Texas Police Hunt 'White Male, 40s,' Who Killed 7-Year-Old Girl, Injured Her Mother in Walmart Parking Lot Shooting
Police in Texas are searching for a man who shot and killed a 7-year-old girl in a car with her mother and sisters on Sunday.
Sheriff Jesse Razo of the Harris County Sheriff's Office told reporters on Sunday during a press conference that the child, her mother and sisters were leaving a Walmart parking lot in Harris County, Texas, when a man in an unidentified red pickup truck opened fire. The mother was taken to a nearby hospital, and the girl was pronounced dead at the scene, according to officials.
Harris County Sheriff Ed Gonzalez tweeted on Sunday that the suspect was a white male in his 40s.
Update on Wallisville: deceased child is 7 year old, may she Rest In Peace. Suspected shooter described as white male, 40s, a beard, driving a red truck. If you know anything please contact us asap. We need our communities help. cc: @CrimeStopHOU #HouNews
— Ed Gonzalez (@SheriffEd_HCSO) December 30, 2018
"Suspected shooter described as white male, 40s, a beard, driving a red truck. If you know anything please contact us asap. We need our communities help," tweeted Harris County Sheriff Ed Gonzalez.
The 7-year-old girl was identified as Jazmine Barnes by authorities. Her mother is 30-year-old LaPorsha Washington, Gonzalez confirmed on Sunday.
"Please keep this family in your prayers. A total of 5 occupants in the car witnessed this innocent child, their loved one, shot and killed before their eyes. So senseless. It's never easy, and extra hard during the holiday season," Gonzalez tweeted.
Please keep this family in your prayers. A total of 5 occupants in the car witnessed this innocent child, their loved one, shot and killed before their eyes. So senseless. It’s never easy, and extra hard during the holiday season.
— Ed Gonzalez (@SheriffEd_HCSO) December 30, 2018
The gunman's motive remains unknown. Sheriff Razo told reporters that the two other sisters in the car were unharmed but "shaken" from the attack.
"They're devastated," Razo told reporters. "They lost their sister."
Razo said his department will continue to investigate the incident and "use all of our resources to bring this killer to justice.
"I urge you, whoever did this, you know who are, please turn yourself in now," Razo said. "We will be looking for you, and we will find you."
Anyone with information about the suspect is urged to call the Harris County Sheriff's Office at 713-221-6000 or Crime Stoppers at 713-222-8477.
Earlier this month, the Harris County Sheriff's Office was searching for a 19-year-old accused of shooting a 7-year-old boy in a car. Authorities said Omarion Philip Bailey was driving a late-model Dodge Stratus on December 8 when he shot into a Cadillac Escalade at the corner of Fort Stanton and Grey Hawk, in far west Harris County. The Cadillac was driven by an 18-year-old whose two brothers, ages 6 and 7, were also in the vehicle.
