5-year-old shot while making home videos with family in west Houston

Houston police officers investigate the shooting of a 5-year-old boy in the 8100 block of Richmond on Monday, March 31, 2020. Houston police officers investigate the shooting of a 5-year-old boy in the 8100 block of Richmond on Monday, March 31, 2020. Photo: OnScene.TV Photo: OnScene.TV Image 1 of / 6 Caption Close 5-year-old shot while making home videos with family in west Houston 1 / 6 Back to Gallery

A 5-year-old boy enjoying the cool, clear night with his family was struck by a stray bullet Monday at a west Houston apartment.

The boy was with his father and other relatives sitting on a second-story balcony in the 8100 block of Richmond around 9 p.m. The family was making home videos together when someone with a gun started shooting in the parking lot, according to Houston Police Department Sgt. Thomas Simmons.

MORE FROM JAY R. JORDAN: Children left alone with dead mother inside northeast Harris County home

The gunman shot off four or five rounds, at least one of which struck the child, Simmons said. It is not known if the gunfire was captured on any of the videos.

The boy’s father scooped him up and started to drive him to a nearby hospital when he flagged down a passing ambulance. Those paramedics rushed him to the hospital, where he underwent surgery, Simmons said.

He was last listed in critical condition.

Detectives believe the gunman sped off in an unknown direction. Simmons said police are speaking with witnesses and asked anyone near the 8100 block of Richmond, which is between Dunvale and Hillcroft, to check security cameras hoping they captured the shooter’s vehicle.

“Right now, we need anybody’s help who might have been here,” Simmons said.

Anyone with information is urged to call HPD’s Homicide Division at 713-308-3600 or Houston Crime Stoppers at 713-222-TIPS (8477).

Jay R. Jordan covers breaking news in the Houston area. Read him on our breaking news site, Chron.com, and our subscriber site, HoustonChronicle.com | Follow him on Twitter at @JayRJordan | Email him at jay.jordan@chron.com