Teen shot to death, another injured in drive-by at southeast Houston apartments

HOUSTON – One teen was shot to death and another was critically injured Wednesday after a drive-by shooting at a southeast Houston apartment complex.

Police were called just after midnight to the Sir John apartments on Madrid at Yellowstone for reports of a shooting.

Officers arrived and found a 16-year-old boy and 14-year-old girl suffering from gunshot wounds.

They were taken to Memorial Hermann Hospital, where the boy died. The girl was in critical condition, but is expected to survive.

Witnesses told police a gray SUV was seen pulling up to the area and opening fire at a group of teens, then driving away.

The gunman has not been identified, but detectives said they have a few leads.

The motive for the shooting is under investigation.

A friend of the boy's family said he was a high school freshman and played football.

Neighbors said they see this kind of violence all too often.

"It's nothing new. It's always the same people," neighbor Rony Afaro said. "They fight each other, they shoot each other, over dumb stuff that could be prevented."

Detectives said the shooting was not a random act.

"Certainly, I don't think it was a random shooting. Somebody in that group was the target," Houston Homicide Detective Chad Hogue said. "As far as it being the young man that passed, I can't say that he definitely was the target, he may not have been."

There were two other shootings in the area Tuesday night. Detectives are working to determine if they are connected.

Investigators are reviewing surveillance video for clues, police said.

Anyone with information about the shooting is asked to call Crime Stoppers at 713-222- TIPS.