A 20-year-old woman was shot in the neck after gunfire broke out outside a southeast Houston business on Wednesday, according to Houston police. The woman and a man drove away from the parking lot along the Gulf Freeway before their vehicle crashed near 1500 Lombardy Street, where nearby residents reported seeing the pair run through backyards. Officers later found the woman and took her to a local hospital, where she was listed in stable condition.
Police Say Gunfire Started Outside Gulf Freeway Business
Investigators said the trouble started in the 4800 block of the Gulf Freeway, where the pair's vehicle was parked next to a white SUV outside a business. A key holder for the business told police he heard what he believed were gunshots and fired back toward the two vehicles. Investigators believe one of his rounds hit the woman as she sat in the back seat of the car, according to Click2Houston.
Another Case In A Growing Pattern Of Car-Side Violence
The shooting is the latest in a series of violent incidents affecting drivers and customers across Houston in recent months. In March, a woman was shot in the neck while riding in a vehicle near NRG Park, according to the Houston Chronicle, underscoring how people can be struck even while sitting inside parked cars.
Investigators Sorting Out Who Fired First
Police said the white SUV sped away from the scene, and the male driver of the crashed vehicle has not been found. The car that jumped the curb shows what appears to be a bullet hole in its rear window. Investigators said the business key holder followed that vehicle to Lombardy Street and is cooperating with detectives. As of now, no charges have been filed while police work to determine whether the key holder was being shot at before he returned fire, per Click2Houston.
How To Help
Anyone with information is urged to contact the Houston Police Department Homicide Division at 713-308-3600 or Crime Stoppers at 713-222-TIPS. HPD maintains contact details and public news releases on its website, including pages that encourage residents to share tips with homicide investigators, according to the Houston Police Department.
