A late-night burst of gunfire outside a north Houston apartment complex left a 21-year-old man dead and neighbors rattled, as homicide detectives spent the early hours of Friday combing the scene for clues.
Residents at the Marybell Apartments on the 22900 block of Imperial Valley Drive told investigators they heard a barrage of shots just before midnight Thursday. When deputies and EMS arrived, they found a 21-year-old man on the ground with multiple gunshot wounds. First responders tried to save him, but he was pronounced dead at the scene, according to the Click2Houston.
Harris County Sheriff’s Office homicide detectives were back on the property early Friday, knocking on doors, gathering shell casings and other physical evidence, and reviewing surveillance video from around the complex. Investigators are also looking for a vehicle that witnesses reported seeing leaving the area around the time the shots rang out, Click2Houston reports.
The victim’s mother, identified only as Yolanda, told investigators she believes her son was targeted and “set up.” She said a young woman was involved in the attack and claimed, “The young lady ended up taking his life. Whoever she was with ... she stood over him and shot him 29 times,” according to Click2Houston. Yolanda also told investigators that several people had been taking photos with her son shortly before the shooting.
History on the Corridor
The stretch of Imperial Valley Drive near Westfield already has a grim history with gun violence. Neighbors have watched deputies roll up to this same corridor before.
In 2023, a 16-year-old, Zion Lampley, was killed in the 22900 block of Imperial Valley Drive after an interaction with a vehicle that was captured on surveillance footage, according to the Houston Chronicle.
How to Help
So far, investigators have not released any suspect descriptions or identified a motive in the latest killing. Detectives are still canvassing the area for witnesses and additional video, and no arrests have been announced.
Anyone with information, video, or dash-cam footage is urged to contact the Harris County Sheriff's Office. Anonymous tips can be sent to Crime Stoppers of Houston online at crime-stoppers.org or by calling 713-222-TIPS.
The investigation remains active, and officials say more details will be released as they become available.
