Houston shooting: Juvenile shot, killed near Hayes Road, taken to hospital, officials say
HOUSTON - An 8-year-old girl was shot and killed in her apartment in Houston on Friday, according to Houston police.
Detectives confirm the girl was home with her grandfather when the shooting happened. They are still investigating how the shooting occurred, but they believe the girl was shot accidentally.
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The girl was taken to a hospital, where she was pronounced dead. Her name has not been released.
Police said they found a handgun, a possible revolver, on a bed in the apartment.
Assistant Police Chief Patricia Cantu urged families in Houston to safely lock and store guns in the home away from children.
"Please keep these weapons out of the reach of your children," Cantu said. "Hiding them is not sufficient if they're not locked and loaded. I'm not blaming anybody, but they can be prevented. It's the summer time, we know there’s more kids at home. Lock up your guns."
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The shooting is the third involving children in the city of Houston in a week. A 4-year-old died on June 29, and another child was shot and injured on Thursday night. A total of four children have been shot in a week in Harris County.
Neighbors who live near the apartment complex where the shooting happened were upset and said they were worried about the safety of their children.
"I saw the policeman over here and the lady told me an eight-year-old got shot," said Mary Rodriguez, a resident of the complex. "I started crying. So sad, innocent, innocent baby."
"The fact that it's an 8-year-old who's not going to get to play with their friends," said Tiara Thomas, another resident. "If she's with her grandfather, then her parents still gotta be told. You expect to come home to your children."
The police investigation is ongoing.