It's a big step for a solo practitioner to hire an associate, but the milestone ended badly for one Texas attorney whose ex-associate landed in jail for allegedly firing a gun at the office after she lost her job.

The shooting happened at Martinez Legal, a firm launched by Denton, Texas, family law and estate planning attorney Marci Martinez in 2017, which has already grown enough to warrant a new office and the hiring of an associate. Martinez and her staff appeared to have a tight-knit relationship: The staff surprised Martinez with gifts and decorations for National Boss Day, and weeks later, Martinez shut down the office and treated everyone to breakfast and massages.

Dallas-area attorney Petrina Thompson. Photo: Denton County Jail

The peace was broken on Nov. 15, just one month after Petrina Thompson started as an associate on Oct. 14.

Thompson is now being held in the Denton County Jail on three charges of aggravated assault with a deadly weapon. She must pay a $50,000 surety bond on each of her three charges to gain release.

The alleged shooting happened just after Thompson's employment was terminated, according to a statement by the firm. Tim Crouch, a spokesman for the firm, said that there were issues with the quality of Thompson's work and her behavior.

"As she was cleaning out her office, she went to her car and returned to the office with a gun hidden in a duffle bag. When she pulled the gun from the duffle bag, Marci Martinez and her paralegal in the office ran out in opposite directions. A single gunshot was fired before the gun apparently jammed. Police believe that because the gun was jammed, no other shots were successfully fired," the statement said.

Martinez, who didn't return a call seeking comment, said in the statement that she's grateful the Denton Police Department responded rapidly.

"Thankfully no one was injured," Martinez said.

Thompson earned her law degree from Texas Southern University Thurgood Marshall School of Law in 2008. She was licensed in Texas in 2009 and has no public disciplinary history, said her State Bar of Texas profile.

Thompson wrote a Facebook post in September 2018 in which she expressed frustration and discussed "going postal."

"I honestly understand and can totally see why and how people go postal," said the post, in part. "How many high roads can any person be expected to take before they snap?"