19yo shot, crashes into garage in NW Harris County

A 19-year-old man who was shot crashed his car into a parked vehicle and into the garage of a house on the 3400 block of Pinechester Drive in northwest Harris County Friday evening, authorities said. Deputies and detectives responded to a 911 call around 6:29 to 6:30 p.m. and found the wrecked vehicle in the front yard and driveway; the victim was transported to a hospital and later pronounced deceased.

Sheriff Ed Gonzalez described the initial scene, saying "a man had crashed into a parked vehicle, then a garage." Video from the scene shows a black car in the driveway; investigators and on-scene footage indicated the vehicle appeared to have multiple bullet holes and was identified as a Mazda at the scene. Crime Scene Investigators and Homicide detectives remained working the scene as law enforcement sought to determine where the shooting occurred.

Neighbors reported hearing gunfire before the crash. One homeowner who spoke with investigators said, "We heard more like 'tat-tat' like about three rounds and then like five minutes, he was already in my front yard and in the garage." Neighbor Aretha Johnson told investigators and reporters, "I heard the gunshots, but I'm in the garage. My husband, he heard where the vehicle had came down the street and wrecked into our neighbor's car and house."

Sgt. A. Hinojosa of the Harris County Sheriff's Office said deputies do not yet know the exact location of the shooting and are canvassing the neighborhood. "At this time, we don't have any info other than he was wounded. We don't know where that incident occurred. We don't believe it actually occurred where he crashed at, we're trying to determine that now. We have detectives that are canvassing the area, speaking with neighbors to see if they heard or seen anything," Hinojosa said.

Residents who lived at the home struck by the car tried to assist the injured driver after the crash; the couple reported the man was conscious in the moments immediately following the collision before he was taken to a hospital. The victim's name has not been released and no arrests or suspect descriptions have been announced as the HCSO homicide unit continues its investigation.

Anyone with information is asked to contact the Harris County Sheriff's Office tip line at 713-221-6000. Detectives continue to canvass the Pinechester Drive neighborhood near Veterans Memorial as they try to piece together where the shooting began and who was involved.