Houston Police Chief: Two children shot were caught "in crossfire of cowards" Two children wounded as they waited in car while mother had her nails done

Two hospitalized in double shooting outside Houston fire station Thursday evening. (Jay Jordan/ Houston Chronicle) Two hospitalized in double shooting outside Houston fire station Thursday evening. (Jay Jordan/ Houston Chronicle) Photo: Jay Jordan/ Houston Chronicle Photo: Jay Jordan/ Houston Chronicle Image 1 of / 26 Caption Close Houston Police Chief: Two children shot were caught "in crossfire of cowards" 1 / 26 Back to Gallery

Houston police are searching Friday for the drive-by shooter in the historic Third Ward who wounded two children Thursday night as they waited in the car while their mother got her nails done.

The Houston police chief condemned the suspected gang-related shooting, saying the innocent children were "caught in the crossfire of cowards."

A boy, 8, and a girl, 5, were sitting in a car waiting for their mother, who was inside 7 Day Nails in the 3900 block of Scott Street near Wheeler Avenue in southeast Houston, when the shots rang out. The boy was shot in the head, and the girl was shot in the leg, according to the Houston Police Department.

The 8-year-old is in critical condition, police said.

"I think it’s outrageous, and every Houstonian should be outraged," Houston Police Chief Art Acevedo said early Friday. "We’re going to do everything in our power to capture them, to charge them, to make sure they are tried but that they never see the light of day for what they did."

Police believe gang activity was involved in the shooting, the chief said.

"We believe our victims are innocent people caught in the crossfire of cowards," he said.

There is little else known about the suspect or the vehicle the shooter was in.

"That mother is in deep pain right now," HPD Executive Assistant Chief Troy Finner said. "Pray for those kids."

Houston Mayor Sylvester Turner was briefed on the shooting Thursday night and tweeted that he hoped those responsible are caught.

I will not tolerate heinous and cowardly acts of violence against innocent children. If you have information about tonight’s double shooting of the 5 year-old and 8 year-old victims on Scott St., please call the authorities. We must work together to keep Houston safe. — Sylvester Turner (@SylvesterTurner) March 2, 2018

A third child who was also in the car was not hurt in the shooting.

Once the person is caught, police will seek a life penalty, Acevedo said.

"These fools ... are going to find out that they're going to grow old in prison," he said. "I look forward to watching these perpetrators go behind bars."

The Houston Police Department is beginning to move around units so more officers are working at night, when shootings are often occurring, Acevedo said.

Finner urged anyone with information related to this case and a separate nearby homicide case on Thursday afternoon to come forward. It is unknown if the two shootings are connected.

Jay R. Jordan is a breaking news reporter at Chron.com. Follow him on Twitter at @JayRJordan.