Texas boy killed in drive-by shooting while he sat with dad making TikTok videos
HOUSTON, TEXAS: A five-year-old boy who was innocently making TikTok videos with his dad during quarantine was killed after he was struck in the head by a stray bullet in a drive-shooting near his home.
The tragic incident unfolded while Jordan Allen Jr. was playing on the balcony of his family's home in the 8500 Block of Richmond Avenue near Dunvale in southwest Houston on Tuesday, March 31, according to KTRK.
Police said the family was sitting on the porch on the second-floor balcony and were enjoying their night when they suddenly heard five to six gunshots ring out in the parking lot.
Jordan's father, Jordan Allen Sr., had been making TikTok videos with him before going inside the home to get the young boy some juice and suddenly heard him pleading for help.
"Everybody ran in the house and the kids' room in the house, so I ran to the porch, and then I see my son on the ground holding his head asking for my help," he said.
Allen Sr. took him and flagged down an ambulance, which rushed him to the Texas Children's hospital for treatment. He died one week after he was hit by the bullet and was taken off life support on Monday, April 6, according to his family and the medical examiner.
"The happiest child in the world. Jordan... he would bring joy to everybody," said Allen Sr. of his son, adding that he was now figuring out how he will lay his son to rest.
Police said Jordan or his family were not the intended targets in the shooting.
"There were multiple casings found in the parking lot and several cars had damage from possible gunfire," police spokesperson Jodi Silva told CNN.
Police are reportedly trying to locate three persons of interest in the fatal shooting: 29-year-old Shapree Monique Stoneham, 22-year-old Alexis Moshae Gore, and 18-year-old Khalisah Smith. They have insisted that they only wish to speak with the women and that they are not charged at this time.
Anyone with further information has been urged to contact the Houston Police Department's Homicide Division at 713-308-3600 or Crime Stoppers at 713-222-TIPS.
Jordan is not the only boy who found himself caught in the middle of a drive-by shooting during this coronavirus lockdown. On Sunday, April 5 night, seven-year-old Sinsir Parker was shot in the face and killed in Chester, Pennsylvania.
Sinsir had been outside on the 2600 block of Swarts Street when more than a dozen gunshots rang out throughout the neighborhood.
"I heard about 15 shots ring out," one witness said. "I heard it come across the scanner and the Ring that it was a drive-by. I called my local friends on the block and they said two cars came down and just rang out about 15 shots and a little boy caught the bullet in the head."
The seven-year-old boy, unfortunately, was caught in the barrage of bullets and died at the scene. Police are currently investigating his death and have not made any arrests.