Three men allegedly tried to rob a mother who was with her two daughters on Tuesday evening in Harris County in Houston when it turned deadly. According to reports, the mother and her 10-year-old daughter were injured in the incident while her four-year-old daughter was killed in the process.
ABC 13 reported that the mother and her two daughters were unloading groceries to their apartment at around 8:40 P.M. when a dark-colored sedan pulled up next to them. The men inside the vehicle went out and reportedly asked for the purse of the woman. She then refused and it is believed that one of the three suspected men shot the mother and her two children at close range.
The mother is said to be 27 years old while the surviving daughter is 10 years old. It has not been confirmed what the name of the mother and the surviving child is but reports are saying that the mother is Diana Gomez and the daughter is Betzida Castillo.
At least nine shots were fired during the encounter and the mother was shot in the stomach. She reportedly did not realize that she was hit until after a deputy noticed her wound. She said that she was trying to protect her children that is why she did not know she was hit. All of them were taken to Houston Northwest Hospital, Chron reported.
The four-year-old girl, identified as Ava Castillo, was taken to another hospital via Life Flight to Memorial Hermann Hospital due to the seriousness of her injuries. However, the four-year-old girl was pronounced dead later.
Harris County Sheriff's Deputy Thomas Gilliland said in a statement that the killing is a heinous act and a tragedy. He also said that when criminals are desperate, they would not regard even the life of a child.
The suspects are still at large and are said to be black men and were wearing dark-colored clothing. Surveillance videos are now being reviewed.
Witnesses have also come forward to talk to police. Officials say that they are interviewing someone but would not say if that person is a suspect or a person of interest.
