2 Children Shot Thursday Night; Boy, 8, In Critical Condition

HOUSTON, TX — Two children sitting in a parked car were shot Thursday night in the Third Ward. An 8-year-old boy was shot in the head and is in critical condition, and a 5-year-old girl was shot in the leg. She is in stable condition. They were taken from the scene to Memorial Hermann Hospital.

Houston police are investigating the shooting that happened at 3944 Scott Street about 7 p.m. HPD patrol officers responded to a shooting call in a parking lot at a shopping center. At this time, there are no known suspects, however, a black vehicle was seen fleeing the scene.

"The code of silence does not apply in these situations," Houston mayor Sylvester Turner said at a news conference Friday morning near the site of the shooting. "If you have any information, say something. You have an obligation to report it and let someone know."

Thursday night the mayor sent out the following Tweet to beg the community to step forward and help track down the shooters.

I will not tolerate heinous and cowardly acts of violence against innocent children. If you have information about tonight’s double shooting of the 5 year-old and 8 year-old victims on Scott St., please call the authorities. We must work together to keep Houston safe.

"In this city, we draw a red line," Turner said. "This is not the new norm in our city, and we won't let it get that way. We are taking people off the street who dare hurt our children."

HPD Executive Assistant Chief Matt Slinkard said he believes there were multiple guns used in the shooting and believes there was more than one shooter. He wouldn't divulge what kind of weapons were used, nor give any leads they have so far. He said there were three children in the car at the time of the shooting, with two of them getting struck.

Slinkard said investigators are scouring all video surveillance to further track down any suspects.

"The mayor said we're drawing a red line, but we have a blue line of 5100 men and women dedicated to bring this to justice," Slinkard said. "I'm fully confident we'll be able to bring those responsible to justice for this heinous act. This is not the new norm. We are better than this. We'll leave no stone unturned."

Anyone with information in this case is urged to contact the HPD Homicide Division at 713-308-3600 or Crime Stoppers at 713-222-TIPS.