Meyerland On Edge After Two Babies Are Shot

HOUSTON, TX — "You can't do something like this in Meyerland and get away with it," the mother said. "This is not the type of neighborhood this is." She was referring to the stray bullet that hit her 1-year-old son in both legs as she and the boy were traveling in a car near Mullins Drive at Beechnut earlier this month.

On June 14, 10-month-old Messiah Marshall was shot and killed in his father's arms in an apartment complex off of North Braeswood Boulevard in what police are describing as a gang-related incident.

The two shootings have area residents, especially parents, on edge, and wondering if the shootings are the beginning of a violent trend.

“Well the immediate thing I thought of is that my son is doing summer classes, coming back from school,” a Meyerland father, who wished to remain anonymous, told KHOU.

He was not alone, and other parents have weighed in.

“It’s pretty sad that you can’t even walk out of your own home and not feel safe,” said Tiffany Weiss.

“I was hurt. My heart went out. Right before Father’s Day, an innocent baby who didn’t have nothing to do with it,” added Nicole Parker.

Police have arrested one suspect in Messiah's death and are seeking two additional suspects in the incident, while no arrests have been made in the stray-bullet case.

“I’ve been here for 12 years now. It’s quiet. It’s always quiet. That’s the reason we chose this place. I’d like to think this is an outlier,” said another Meyerland resident, who declined to provide her name.

Crime Stoppers is offering a $5,000 reward for information about the shooting of Messiah Marshall. Anyone with information is asked to call 713-222-TIPS (8477).

» See the complete story on KHOU

— Image: gun memorial.org/contributed