One 17-year-old remains in critical condition after a shooting late Saturday on Blodgett Street, Houston police said.
HOUSTON, TX — Two 17-year-old boys were wounded when gunfire erupted late Saturday after a fight during a party at a short-term rental home in the Greater Third Ward, according to Houston police. Officers responded around 11:30 p.m. to the 2700 block of Blodgett Street, where one teen had been shot in the abdomen and another had a gunshot wound to the foot.
Police said the gathering drew a large crowd of minors to a residential block a few streets from Texas Southern University. Investigators with the Major Assaults Division are reviewing surveillance video and interviewing witnesses to determine who fired and how many shots were fired. Estimates of the crowd size varied from several dozen to more than 70 people, reflecting a chaotic scene that stretched from the home into a parking lot across the street. Authorities said the teen shot in the abdomen was taken to a hospital in critical condition, while the other victim’s injury was described as non-life-threatening.
Witness accounts indicate a fight between two girls inside the rental house sparked the confrontation and moved outside before shots rang out shortly after 11:30 p.m. Patrol units arriving on Blodgett Street found a cluster of teenagers surrounding the wounded boy on the pavement, and a second victim approached officers reporting a gunshot wound to his foot. “The investigation is ongoing,” Houston police said. Detectives said both victims are 17. No arrests had been announced as of Sunday afternoon, and authorities had not released a suspect description.
Police said the party was hosted at a short-term rental property near the heart of the Third Ward, one of Houston’s oldest neighborhoods. The block sits within walking distance of TSU and several small retail strips, with surface lots where crowds spilled after the first fight. Investigators spent Sunday canvassing nearby homes and businesses for camera footage and physical evidence. Officials did not say how many bullets were recovered, whether a single shooter was involved, or if any weapons were found at the scene. Detectives said they are working to confirm who leased the property and whether an adult was supervising the event.
Short-term rentals and pop-up parties have figured in several Houston investigations over the past two years, including gatherings where teenagers were present. In December 2024, two teens were killed and three others wounded at a pop-up party in north Houston, drawing renewed scrutiny to event promotions aimed at minors. Last month, a large block party in southeast Houston ended in gunfire that killed one juvenile and injured another, according to police at the time. While the circumstances differ, Saturday’s shooting follows a pattern of large, loosely organized events that move quickly from private interiors to public streets, complicating police response and evidence collection.
Detectives with the Major Assaults Division are leading Saturday’s case and plan to consult with the Harris County District Attorney’s Office once a suspect is identified, police said. If charges are filed, they could range from aggravated assault with a deadly weapon to unlawful carrying offenses, depending on the evidence and the number of shooters. Investigators said they will analyze video from nearby security cameras and any cellphone footage obtained from witnesses, a process that typically involves matching time stamps with 911 calls and patrol unit logs. Police said they expect to release updated information on the teen’s condition and any suspect information after preliminary interviews are completed.
Neighbors described a surge of cars and foot traffic on Blodgett Street late Saturday as the party grew. After the initial fight, the crowd moved toward a commercial lot across the street, where witnesses said tempers flared again before shots were fired and people ran. One resident said officers arrived within minutes and blocked the street as paramedics treated the wounded teen in the roadway and loaded him into an ambulance. The other injured teen was able to walk to officers to request help, according to police at the scene. By Sunday morning, a strip of crime scene tape still cordoned off part of the block as detectives continued to collect statements.
As of Sunday evening, the boy shot in the abdomen remained in critical condition, and the second teen’s injury was stable, police said. Investigators had not announced an arrest or publicly identified a suspect. Police said additional updates are expected after interviews and video reviews are finished this week.
Author note: Last updated December 28, 2025.