A 16-year-old boy is fighting for his life after what Houston police say may have been a shootout in the heart of Montrose on Monday night. Officers were called around 9:30 p.m. to the 700 block of Colquitt Street for reports of gunfire, but by the time they got there, the wounded teenager was already gone, driven away by a passing motorist who rushed him to a nearby hospital. He was later transferred to a higher-level trauma center, where he remains in critical condition.
At the scene, officers found shell casings scattered across the roadway, a vehicle riddled with bullet holes and several other cars hit by gunfire. Narcotics were also recovered in a nearby grassy area, according to Click2Houston. Detectives said the number of casings suggests more than one shooter opened fire. With no victim on the ground and no suspects immediately identified, officers began canvassing the neighborhood for witnesses and security video.
What investigators are asking
Police are urging anyone who knows what happened to speak up. Tipsters can contact Crime Stoppers confidentially by calling 713-222-TIPS or submitting information online at Crime Stoppers. The Houston Police Department also lists options for non-emergency tips and media inquiries on its public information page at HPD.
What happened that night
Investigators told Click2Houston they believe the teen was hit during a possible shootout between two groups. Evidence at the scene, along with early witness accounts, indicates multiple shooters were involved. A driver passing through the area reportedly spotted the 16-year-old stumbling and decided to take him straight to a local hospital, where medical staff later arranged his transfer to a trauma center.
Police say the teen has not yet been able to give a statement. For now, detectives are leaning heavily on ballistic evidence and surveillance footage in hopes of piecing together who was involved and how the gunfire erupted.
Montrose in context
Montrose is a central Houston neighborhood known for its arts scene, dense cluster of bars and active nightlife. It falls within HPD’s Central Patrol Division, according to Wikipedia. That concentration of late-night spots can create ongoing public safety and policing challenges, as noted by local guides such as RelocateMetX.
