Neighbor says he heard mother of 9-year-old boy screaming; tried to save child before he died

HOUSTON – The Houston Police Department is investigating the death of a 9-year-old boy at an apartment complex in southeast Houston Monday.

Officers said at around 4:55 a.m., a woman was heard screaming for help at the Valencia Grove Apartments located at 11810 Algonquin Dr.

When a neighbor got inside the apartment, the boy was found unresponsive on the floor.

“From the information and observations on the scene, the 9-year-old was extremely thin his stomach was sunk in,” Assistant Chief Chandra Hatcher said.

Police said both the mother and the neighbor tried CPR on the boy. He was taken to Memorial Herman Southeast Hospital, where he later died.

According to investigators, two other children, ages 3 and 4 were, also found inside the apartment. Officers said they also looked malnourished, however, food is inside the unit.

The mother reportedly told officers the 9-year-old had cystic fibrosis. The woman has lived at the apartment complex with her children for about two months, investigators said.

KPRC 2′s Sabirah Rayford spoke with the neighbor who helped perform CPR on the child.

“I close my eyes and I think of him and I can’t bring him back. I just feel so bad,” Brandon Ashby said.

The mother has not been arrested and Child Protective Services has been contacted for further investigation.

Authorities said the circumstances surrounding the child’s death remain unknown.