EL CAMPO, Texas – Investigators are searching for evidence connected to an early morning shooting and house fire in El Campo.
According to the El Campo Police Department, officers responded to the home near Olive and Taylor streets around 1 a.m. Friday in reference to a call of shots fired.
Upon arrival, officers found the home fully engulfed in flames and heard a woman screaming from inside.
“She had suffered multiple gunshots,” said Assistant Police Chief Gary Williamson. “[They] pulled her out of the house. She was conscious but unable to talk.”
The woman has been identified as 21-year-old Kaydra Sparks. Williamson said she was airlifted to Memorial Hermann Hospital, where she underwent surgery.
As firefighters were extinguishing the flames, another person was found inside the house. He did not survive.
Janice Bluntson said the deceased male is her grandson 23-year-old Keshun Riggins.
“I’ve been taking care of him since his mom’s been locked up,” said Bluntson. “It’s been over 20-something years.”
According to Bluntson, Riggins was a good kid but was running with the wrong crowd.
“He was dealing in drugs,” said Bluntson. “He wanted to keep competition with these other boys with these drugs and flashing money he didn’t have.”
Bluntson said she believed both the shooting and the fire are retaliation for a drug deal gone bad.
El Campo Police Chief Terry Stanphill could not confirm the case is drug-related, however, he said his officers have responded to the home several times in the past for drug-related activity.
The Wharton County Sheriff’s Office, State Fire Marshal and Texas Rangers are assisting in the investigation.