HOUSTON – Child Protective Services has temporary custody of an 8-year-old boy after three of his family members were killed Wednesday in a shooting in Fort Bend County, deputies said.
According to investigators, a man shot and killed his wife and son, then turned the gun on himself inside a home in the 8200 block of Aliso Canyon Lane.
The man's wife, Sofya Ali, 33, and son, Edris Edris, 24, died at the scene, deputies said. Ali Edris, 58, was flown to the hospital, where he died.
“He loved his son. He loved his wife. She loved him. This family very nice family," said family friend Kunuz Igu. “We're confused about what's going on. We don't know. He never told anything to anybody.”
Deputies said Edris Edris was Ali Edris' son from a previous relationship.
According to deputies, an 8-year-old boy who was also in the home at the time of the shootings hid when he heard the shots, then ran to a neighbor's house for help.
“He says, 'My father shot my mom and my brother, that's what he told the police," said Igu.
A judge granted distant relatives temporary custody of the 8-year-old who was not hurt in Wednesday's shooting.
“It's actually sad to know he's left without a family. [He has no] immediate family members. He has no brother. No mother or a father," said neighbor Cristel Parraga.
A friend said Ali Edris sent his wife a text message around the time of the shooting asking them to take care of Edris' 8-year-old son. The same friend said, Edris then called him and referenced the shooting. That friend said he then heard a gunshot followed by silence.
A neighbor showed up with colorful balloons and a poster wishing “Happy Birthday Edris!”
Wednesday would have been the 25th birthday for Edris Edris.
"It's important because unfortunately we are all neighbors and you know it's family at the end of the day no matter who it is and what situation occurred. Or what issues they had at home,” said neighbor and family friend, Cristel Parraga.
She told KPRC 2, "He might not be here to see it. But at least family and friends if they ever do come around, they can see that he was liked or loved."
A longtime friend said the 24-year-old was to start a new job in the Texas Medical Center this week. He said Edris survived cancer as a child, but did not survive to see his 25th birthday.
Gustavo Parraga said, "He would always talk to me about it because of my long hair. He had a little Afro so I was like, 'Hey, you need to grow it out long' and he said, 'No, I like to keep it like this because when I was a kid I had leukemia and it always reminds me of like when I shave my hair. It reminds me of when I didn't have any.'"
Just before the crime, a fellow cab driver said Ali Edris was driving his cab.
"He's a good man. Last night, working together. Was the airport,” said Kebret Mohmed. Mohmed said he saw no signs anything was wrong Tuesday night. Mohmed said, "He's a very nice person. He was a good man. I don't know what's going to happen."
Deputies are investigating a motive for the shootings.