Texas authorities have a loose description and a possible vehicle ID of a man who shot and killed a 7-year-old girl, but no apparent motive. Jazmine Barnes was sitting in her mother’s car when a white man in his forties pulled up next them and shot her in the head, killing her. The horrific event has set Houston police on a massive manhunt to find the killer, and baffled residents.
“It’s our belief that it was totally unprovoked, whatever it was, and we’re leaving no stone unturned,” Harris County Sheriff Ed Gonzalez told reporters, according to CNN. “We’re going to leave every motive out there as a possibility.”
According to Jazmine’s mother LaPorsha Washington, the two were driving near a Walmart when the killer pulled up and began firing, shattering the driver’s side window. The gunman than sped ahead and continued to fire. Washington had dived over to the passenger’s seat in an effort to protect her oldest child.
“There was nothing to indicate that the family did anything wrong in any way,” Gonzalez said. “They were simply just driving along the service road when this happened to them.”
Washington shared the recollection of what happened with reporters, and the clip has been widely shared on social media. Be warned, it’s a heartwrenching watch.
The mother of #JazmineBarnes on the fatal shooting of her 7-year old daughter. Killer pulled up to the family in his red truck and fired shots directly into their car. Jazmine died at the scene. Dec 30. Houston. Murderer is a white male, 40s and is still at large. #SayHerName pic.twitter.com/OlDWJ0DPOO
— Ava DuVernay (@ava) January 2, 2019
The Houston Police Department shared this photo of a red truck that may be connected to the killer, and are asking people to contact them with any information.
Help us identify the person who killed 7-year-old Jazmine Barnes on Sunday. If you live near Wallisville Rd/ E. Sam Houston Pkwy look over your surveillance video. We’re looking for a 4-door red truck. If you have info call 713-221-6000 or @CrimeStopHOU at 713-222-TIPS. #HouNews pic.twitter.com/nyMudgs60x
— HCSOTexas (@HCSOTexas) December 31, 2018
“Help us find this monster before he murders another innocent child,” tweeted the president of the Houston Police Officers’ Union. “Prayers for Jazmines family, no parent should have to bury a child.”
“I just want anybody, whoever, out there that knows anything about the murder of my daughter, to just please step up as if it was your own,” Jazmine’s father Christopher Cevilla told reporters. “Just put yourself in my shoes, in my family’s shoes.”
A GoFundMe account has been set up to help Jazmine’s family with funeral expenses.