HOUSTON – The victim in a mass shooting that injured at least 15 other people in southeast Houston has been identified.
18-year-old Joe Mendoza was killed after being shot in the torso.
Recommended Videos
The mass shooting happened in Houston’s Mayfair neighborhood in the early morning hours of May 4.
PREVIOUS COVERAGE: One person killed, 15 injured in shooting at a family party in southeast Houston
Witnesses told KPRC 2 a family party was going on at the time of the attack.
A GoFundMe has been created for Mendoza’s family during this difficult time. According to the fundraiser, Mendoza had finished welding school just days before the attack.
Background information
According to the Houston Police Department, officers were dispatched to the area of 6000 Cherryhill Street around 12:50 a.m. on Saturday after reports that multiple people, ranging in age from 16 to 40 years old, had been injured.
“Multiple shootings, multiple injuries,” said Houston Police Department Assistant Chief Patricia Cantu said after the attack. “Officers arrived at the scene three minutes right after the call. As they were arriving, they were still hearing gunshots.”
Authorities coordinated a triage area at a nearby Jack in the Box parking lot to begin treating and transporting victims.
Originally, investigators reported that 14 people had been shot. However, Houston police now confirm that at least 15 people were taken to area hospitals—three by ambulance, and the rest either by other paramedics or private vehicles.
FIRST-HAND ACCOUNT: ‘He told us not to let him go:’ Teen killed, more than a dozen injured in mass shooting at Houston house party
Mendoza was pronounced dead at the scene, and several others remain in critical condition in surgery, according to police.
“We had multiple injuries,” said Assistant Chief Cantu on the scene. “We have one, that we know of, that is deceased. We have multiple in critical condition, in surgery.”
Houston police said the shooting started after an uninvited guest arrived at a family barbecue.
“This whole incident started as a party, a family party, a family gathering,” Assistant Chief Cantu said. “I believe some of the witnesses are saying they had an uninvited guest. The uninvited guest was asked to leave. He left. As he was leaving, he began shooting in the area. There was returned fire from the residence as well.”
A woman who was shot in the foot confirmed the police account to KPRC 2, saying the uninvited guest was asked to leave, and as he was leaving, he started shooting.
Police said there was return fire from the residence.
According to HPD Assistant Chief Patricia Cantu, investigators detained multiple people for questioning. There are no suspects in custody at this time.
