At what police are calling a makeshift club, two teens were shot and multiple other youths were injured.
The shooting occurred on Saturday before 11:30 p.m. on Jensen Drive at Topping Street in Houston, Texas, during a party advertised on social media.
When police arrived, they saw people running out of the building. Several attendees displayed injuries and were treated at the scene.
Houston police found a 16-year-old boy who was pronounced dead at the scene. A 16-year-old girl was taken to a nearby hospital, where she later died.
A 13-year-old girl who was also shot is in critical condition at the hospital.
Two other victims sustained non-life-threatening gunshot injuries.
Assistant Chief Luis Menendez-Sierra is seeking any witnesses with information.
“We assure the public that we will dedicate all our resources to finding out what happened here tonight and who did this so we can bring them to justice,” he said. “If you were here tonight, we need your help.”
Both Houston Mayor John Whitmire and Houston Police Chief J. Noe Diaz were present at the scene.
Whitmire stated, “I’m here to support our first responders and learn the circumstances of this tragedy. I’ll be following this for several days to understand how something like this—a makeshift party—was organized.”
Fox 26 reports that there appeared to be no security at the event. Whitmire said, “They’re not here. They took off.” The party was held at an empty warehouse and was an unregulated event.
Sheriff Ed Gonzalez posted on X, “These makeshift, unsanctioned pop-up parties can quickly lead to chaos and violence. These parties often come together via social media. Pop-up parties raise public safety concerns, and teens need to stay away for their own safety.”
Anyone with information is asked to contact Crime Stoppers at 713-222-8477.
[Feature Photo: Shitterstock]
