At least one person was killed and “multiple” others were in critical condition on Sunday after a family barbecue in Houston erupted in gunfire, police said.
Officers received calls reporting a shooting just before 1 a.m. local time on Cherryhill Avenue, in the southeastern part of the city, said Assistant Chief Patricia Cantu of the Houston Police Department. The officers arrived minutes later to find ongoing gunfire and multiple victims, who were relocated to a nearby Jack in the Box restaurant to be assessed and transported to local hospitals.
The incident began after midnight when an “uninvited guest” arrived at the family gathering, Chief Cantu said in a news conference early Sunday morning. After being asked to leave, the uninvited person began shooting and residents returned fire, she said.
“The person that did this was uninvited, was asked to leave, and he began the incident of gunfire,” said Chief Cantu.
At least 14 people were injured alongside the fatality, the police said. Several of those hurt were in critical condition and undergoing surgery,
Chief Cantu added.
The police had not yet apprehended a suspect and declined to identify one. Multiple people were detained “for information,” Chief Cantu said.
This is a developing story. Check back for updates.