Rita Odafe
Tragic Shooting During Child’s Birthday Celebration
A tragic incident occurred during a birthday celebration for a 6-year-old in Houston, Texas, where 25-year-old Jalen Easterling was killed by her ex-boyfriend.
The shooting took place on the evening of September 12, as Easterling and her current partner hosted the party. The ex-boyfriend’s arrival led to a heated dispute.
Eyewitnesses reported that shots rang out following the quarrel, with Easterling being shot in front of her children and boyfriend. She sadly died at the location.
A nearby resident, Felicia Adams, expressed her fear to KHOU, stating that she and others took cover when the gunfire erupted.
Adams recounted, ‘My heart dropped. I was terrified. It was loud and it sounded like it was going into my house.‘ She described hearing yelling prior to the shooting, mentioning, ‘He was angry. He was shouting and screaming.‘ Her own children were frightened, especially her five-year-old, who wouldn’t stop crying.
Previous child custody disputes had been reported to Houston Police at that address.
The shooter remains at large, reportedly fleeing in a white Chevrolet Tahoe.
Adams expressed hope that the authorities know the shooter’s identity, stating, ‘I hope I can identify him correctly and we can start bringing this to justice.‘
Lt. R. Willkens from the Houston Police remarked that the shots were fired from the entrance of the home, noting, ‘We don’t know if it was random or targeted.‘ He confirmed that Easterling was shot in her upper body and was pronounced dead at the scene, expressing confidence that the suspect would be apprehended.
He urged the shooter to turn himself in, suggesting that there might be more to the story.
