HOUSTON – Family members are speaking out after 24-year-old Cory SirDarius Young was fatally shot during a large trail riding gathering in a Northeast Houston strip center parking lot.
Young was among six people shot Saturday night at the Big City Foods store parking lot off Homestead Road, according to loved ones and Houston Police. HPD says it was an unplanned event.
KPRC 2 News obtained surveillance footage that captured gunfire erupting at the parking lot Saturday night.
Danetta Hill, Young’s aunt, said her nephew received a call from friends to meet at the location.
“He wasn’t gone from home 30 minutes before my mom got a call,” Hill said.
Hill shared that Young was rushed to the hospital after being shot and has since passed away.
“I haven’t slept since Saturday. I’m running on fumes and I’m gonna keep on running. Yeah, I feel like I’m dreaming,” she said.
Houston Police initially responded to a traffic hazard call before gunshots broke out nearby. A fight escalated, leading to six people being shot, including Young. The other victims are 15, 15, 19, 20 and 22.
Surveillance footage shows the parking lot filling up hours before the shooting, with dozens of cars, people on horses, ATVs, and motorbikes.
An anonymous employee at the store said she tried calling police multiple times as the crowd spilled into the store.
“They (attendees) said, ‘I don’t care what you say.’ They outnumbered me,” she said.
She says people brought in alcohol, taking food, and urinating in aisles and the warehouse.
“They were trying to bang on our glass door, trying to break out the door,” the employee added.
Community leader Fred Woods, who heard the gunshots from his home, expressed frustration.
“It’s a shame that we’re here again,” Woods said.
Two years ago, KPRC 2 News Reporter Corley Peel reported on a large trail ride gathering that led to chaos in the same parking lot on the same weekend. Many referred to it as “Lafaye Day.” At the time, city and police mentioned connecting with the event organizer.
“We went before City Hall two years ago when this event was at this very same spot, causing us havoc. We thought it would have been taken care of and that we wouldn’t be here again, and definitely not with a fatality.”
Hill, is now hoping for justice for her nephew with the big smile and known to his friends as “Robin Hood.” When asked what she would say to whoever is responsible, Hill urged, “Turn yourself in.”
It remains unclear if Saturday’s event was linked to the “Lafaye Day” trail riding gathering from previous years.
Woods plans to return to city council to address the issue of large gatherings at this location. Managers at Big City Foods said the landlord did not authorize the gathering on the property.
At this time, no arrests have been made.
Anyone with information in this case is urged to contact the HPD Homicide Division at 713-308-3600 or Crime Stoppers at 713-222-TIPS.