HOUSTON – A 25-year-old father of two was found Tuesday shot to death at a southeast Houston apartment, according to police.
Earnest Matthews was found dead at an apartment in the 5900 block of Selinsky Road around 12:40 p.m.
Matthews' family members confirmed his identity.
His grandmother, Julia Batiste, said Matthews' girlfriend found him dead on the bedroom floor.
"He had two kids. He had two boys," Batiste said. "She came around and the front door was opened and she came in the front door and when she came in the front door that's when she saw him laying on the floor in the bedroom."
Batiste also said the family suffered another tragedy two weeks ago when another relative was shot to death.
Batiste said something needs to give.
"Young folks are getting shot with children. Who's going to see about the children? Who's going to help with the children? There's nobody. ... There's nobody that's going to come to talk to all these young men and women out here who need help," she said.
Police respond
Houston police responded within minutes of receiving the initial call. Upon officers' arrival, Houston Police Chief Art Acevedo said a man fired shots at their unmarked unit.
"There was an unmarked police car, unmarked car with no markings, ... came under fire," Acevedo said.
The officers were not hurt and the man they believe fired at them was arrested. He is being considered a person of interest in Matthews' death, which police have not yet identified as a homicide.
"We're not going to call it a homicide at this time, but it is suspicious circumstances," Acevedo said, adding the department would make a determination with the next day or two.