A 17-year-old boy allegedly fatally shot his 37-year-old father early Friday inside their northwest Harris County home on Westbank Avenue, according to Harris County Constable Precinct 1 deputies. The shooting occurred after an argument between the two, family members told investigators.
Deputies with the Harris County Constable Precinct 1 responded to the shooting call at approximately 1:30 a.m. in the 8300 block of Westbank Avenue, located in the Carriage Lane area. Upon arrival, they found the 37-year-old man deceased inside the residence with gunshot wounds, according to officials.
Harris County Sheriff’s Office Sgt. Jason Brown said it was not uncommon for the father and son to get into disputes, and that there was an ongoing argument between them.
The teenager’s mother and two younger siblings, ages 12 and 14, were inside the home at the time of the incident. No one else was injured, authorities said. Emergency radio traffic captured a deputy reporting: “There’s people screaming. Looks like the victim is going to be on the front door. We’re going to have a female yelling next to the victim.”
Family members told investigators that the teen shot his father during an argument. Investigators have not determined whether the father was assaulting the teenager or vice versa.
The 17-year-old fled the home on foot following the shooting. Surveillance video from a nearby residence shows what appears to be the teen running away from the house. Precinct 1 deputies searched the surrounding neighborhood but did not locate the teenager. Investigators do not know whether he is still in the area or if someone picked him up.
Around 11 a.m. Friday, FOX 26 witnessed law enforcement escorting a young man and an adult woman into an unmarked vehicle before driving away from the residence. FOX 26 reached out to the Harris County Sheriff’s Office to confirm if the teen has been located and whether he is being questioned or is in custody; no update was issued.
HCSO officials say they want to speak with the teenager to hear his account of the events. No charges have been filed, and no decision has been made on whether criminal charges will be filed, according to authorities. Investigators are interviewing family members to determine what happened before the shooting.
Investigators are also working to determine whether the firearm used has been recovered and whether law enforcement previously responded to the residence. An HCSO sergeant said: “It’s not totally clear right now exactly what transpired right before the shooting.”
The identities of the father and son have not been publicly released. The specific dispute that triggered the shooting remains unclear. Investigators do not believe the teenager poses a threat to the surrounding community.
The investigation is ongoing, with authorities continuing to gather evidence and witness statements. Officials ask anyone with information about the teenager’s whereabouts to contact the Harris County Sheriff’s Office.
