Three boys were shot in Houston on Christmas night after police say they tried to rob a couple at gunpoint and the man opened fire on them with his own weapon.
The boys—12 to 14 years old—were taken to a local hospital; one of them is in critical condition, Major Saul Suarez of the Harris County Sheriff's Office said.
The couple was returning from a Christmas party when they were confronted by the juveniles at an apartment complex in the northwest part of the city.
"The juveniles approached the male, and they were displaying pistols. The adult male retrieved his own pistol and shot the juveniles," Suarez said at a news conference.
Deputies responding to the call found three boys with gunshot wounds, Suarez said.
He said a fourth juvenile and an adult male have also been detained in the investigation.
The girlfriend of the 25-year-old man who fired on the boys said she thought it was a prank at first because of their ages.
The woman, who was not identified, had fallen asleep and her boyfriend opened the vehicle door to carry her inside when the four armed boys surrounded them, she told ABC13.
A witness told the station that he saw officers assisting one of the wounded boys.
"One of the police officers was trying to keep him coherent and everything, and he said, 'What did you get for Christmas?'" Bruce Bailey said.
The 25-year-old remained at the scene and is cooperating with investigators, ABC13 said. He is not facing charges.
Originally published by Latin Times
