Former Texas teacher dies in court moments before sentencing in wife’s murder case

A former Texas teacher accused of killing his wife in 2023 died in court Friday, moments before he was to accept a 35-year prison sentence as part of a plea agreement. James Anderson, who served as Special Education Department Chair at Santa Fe Middle School and also worked as a clown, was in a Harris County courthouse for a scheduled hearing when he suffered a medical emergency after arriving for the proceeding. Victoria Anderson, 34, was shot dead at the family’s Kingwood home in front of their 3-year-old son during the investigation into her death. Anderson was out on a $300,000 bond at the time and had been awaiting a possible resolution of the case that could have brought him a lengthy prison term.

A court bailiff administered naloxone, which reverses opioid overdoses, before he was transported to Ben Taub Hospital. He died just after 11 a.m. local time. Harris County Precinct 1 Constable Alan Rosen said investigators believe the suspect had ingested drugs during the incident. An autopsy will be conducted as part of the ongoing investigation.

The killing unfolded in dramatic fashion after Victoria Anderson reported to a 911 dispatcher that her husband was threatening to shoot her. The conversation and subsequent gunshot triggered a lengthy standoff with police and a SWAT team, during which Anderson allowed his son to leave the home. The child escaped unharmed, though he was found at the scene covered in his mother’s blood. Paramedics pronounced Victoria dead at the scene. Police have said the motive remains unclear and that domestic disputes had been reported at the Kingwood residence prior to the shooting, complicating the family’s history in the lead-up to the 2023 case.

Anderson’s background includes a mixed career in education and entertainment. He joined the Santa Fe Independent School District in 2022 as the Special Education Department Chair for Santa Fe Middle School. Prior to teaching, he performed as a clown and balloon artist under the names Mister Jazzz and Mr. Jazzz the Clown, according to business records and local reports. District bios described him as a family-oriented individual, while local coverage noted his dual life as a performer and educator. Investigators are reviewing school records, business filings, and the couple’s communications as part of the case.

City of Houston officials noted Victoria Anderson had phoned authorities during the incident, describing her husband as threatening to shoot her, and authorities have said they are pursuing a full timeline of events. With the death, no criminal proceedings proceeded to a verdict or sentencing, and the case remains unresolved pending postmortem results and further investigative findings. The broader inquiry continues to look into the couple’s relationship history and potential divorce proceedings, as the district and investigators assess contributing factors to the tragedy.

In the days following the death, officials emphasized that the investigation would examine how the 2023 shooting unfolded, including the events leading up to the five-hour standoff and the impact on the couple’s child. Autopsy results and additional toxicology findings are expected to clarify whether substances played a role in Anderson’s death at the courthouse. As authorities piece together the sequence of events, the community awaits the next steps in the legal process and any new information that may emerge from the ongoing inquiry.