HOUSTON – A mother is now recovering at home after she was shot three times at her daughter's birthday party.
It was a night of celebration at the Royal Court off Antoine near Little York. Saturday the festivities began.
"The birthday girl was turning 16, and it was supposed to be her night," said DJ Freddy B who was the entertainment for the party. "It started out as a family event. The birthday girl was having fun, and the adults were line dancing. There were kids there, and it was a good time for them."
As the party was winding down, a group of men were asked to leave. According to an HPD spokesperson, the same group of men started a fight outside in the parking lot.
The 16 year-old's mother rushed over to the door to stop the fight, but that is when bullets began to fly toward the building. The mother was hit in the line of fire.
"At least 10, 12 shots go off, 'Pow, pow, pow, pow,' like a drive-by shooting," said Joe Torres, who ran to take cover.
"I got on the mic and told everyone to duck, and then I saw the woman on the floor. She was shot and was telling her husband, 'Take care of my kids, take care of my daughters.' I have never seen anything like that. I couldn't believe it," said Freddy B.
The victim was rushed to Memorial Hermann Hospital in serious but stable condition. She was shot in the leg, the hip, and her stomach.
"My mom is a fighter. She will be OK, but she is in a lot of pain," said the victim's oldest daughter, Vanessa.
Party-goers chased after the suspects, but when police arrived they couldn't find the shooter. Witnesses told police they saw the suspects drive off in a dark-colored GMC Sierra truck.
One suspect was wearing a Rockets jersey and a red baseball cap. The other suspect was wearing a dress shirt and a black bandana around his neck.
If you know anything about this shooting please call Crime Stoppers at 713-222-TIPS.