Investigators say three young males fled from The Pierpont Apartments after gunfire.
SPRING, TX — A 16-year-old was shot at least three times Tuesday night during a meetup arranged on social media at a Spring apartment complex, Harris County Precinct 4 deputies said. The teen was taken to a hospital with injuries that were not considered life-threatening.
The shooting added to concerns across the Houston area about violence tied to online meetups, including transactions involving items that may be illegal for minors to sell or possess. Investigators said the teen went to meet a group at his own complex for a sale when the encounter escalated. Deputies said they are reviewing surveillance video and trying to identify the suspects and the vehicle used to flee.
Deputies were called to The Pierpont Apartments in the 23700 block of Springwoods Village Parkway after multiple reports of gunfire and a weapons disturbance, officials said. Capt. Juan Flores of the Harris County Precinct 4 Constable’s Office said dispatchers began receiving calls at about 7:12 p.m. When deputies arrived, they found the teen with multiple gunshot wounds and began providing emergency aid until paramedics could take over. Flores said the teen was struck at least three times. Neighbors told a television crew they heard a rapid burst of shots, with some estimating about six rounds, before the area went quiet.
Investigators said the teen had arranged the meetup through social media as part of an online transaction. Authorities did not immediately release the specific items involved, but Flores said the items would be considered contraband because of the ages of the people involved. Officials described the encounter as turning into an attempted robbery. They believe the suspects tried to take the items from the teen, and the situation escalated into gunfire inside the apartment complex, Flores said. A photo shared with local media showed glass shattered on a door window, a sign of how close the violence came to nearby homes and residents.
Authorities said three suspects, all described as young males, ran from the scene after the shooting. Flores said investigators believe the group got into a vehicle near the complex and drove away. Deputies did not provide a description of the vehicle or the suspects in the hours after the shooting, saying they were still working to collect and review surveillance footage. Investigators were seen moving through the complex as they canvassed for witnesses and looked for cameras that may have captured the suspects’ faces, clothing, or direction of travel.
The Pierpont Apartments sit near the intersection of Springwoods Village Parkway and the Hardy Freeway, an area with heavy traffic and a mix of residential and commercial development. Residents told reporters they noticed a large law enforcement response as deputies secured parts of the property. Deputies did not say where the teen was when the shooting began, but officials said it happened inside the complex rather than out on a public street. Investigators did not immediately say whether the teen was alone or had family members nearby at the time, or whether anyone else was threatened or injured.
Flores said investigators were treating the shooting as tied to an online transaction between groups, with at least one of the people involved believed to live at the complex. Authorities did not say whether the teen recognized the people he met, how long the conversation online lasted, or whether the suspects used a specific platform. They also did not release information about whether the teen was targeted in advance or whether the robbery attempt appeared opportunistic. Officials said those questions may be answered as detectives gather messages and other records connected to the meetup.
In interviews at the scene, Flores emphasized the risks that can come with meeting strangers after arranging a deal online. “If you are going to meet somebody, we encourage you to meet in a public place,” Flores said, adding that meeting around more people and near public safety buildings can reduce the chance of being targeted. Authorities said the teen’s case would remain under investigation while detectives try to confirm the sequence of events that led to the shots being fired and determine which suspect pulled the trigger.
Deputies said the teen’s injuries were not considered life-threatening, but they did not describe which parts of his body were struck or how long he is expected to remain hospitalized. Officials also did not say whether they recovered a weapon, shell casings, or other evidence from the scene. Investigators said they were focused on identifying the three suspects and locating the vehicle believed to have been used in the escape. Flores said surveillance video could provide key images, and investigators were working to obtain and preserve recordings before they are overwritten.
No arrests were announced Tuesday night, and authorities did not release a suspect description or a motive beyond the belief that the meetup turned into an attempted robbery. Deputies said they were also working to determine whether the suspects planned the theft ahead of time and whether they may be connected to other incidents. Officials said they expect to share more details once detectives confirm the facts and complete initial interviews. The case is being handled as an active investigation, and authorities said they would continue canvassing the area for witnesses who may have seen the suspects leave the property.
As the investigation continued, residents moved in and out of the complex while deputies worked nearby, and some neighbors said the shooting left them shaken. A shattered window panel on a door, photographed after the gunfire, highlighted the damage left behind and raised questions among residents about safety at night. Flores said investigators are urging anyone with useful information to contact the Precinct 4 Constable’s Office. Officials said tips may help them identify the suspects more quickly and determine whether any additional people were involved beyond the three young males who ran from the scene.
Author note: Last updated February 11, 2026.