HOUSTON – Three people are dead, and a teen was injured following a shooting at an apartment complex in west Houston.
The incident happened around 11:15 p.m. Wednesday at the Hamilton Park Apartments on Ranchester Drive near Bellaire Boulevard in Chinatown, police said.
Daniel Covarrubias said he saw four of his friends get shot, three died.
“I thank God, I got lucky. It could have happened to me too. This is my first time dealing with a situation like this. I have never lost a friend, especially like right in front of me,” said Covarrubias.
He and four friends were drinking in the parking lot of the apartment complex when a car with four people pulled up and started throwing gang signs, according to Covarrubias.
Eventually, the group drove off, but then Covarrubias said they walked back inside the apartment complex and started shooting at him and his friends.
“I started running because I heard a shot, then I heard more shots,” said Covarrubias.
Minutes later, Covarrubias said he went back to the shooting scene, but the suspects were gone, and his friends were lying in pools of blood.
“I felt like I was broken from the inside. I wanted to cry, but at the same time I couldn’t,” said Covarrubias.
According to Covarrubias, the three deceased victims were a brother and sister in their 20s, and a man in his 40s. His other friend, an 18-year-old girl was rushed to the hospital in stable condition.
Covarrubias believes the deadly shooting is the result of mistaken identity.
Police said the attack appears to be gang-related, but said the shooting was unprovoked since the victims did not appear to be affiliated with a gang.
Investigators said they are searching for any witnesses or surveillance footage that may provide them with more answers.
Anyone with information is asked to contact Crime Stoppers at 713-222-TIPS (8477).