2-year-old struck twice by bullets after gunshots ring out from passing vehicle in Houston’s Fourth Ward

HOUSTON – A 2-year-old boy was taken to a hospital by private vehicle after a shooting in Houston’s Fourth Ward Friday evening.

The Houston Police Department said officers were at the scene in the 1300 block of Gillette Street.

Executive Assistant Chief Larry Satterwhite said officers were called to the scene at 6:33 p.m. after reports of the shooting.

Satterwhite said officers were at the scene within four minutes and described the scene as “chaotic” with numerous people at the location.

“They were outside here enjoying their evening in front of the houses when four vehicles passed northbound on Gillette,” Satterwhite said.

Satterwhite said as one of the cars and a truck passed by Ruthven Street on Gillette Street, gunfire rang out. Satterwhite said the group of people told police they believe the gunfire was coming from a black truck that was one of the four vehicles that passed by.

• See more crime stories here.

“It was many many shots, we don’t know if the persons in that vehicle were shooting at that crowd, somebody in the crowd, or at the vehicles that were following them,” Satterwhite said. “We do believe that there was at least two shooters because we have casings from two firearms, one from a rifle, one from a handgun.”

Satterwhite said a 2-year-old boy playing in front of a home was struck twice by the gunfire. He was rushed to a hospital by family members. He is reportedly in stable condition.

Satterwhite said of those four vehicles, the one the crowd said they believe the gunshots were coming from was a black truck. It possibly has four doors and also possibly a lightbar on it, according to the information police received. It is also reportedly a lifted truck.

The other vehicles that may have been involved include a black four door sedan which was in front as well as a silver Nissan. Another car described as champagne in color backed up and went southbound on Gillette when the gunshots rang out. Police are unsure whether that car was involved.

There are no descriptions of potential suspects at this time.

Satterwhite is asking for anyone who has any information to call HPD’s Major Assaults Division at 713-308-8800.