He shot Takara in the face and head, then exchanged gunfire with NCIS agents in front of the home, injuring one. Gregory was shot in the lower stomach.
Harris County deputies intercepted him at his mother's apartment complex and shot and killed him.
"Back at the Hightowers' home, first responders found Takara dead, with her back against the wall in the living room," the suit says. "Portions of her brain and skull were visible, and her face was unrecognizable."
Her newborn and three-year-old were in the house at the time.
"Takara's murder was foreseeable and entirely avoidable," the suit says. "Naval command failed to do what it voluntarily undertook by failing to remove the firearm that NCCS Hightower used to murder Takara."