Azirya Bankhead Obituary, Death; – Two teenagers have lost their lives following a mass shooting that occurred on Saturday night at what authorities are describing as a pop-up party in Northeast Houston. The tragic incident took place around 11:30 p.m. at an unoccupied business located off Jensen Drive near the East Texas Freeway.
Law enforcement officials reported that five or six individuals sustained gunshot wounds. Among the victims, a 16-year-old male and a 14-year-old female succumbed to their injuries, while the remaining four victims were all teenage girls. According to police, a 13-year-old is in critical condition, an 18-year-old is in serious condition, and both a 17-year-old and a 19-year-old are currently stable.
“They killed my baby,” lamented Charlisa Jones. Jones confirmed that her daughter, 14-year-old Azirya Bankhead, was one of the two fatalities.
Azirya’s brother, Cleshaun Bankhead, recounted the events of the evening. “She said, ‘Alright, I am going to go with my friends,’ and shortly after, I was standing next to her when I heard gunfire. I went to the restroom, and when I returned, they were carrying my sister out, and she was lifeless,” Cleshaun stated.
Investigators noted that officers arrived at a chaotic scene, with individuals running in all directions, and personal belongings such as shoes and liquor bottles scattered about, remnants of the disorder at the makeshift venue known as the Curfew Club.
Officers promptly attended to the numerous injured individuals, the majority of whom were teenagers, who had gathered for the last-minute pop-up event that was promoted on social media.
“We assure the public that we will deploy all our resources to uncover the details of what transpired tonight and to identify those responsible so that we can bring them to justice,” stated Houston Police Assistant Chief Luis Menendez-Sierra. “If you were present tonight, we urge you to assist us. If you witnessed the events, please contact us with any information that could aid in our investigation.”
Menendez-Sierra also mentioned that acquiring surveillance footage for evidence may prove challenging, given that the incident occurred at an empty building.
