Dad shot in front of infant while defending family during attempted carjacking

EAST HARRIS COUNTY, Texas – Deputies are searching for the gunmen who shot a man defending his family in east Harris County Thursday.

Investigators said Armando Velasquez, his fiancee Sarah Harris and her 1-year-old daughter were ambushed in the driveway of their home at about 1 a.m. after they returned from Taco Bell.

Officials said two men wearing hoodies confronted the couple and their baby as they sat in their white car. The men held the couple at gunpoint and demanded they hand over the vehicle.

"We heard like arguing and then we heard like five gunshots," Natalie Perrett, a close friend of the couple, said.

When Velasquez refused and fought back one of the men opened fire and shot the dad in the stomach and legs. Deputies said one of the bullets went through one leg and hit the other. Perrett said she heard five gunshots.

Authorities said Armando was shot multiple times, in both legs and in the stomach during the fight.

"I heard Sara screaming, 'He's shot! He's shot!" friend Cody Limon said.

The father was taken to Ben Taub General Hospital in serious but stable condition. We're told he is expected to survive his injuries.

The gunmen did not get the car and ran away on foot with nothing in hand.

Investigators hope witnesses will come forward with information that will lead to the shooter's arrest.

"He showed great bravery, standing up for his family, his daughter, fighting them off even though he knew they had a fun. That showed really great bravery to me," Limon said.

Investigators released surveillance video of the attack. Officials said he never gave up the keys to his car and both his fiancée and daughter were unharmed in the attack.

Anyone with information about the suspects is asked to call the Harris County Sheriff's Office.