Houston shooting: Mother killed, man injured in SUV with her 3-year-old child in backseat
HOUSTON - A family is left devastated tonight and wanting answers after a mom is shot to death with her 3-year-old son in the car in the Acres Homes area of Northwest Houston.
What could have possibly caused someone to open fire on a family’s SUV? That’s the question so many are trying to answer after a 34-year-old mother was shot to death while driving in the 2800 block of W. Gulf Bank Road, near W. Montgomery Road.
A 41-year-old man in the passenger seat was shot and injured. It all happened with the woman’s 3-year-old little boy in the backseat.
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A Houston firefighter could be seen there at the scene holding the 3-year-old close in her arms. The baby boy may not fully understand what he just survived but many others do.
"What a miracle," says Asst. Chief Jessica Anderson with the Houston Police Department.
Around 2:45 a.m. a witness called 911 reporting two vehicles going pretty fast, East on West Gulf Bank Road, and someone from a four-door Ford sedan opened fire on an Acura SUV.
A man in the passenger seat was shot and injured. Apparently, the same bullet shot and killed the mom who was driving. "The bullet that struck the driver passed through the passenger," explains Asst. Chief Anderson.
After the shooting, the mom behind the wheel wrecked along the curb.
Investigators say the car carrying the gunman turned the corner onto West Montgomery, hit the curb, and had a tire blow out. Officers arrived within one minute of the 911 call and detained two people who were in the car trying to change the tire.
Houston police investigate a deadly shooting on W. Gulf Bank.
The deceased woman’s mother arrived sobbing and falling into the arms of a Houston police officer.
Even as those in uniform try to console clearly broken hearts, they know their comfort will be fleeting because this kind of pain is likely lifelong.
"It’s really tragic and scary for that young child. My thoughts and prayers are with him. I can’t imagine the trauma that he’s feeling and the shock," says Anderson.
Detectives say they’re not sure at this point if this is a case of road rage, but they say if you find yourself the target of another driver do everything possible not to engage.
"Back up, slow down, don’t encourage the situation. Don’t involve yourself in the situation. In this case the police station was just around the corner. If something like that is going on call us or just pull into a police station," says Anderson.
The two individuals who were questioned by police were released without any charges filed. Detectives believe a third person, the shooter, ran away before officers arrived.
The 3-year-old wasn’t physically injured.
The investigation continues. Police would like to speak with anyone who has information about the shooting or video of the incident. You can contact the HPD Homicide Division at 713-308-3600 or speak anonymously with Crime Stoppers at 713-222-TIPS.