Suspect, 15, arrested and charged in deadly shooting of 13-year-old at apartments in SW Houston

HOUSTON, Texas (KTRK) — A 15-year-old suspect has been arrested and charged with manslaughter in connection with the fatal shooting of a 13-year-old early Sunday morning in southwest Houston.

Authorities have decided not to disclose the suspect’s name or photograph due to his status as a juvenile.

The incident occurred around 2:30 a.m. at the St. James Place Apartments on Wanda Ln. near Fondren. Police responded to a shooting call and discovered the 13-year-old victim inside an upstairs apartment, unresponsive with a gunshot wound. Paramedics pronounced the teen dead at the scene.

Investigation revealed that both the victim and the suspect were inside the apartment when the suspect discharged the firearm, accidentally injuring the 13-year-old.

The victim’s identity is pending verification by the Harris County Institute of Forensic Sciences.

The 15-year-old suspect was taken into custody without resistance.

Initial reports indicated that the teens were handling the firearm during the incident. According to investigators, one of the teens, who lived at the apartment and possessed the gun, fled the scene, while the other stayed and called 911.

**#Breaking:** A teenage boy is dead after he and 2 other teens were playing with a gun at the St. James Apts. I’m told the gun accidentally went off and hit victim in stomach. This happened around 2:30 a.m. at St. James Apts. in SW Houston. @houstonpolice has 1 person in custody. pic.twitter.com/3ONAETvLrM

— Rosie Nguyen (she/her) (@RosieABC13) June 30, 2024

“The owner of that firearm or the resident at this location, a juvenile male, fled from the location with a firearm. The witness stayed behind and called the police,” explained Lt. Riley of HPD over the weekend.

cameras captured the moment HPD officers handcuffed the suspect and placed him into a squad car.

The nature of the relationship between the teenagers involved remains unclear, according to police.