Alina Gonzalez-Morelos Allegedly Confessed She Meant to ‘Hit, But Not Kill’ Husband Leonardo Mendoza in Fatal Pasadena Crash [VIDEO]

Pasadena, Texas — A Texas woman, identified as Alina Gonzalez-Morelos, has been charged with murder after allegedly admitting she struck and killed her husband, Leonardo Mendoza, with her SUV early Sunday morning.

According to the Pasadena Police Department, the fatal incident occurred around 3:30 a.m. on Sunday, October 19, along Red Bluff Road in Pasadena. Officers were dispatched after a 911 caller reported seeing a black Chevrolet Tahoe swerve off the roadway, jump a curb, and hit a man walking through a parking lot.

“[The witness] stated that he had seen a black Tahoe exit the roadway, jump the curb, and strike the male that was walking through the parking lot,” Officer Darby Slack told ABC13 Houston. “The vehicle left the scene.”

When first responders arrived, Mendoza, 42, was found severely injured. He was transported to a nearby hospital, where he later died from his injuries.

Later that morning, Gonzalez-Morelos, 37, voluntarily turned herself in at the Pasadena Police Department. Officer Slack told ABC13 that she “came in voluntarily and confessed” to being behind the wheel during the deadly crash.

Authorities say Gonzalez-Morelos admitted she had been drinking after returning home from a party earlier that night. During her confession, she allegedly told investigators that she intended to “hit, but not kill” her husband.

“As far as we know, there were just some marital issues going on,” Slack said. “She’d come home around 2 o’clock that morning. The children overheard them having an argument inside the room. He exited, and she followed.” Moments later, Mendoza was struck.

Gonzalez-Morelos appeared in Harris County Court on Monday, October 20, where she was formally charged with murder. She remains in custody at the Harris County Jail as of Tuesday, October 21.

Police continue to investigate the case, including Gonzalez-Morelos’ statements about being intoxicated at the time of the fatal incident.