HOUSTON – A pool party filled with teenagers at an east Harris County apartment complex Sunday turned deadly, with at least one of the teens killed and two others seriously hurt.
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The teen who was killed has been identified as 17-year-old Isaiah Phillip. His name also matches a name on 2024’s roster for the North Shore High School football team.
Community gun violence advocates also told KPRC 2’s Gage Goulding that the victim is, or recently was, a member of the football team.
What happened
It’s unclear what led up to the shooting, but according to Major McConnell with the Harris Co. Sheriff’s Office, deputies were called just before midnight at an apartment complex on Liberty River Drive near Crosby Freeway off Highway 90.
Investigators believe about 25-30 teenagers were hanging out for a pool party, possibly unsupervised, when, for unknown reasons, several shooters fired into the crowd. At least six teens were detained, and a total of three teenagers were injured by the gunfire.
Phillip was killed while two others, a 15-year-old boy and girl, were rushed to a hospital in serious condition, via ambulance and helicopter.
The male and female that are hospitalized, are both 15, and expected to survive. They remain hospitalized in serious but stable condition.
— Ed Gonzalez (@SheriffEd_HCSO) July 21, 2025
The deceased male, age not yet confirmed, but believed to be 17. https://t.co/mWgOasxrL6
Sheriff Ed Gonzalez later confirmed on X that they remain hospitalized in serious but stable condition.
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Officials are still in the early stages of the investigation, so information is scarce. At last check, they were combing through surveillance cameras but are urging residents to come forward if they know anything.
“We’re going to need the help of the public,” Major McConnell said. ”If you were here, you know something? Your kid was here? Please give us a call.”
A woman, who asked not to be identified, said she had just gotten home from work when she heard the gunshots.
“I hear like 15 gunshots, I ran downstairs, see kids running everywhere. People running into the gym door splashing glass everywhere. When I came out, I saw two girls in the corner. One shot in the head, I don’t know where the other one was shot,” the woman told KPRC 2’s Deven Clarke.
She said she saw the teenage boy who was shot asking for help. She tried to help, but it was too late.
“I just ran out to go get my phone and call the police, as soon as I came back he’s just laying there lifeless,” the woman said.
She said none of the kids who were at the pool party looked like they were any older than 17 and the party never should have happened.
“They definitely were violating the rules, the pool is private, only people that live here can get inside the gate,” she said. “Definitely private property and they close at ten.”
In a letter sent out to parents and guardians of students at North Shore Senior High School, school officials confirmed that the 17-year-old boy who died was a student at the school.
“The news is understandably devastating, and this tragedy will deeply affect the North Shore Senior High School and Galena Park ISD communities,” a portion of the letter read. “We extend our heartfelt sympathy to the student’s family and friends and ask you to keep them in your thoughts and prayers.”