A 15-year-old boy was killed after being shot during an encounter with another male on a sidewalk near Westfield High School in north Houston Tuesday afternoon, authorities said.
The shooting happened at around 2:40 p.m. in the 16700 block of Ella Boulevard, near the high school. Harris County Sheriff Ed Gonzalez said the teen was taken to a hospital in critical condition, where he was later pronounced dead.
According to Gonzalez, the shooting followed an encounter between the teenager and another male. The suspect fled the area and remains at large as deputies conduct an active search.
Authorities said they believe there is no active threat to the community but urged anyone with information about the shooting to contact investigators.
Calls about the shooting began coming in to Spring Independent School District and law enforcement around 2:40 p.m. A sheriff’s deputy who was traveling in the area was also flagged down and responded to the scene.
The shooting happened on a sidewalk, authorities said.
Westfield High School had already dismissed for the day, and only a small number of students were still on campus at the time.
The circumstances that led to the shooting remain under investigation. Authorities have not released the identities of the victim or suspect.