Woman Allegedly Killed Her Daughter’s Paternal Grandmother In Custody Dispute

A Texas woman is accused of shooting her daughter's paternal grandmother at a Starbucks over a custody dispute. 

Tranisa Octavin Trana Watts, 23, had agreed to meet with 52-year-old Kentoria Nicole Edwards at a Starbucks in Richardson on Monday, the Richardson Police Department stated in a news release. Edwards was the paternal grandmother of Watt's child and had full custody of the little girl.

But that meetup, which reportedly wasn't mandated, turned deadly.

Police allege that Watts pulled out a handgun on the coffee shop patio and before fatally shooting Edwards and attempting to “leave with the child,” according to the police department. 

The 3-year-old girl witnessed the shooting. She was not harmed.

Watts' alleged efforts to escape with her daughter were foiled by the first officer on the scene after the shooting, who spotted Watts allegedly attempting to leave with the girl and arrested her on the spot, according to police.

Life saving efforts were performed on Edwards but with no success. She was transported to a hospital where she was pronounced dead.

Her family says she died trying to do the right thing.

"She died protecting her granddaughter," Edwards' niece Jazmin Parnell told WFAA-TV, adding that “she was just trying to give [Watts] a chance to see the child and then she did this.”

It’s not clear if Watts has an attorney. She has been charged with capital murder and her bail has been set at $1 million. 

Tranisa Watts Photo: Richardson Police Department

A GoFundMe campaign for funeral costs states that Edwards had a husband, three children and multiple grandchildren.

"Kentoria dedicated her life to her family. She was very family orientated. It wasn't a party until KT arrived,” the fundraiser states. “Always shining bright like the DIAMOND she was.”

Anyone with information on this case is asked to call the Richardson Police Department at 972-744-4800.