Child shot dead in West Harris County: 9-year-old had gun unattended when she went off and shot 4-year-old

The first findings came as the Harris County Sheriff’s Office is trying to determine how and why the firearm was accessed by a young boy, and while the child victim is fighting for his life in critical condition.

The sheriff’s office received a call about 12:20 p.m. about the shooting at block 22300 of Guston Hall Lane, not far from the Grand Parkway in western Harris County.

The wounded 4-year-old was taken in a private vehicle to Memorial Hermann Katy, where Life Flight flew him to a hospital at Texas Medical Center, HCSO’s Maj. Susan Cotter said.

MPs learned that eight people were in the home when the child was shot, including a visiting uncle who possesses the gun. It wasn’t immediately disclosed how the gun ended up in young hands, but Cotter said the gun was lying around the house somewhere.

Sheriff Ed Gonzalez later said that children as young as 7 and 9 were handling a pistol when it was fired.

Deputies also don’t know why 911 wasn’t called immediately. All were cooperative with the sheriff’s office.

The shooting is being referred to the Harris County District Attorney for possible charges, although Cotter did mention that it is a crime to give a child access to a gun.

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