2 teens dead, 3 teens injured at 'makeshift club' shooting in northeast Houston
HOUSTON - Two 16-year-old children, a boy and a girl, were killed in a shooting at a pop-up party in northeast Houston on Saturday night. Three others were injured, including a 13-year-old girl who is in critical condition.
The 19-year-old female injured in the shooting showed up at the hospital. Officials say the 13-year-old girl is in critical condition.
There is no word on the condition of the 19-year-old girl.
A 16-year-old female was also shot and is listed as non-critical at Texas Children's.
What we know
Houston police officers were called to a shooting in progress just before 11:30 p.m. on Saturday on Jensen Drive at Topping Street., which is just off of Eastex Freeway and near the intersection with Parker Road, in north Houston.
When officers arrived, they found a chaotic scene with a large crowd of people running out of a "makeshift club." Police called it a last minute party, or a pop-up party that possibly started on social media. Emergency responders found the 16-year-old boy dead at the scene from gunshot wounds. A 16-year-old girl died at the hospital from her wounds.
Police believe the crowd was mostly juveniles.
What officials are saying
"We are going to put all our resources into finding out what happened tonight, and who did this so we can bring them to justice," said Assistant Chief Luis Menendez-Sierra. "If you were here tonight, we need your help. If you were a witness to what happened, we need you to call that number. We need you to give us information so we can bring these people to justice.
Houston Mayor John Whitmire was at the scene and said it was an impromptu party in an empty warehouse, and it was unregulated. He said the security guards, "They're not here. They took off."
Sheriff Ed Gonzalez posted on X: "These makeshift, unsanctioned pop-up parties can quickly lead to chaos and violence. These parties quickly come together via social media. Pop-up parties raise public safety concerns and teens need to stay away for their own safety."
Suspect information
There is no suspect information at this time, according to the Houston Police Department.
The plea to the public is that if you or someone you know was at the party, please contact CrimeStoppers at 713-222-8477.