They were scary moments for the three children inside the pickup on the run from police, and for their brother behind the wheel.
"He was trying to get the kids away," Mary Nunez explained.
Nunez said it was her 17-year-old boyfriend who led police on the chase, then crashed this pickup truck into her Humble apartment complex, narrowly missing a bayou. All of that happened with his 10-, 11- and 13-year-old siblings in the back seat.
"Those kids, they were scared. Yeah, I know that. And according to my boyfriend, he was probably scared," Nunez said.
The Houston Police Department said the dramatic incident continued when the driver got out of the truck, took off on foot and was shot in the leg by police after authorities say he appeared to be going for a weapon.
The suspect even told the officers, "I'm sorry I ran. I know I shouldn't have tried to pull what winded up being a cellphone out of my pocket."
HPD said it all began 20 minutes before the final crash when an officer saw the suspect involved in a disturbance with a woman. Police said he pulled her out of the truck.
Nunez believes it's all a misunderstanding. She says her boyfriend has been caring for his siblings for months and was trying to protect them from another relative.
"He was either trying to drop them off at my house or to the uncle's house. He's a great brother. He loves his brothers and sisters to death. He'll do anything to help them."
Nunez says while she is concerned about her boyfriend, her thoughts are now with the three children who unfortunately were along for the terrifying ride.
"I do hope the kids are okay because they are good kids and I don't think they deserve this," she said.
Police say all three children are okay and the suspect is being treated for his injury, but is in stable condition.
The name of the suspect hasn't officially been released, but we're told he does not have a criminal record.
