BAYTOWN, Texas – One person was killed and at least 13 others were injured after someone opened fire on a crowd holding a candlelight vigil in Baytown Sunday evening.
According to Harris County Sheriff Ed Gonzalez, a group of up to 50 people had gathered at a lot in the 1400 block of N Market Loop as part of a celebration of life for a man who had recently died.
Gonzalez said, just as the crowd was releasing balloons around 6:40 p.m., someone drove by in a vehicle and began firing at least 20 shots into the crowd.
At least 14 people were shot. Three victims were airlifted to the hospital for treatment.
The other victims were taken to a nearby hospital in private vehicles. Of those victims, several were said to have non-life-threatening injuries, but one person died. According to Gonzalez, the victim who died has been identified as Disha Allen, a woman in her mid-20′s.
Her cousin shared a photo with KPRC 2′s Rilwan Balogun and said Allen was 25 years old. A family friend has set up a GoFundMe account on behalf of Allen’s mother.
Disha Allen’s cousin shares this picture of the 25-year-old. Authorities say she was killed when someone opened fire on a crowd holding a candlelight vigil in Baytown Sunday evening. @KPRC2 pic.twitter.com/G1TLatIXry
— Rilwan Balogun (@KPRC2Rilwan) December 13, 2021
Witnesses said some of the victims could be children. Several were playing in a bounce house when the shooting began.
After the shooting, a large crowd congregated at Houston Methodist Hospital in Baytown. Some sort of disturbance broke out as emotions were high and Baytown police and Precinct 3 deputies were called to assist.
Gonzalez said the suspected gunman was believed to be in a dark-colored sedan. According to deputies, they found a vehicle that was set on fire and matches the description of the vehicle the suspect was is in. No suspects were in custody as of early Monday.
Anyone with information on the case is urged to call Crime Stoppers at 713-222-TIPS.