Houston police said a basketball game led to a fatal shooting on the northwest side after someone on the losing team opened fire.
The shooting was reported on Airline Drive near 34th Street shortly before 9 p.m. Thursday, according to officers with the Houston Police Department.
Police said two groups of people, ranging from 12 to 30 years old, were playing basketball in an Independence Heights park. Following the game, HPD said a group on the losing team followed the other group on bicycles and heated words were exchanged in a grassy median along Airline Drive.
Police said the verbal altercation turned physical, and someone pulled a gun and opened fire.
One male, 19, was shot in the back and was sent to the hospital where he later died, police said.
During the preliminary investigation, detectives said they already had leads on the shooter’s identity.
“They say that they recognize him, but they don’t know his name or where he lives,” said HPD Sgt. T. Richardson. “They’ve seen him at the park before.”
The shooter fled the scene before police arrived.
The investigation is on-going.
