Houston Woman Is Killed and Infant Critically Hurt in Apartment Shooting as Police Say the Child’s Father Died at the Scene
HOUSTON, TX — A woman was killed and an infant was critically injured in a shooting Saturday night at an apartment in northwest Houston, according to police. Investigators said the suspected gunman was the baby’s father and that he was later found dead from an apparent self-inflicted gunshot wound.
Houston police said officers were called to the 7700 block of Willow Chase Boulevard around 7:35 p.m. When they arrived, they found the shooting victims and began emergency care before Houston Fire Department crews took them to a hospital.
The woman died after being transported, while the infant remained in critical condition early Sunday morning. Police have not released the names of the victims or the suspect.
Police say an argument preceded the gunfire
According to Houston police, the incident started when the infant’s father came to the apartment to deliver diapers. Officers said he and the 19-year-old mother got into an argument before the situation turned violent.
Police said the man pulled out a gun and first shot the woman’s mother, who is about 40 years old, in the back. He then shot the baby in the abdomen, authorities said. The 19-year-old mother was not hurt and carried the infant outside, police said.
Investigators have not said what sparked the argument or whether anyone else was involved before the shooting. The sequence described by police places the dispute inside the apartment before the victims were treated outside by responding officers.
Officers found the suspect dead at the apartment
Houston police said the suspect was found dead at the scene from what appeared to be a self-inflicted gunshot wound. Officers who arrived first performed CPR on the woman and used a chest seal while waiting for emergency medical workers.
Those efforts continued until Houston Fire Department crews took over and transported both the woman and the infant to the hospital. Police said the baby was still in critical condition as of early Sunday.
The deadly encounter ended at the apartment complex, but investigators have not publicly detailed exactly where inside the property the suspect was found or how long after the shooting officers discovered him.
Neighbors say the shooting deepened safety concerns
The violence shook residents at the apartment complex, where some neighbors said the shooting confirmed long-running worries about safety. Resident Cesar Castillo said the property may appear appealing, but he does not believe it feels secure.
Castillo said concerns about safety were one reason he moved away. He also said the shooting reflected what he sees as a broader breakdown in community connection and trust.
Another resident, Alexandra Barlow, said hearing about the incident was heartbreaking, especially because an infant was hurt. She said innocent people should not be killed and described the loss as deeply upsetting for the mother.
Questions remain as investigators work the case
Police have not said whether the gun used in the shooting was recovered or whether any prior calls had been made to the apartment complex involving the people connected to the case. The identities of those involved also remain withheld while investigators continue their work.
For now, the central facts released by Houston police are limited to the sequence of the shooting, the deaths and injuries, and the apparent suicide of the suspect. The case left one woman dead, an infant fighting for life, and a neighborhood struggling to make sense of the violence.