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Former ‘Top Model’ contestant among Houston shooting victims

Mar 30, 2017 | 12:30 PM

HOUSTON — One of the four people wounded in a Houston shooting that also left two victims dead was a former contestant on “America’s Next Top Model” and the sister of one of the men who died, according to court records and authorities.

Brandy Rusher, 32, was identified in court records as one of the wounded. She competed on the reality TV show in 2005 before being eliminated from the program. Authorities identified one of two men killed as Gary Rusher, 31, her brother.

Family members reached by phone at the home of Brandy Rusher’s grandfather declined to comment on Thursday.

A GoFundMe campaign set up to help pay for funeral and other expenses by Chloe Smith, Brandy Rusher’s sister, said her sibling remains hospitalized in critical condition and that another brother, Isaiah, was also injured and is also in critical condition.

Investigators announced Thursday that two brothers were arrested following the Sunday night shooting at a Houston-area apartment complex that authorities say took place after an argument.

Jeremy and Harvey Jones remained jailed Thursday without bond after they were arrested the previous evening.

Jeremy Jones, 28, was charged with capital murder of multiple persons while his brother Harvey, 34, was charged with aggravated assault with a deadly weapon.

Court records didn’t list attorneys for them.

The shooting took place after Harvey Jones’ common law wife got into an argument with some of the shooting victims, who were sitting and standing on the stairs that lead to her apartment, according to the probable cause affidavit.

According to witnesses, the brothers arrived at the apartment complex and Jeremy Jones removed a weapon, possibly an AR-15 rifle, from the trunk of a car and approached the individuals sitting on the steps, exchanging words with them.

Harvey Jones threatened the individuals with the weapon and then returned it to the vehicle’s trunk before his brother quickly removed it and opened fire, according to the affidavit.

“There was no evidence of any of the (shooting victims) possessing firearms or conducting any criminal activities leading up to the shooting,” the affidavit said.

Deputies recovered 24 empty shell casings at the shooting scene. Bullet holes were found in various walls and doors and on at least one car at the apartment complex. One bullet entered one of the apartments, nearly hitting one of the residents.

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Follow Juan A. Lozano on Twitter at www.twitter.com/juanlozano70

Juan A. Lozano, The Associated Press