The 4-year-old girl was found dead inside a west Houston townhome after a family court hearing earlier Tuesday.
HOUSTON, Texas — A 4-year-old girl was fatally shot inside a west Houston townhome Tuesday evening, and police say her mother is believed to have killed the child after a custody hearing before shooting herself.
Houston police were called about 5:45 p.m. Tuesday to the 300 block of Terra Reserve Place. Officers arriving at the townhome found the girl dead from an apparent gunshot wound, according to police. The child and the adults involved had not been publicly identified as of Wednesday morning.
Police said a custody hearing had taken place earlier Tuesday and the girl’s father received custody. Investigators believe the mother became distraught after the hearing, returned to the townhome and shot her daughter before shooting herself, according to accounts provided by Houston police to local news organizations. Authorities have not released additional details about the court proceeding or the custody dispute.
The mother was detained at the scene and taken to a hospital with a gunshot wound. Police said she was in critical condition Tuesday night but was expected to survive. Authorities have not announced any criminal charge, and investigators were still working to establish the full sequence of events surrounding the shooting.
A stepfather and a childcare aide or babysitter were inside the home when the gunfire occurred, police said. Investigators said the two heard the shots but did not witness the shooting. Homicide detectives interviewed them as officers worked at the scene Tuesday night.
Police have not released the girl’s name, her mother’s name or the identity of the child’s father. Officials also have not publicly detailed what issues were before the court, what order was entered at the custody hearing or when any change in custody was supposed to take effect.
The investigation centers on what happened between the custody hearing and the police response at the Terra Reserve Place home. Police have described the shooting as following an ongoing custody dispute, but authorities had not released records Wednesday explaining the history of the case or identifying any previous incidents connected to it.
Investigators continued Wednesday to examine the circumstances of the child’s death and the mother’s injury. Additional information, including any potential charges and the identities of those involved, had not been announced.
Author note: Last updated September 30, 2026.