Deadly shooting at teen's birthday party

HOUSTON – The Houston Police Department is looking for a suspect they say opened fire outside of a 15-year-old's birthday party, hitting and killing a woman who was sleeping in a back bedroom.

Around 1 a.m. HPD was called out to a  home on Hiram Clarke Road and Clarke Springs Drive.

Witness say about 50 people were at the party, when someone outside the home started shooting.

Police say an altercation between two unknown people happened outside the house.

During the altercation, a shot was fired into the house. Witnesses say it appears at least one of the bullets went through the wall and hit the victim, who was sleeping.

The victim's friends have identified her as 24-year-old Dixie Mendez.

"I am the one who found her," Mendez's friend said. "I watched her take her last breath. I just want whoever did this to be found. I went in the room, I called her name, I seen her head shaking. I called her name again, and I said: 'Dixie please answer me.' They pulled the covers, and she was gone. She was gone."

It appears the shooter then walked across the street and fired several more rounds at another home. Now Mendez's friends are in mourning and confused by the unanswered questions surrounding her death.

"She keeps a smile on her face all the time, and now I can't see her anymore," her friend said. "The last time I am going to see her is in her casket."