Teen dead, another wounded after gunfire erupts in E. Harris County neighborhood

HARRIS COUNTY, Texas – A 17-year-old is dead and a 16-year-old was hurt in a shooting on Crosshaven Drive in the Cloverleaf neighborhood early Thursday morning.

The gunfire started after a fight between two groups and ended when an off-duty officer fired a weapon, according to investigators.

SEE ALSO: Man wearing bulletproof vest, helmet shot by Houston officers after brief chase on southwest side

Details are still limited but according to Sheriff Ed Gonzalez, deputies were called to a drive-by shooting around 4:30 a.m.

It was later revealed to be a group of men outside a home, when a separate group walked up and a fight broke out that later escalated into a shooting.

The group at the home was playing a video game, according to family members, who said the fight may have started over an argument on Instagram about a stolen cell phone.

They identified the deceased victim as 17-year-old Ashton La’Van, a junior at North Shore High School.

“It is hard. These kids need to put these guns down,” his cousin Nakisha Walker said.

The people who were shot at, including teens, scattered. At least one of them jumped a fence behind the home and ended up in the backyard of an off-duty Jacinto City Police Department sergeant, who ended up firing his weapon.

The Jacinto City Police Chief told KPRC 2 that the sergeant believed they were trying to break into his home. It’s not clear if he fired a personal weapon or a duty weapon.

“We know that he discharged his firearm, but at the same time, just to be clear, there was an exchange of a gunfire between the two groups. At this time, it is unknown which bullet could have caused the male’s death,” Maj. Ben Katrib said.

BY THE NUMBERS: Over a handful of officer-involved shootings reported in Houston since the start of May

The 16-year-old victim was rushed to the hospital in a private vehicle, the sheriff’s office said.

Neighbors also told KPRC 2’s Re’Chelle Turner they were alarmed by the sound of rapid gunfire in the early morning hours.

“Just laying in bed at like 4 o’clock, and I heard that first gunfire, and then I jumped up out of bed to see what it was,” neighbor Ronny Lee said. “I thought—it sounded like someone lighting fireworks right outside my window. And then I jumped up, and all of a sudden, rock started hitting me in the face, and sheetrock. It was that bullet right there. Sounded like a cannon going off.”

MORE STORIES ABOUT OFFICER-INVOLVED SHOOTINGS

HCSO also said several persons of interest were detained at the scene. One person was arrested at the home because of a probation violation, HCSO confirmed.

As of Thursday evening, no arrests have been made connected to the altercation.

KPRC 2 will continue to update this story as more information becomes available.

Correction:

An earlier article said the officer involved was with the San Jacinto PD, it has since been corrected to reflect they are with Jacinto City PD


About the Authors
Ahmed Humble headshot

Historian, educator, writer, expert on "The Simpsons," amateur photographer, essayist, film & tv reviewer and race/religious identity scholar. Joined KPRC 2 in Spring 2024 but has been featured in various online newspapers and in the Journal of South Texas' Fall 2019 issue.

Re'Chelle Turner headshot

Emmy award-winning journalist born and raised in Alabama. College football fanatic and snow cone lover! Passionate about connecting with the community to find stories that matter.

Loading...