Houston mother shot to death on Enyart in possible domestic violence incident, 3 children injured
HOUSTON - A mother was shot to death and three children were found with injuries in a southeast Houston neighborhood early Friday morning, authorities say.
According to police, the children, believed to be between the ages of 3 to 10 years old, appeared to have beaten or hit. One person is also in custody.
"One was found in the house unconscious. The other two happened to make it around the corner and asked for help," said Roderick Spradley, a neighbor.
Police say officers first responded to a location on Cosby Street around 1:30 a.m. for a report of a man that was assaulting children in the street.
Most of the time domestic violence happens as a result of stressor and things that we see in ordinary circumstances, but certainly around the holidays," said Maisha Colter, the CEO of the Aid for Victims of Domestic Abuse. "You may have pressures that exist around economics or other things that come up for people."
When officers arrived, police say they found two children in the street that had apparent trauma, and they located the man up on a roof.
Police say one of the children, believed to be 8 to 10 years old, told officers that their father had shot their mother and directed them to a home in the 5100 block of Enyart.
Houston police investigate a deadly shooting on Enyart.
Officers went to the house and found the door open, police say.
Authorities say the officers entered the house and found a young boy, believed to be 3 to 4 years old, with blunt trauma.
The boy and the other two children were taken to the hospital.
"The kids are in bad shape. The girl had blood coming out of her head. I think her teeth were knocked out. One of the kids was beaten so bad he was unconscious when the police arrived," said Spradley.
As officers searched the house, police say they found a woman dead with at least one gunshot wound.
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"I’m baffled for words and to see all the blood in the house, everything damaged in the house," said Chris Smith, another neighbor.
Smith lives next door to the family and has known them for years. He said he and his wife heard the gunshots.
"He just started tripping out right after Thanksgiving. I think the cops have been here five or six times," said Smith
"We saw the change. He started getting angry, aggressive towards his wife, family members, his dad," said Spradley.
Neighbors said the suspect has a history of getting into trouble.
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"He’d go to jail and be right back out. He just got out on Sunday and this happened. It hasn’t even been a week," said Smith.
Neighbors pray for the healing of the three siblings.
"Those kids are going to be traumatized for life. They’re going to need some extensive counseling," said Smith.
Police say they do have a potential suspect in custody, and he is being questioned. Authorities say it is possible the tragic incident stemmed from a domestic situation, but the investigation is still ongoing at this time.
"Domestic violence happens because of control issues by the perpetrator and sometimes when you're in a stressful situation and circumstances, including the holidays, it can be a stressful time for many people," said Smith.