Houston police responded to the call around 11:20 p.m. at an empty business on the 10100 block of Jensen Drive near the Eastex Freeway.
"(Officers) saw a very hectic scene, a large crowd of people running out of a makeshift club. It's kind of like one of these last-minute parties, pop-up parties, that have been popping up lately. It's kind of like a social media deal. Seems like the crowd was a majority of juveniles," Asst. Chief Luis Menendez-Sierra said.
Officers learned there were five or six people shot. Two of the victims, a 16-year-old boy and a 14-year-old girl, died from their injuries. The four other victims were all teenage girls.
According to police, a 13-year-old is in critical condition, an 18-year-old is in serious condition, and a 17-year-old and a 19-year-old are both stable.
"They killed my baby," Charlisa Jones said.
Jones said her daughter, identified as 14-year-old Azirya Bankhead, was among the two fatally shot.
Azirya Bankhead's brother, Cleshaun Bankhead, was with her at the party.
"She was like, 'Alright, I am going to go with my friends,' and after that, I was standing next to her, and all I heard was shots. I looked down and went to the restroom, and when I came out, they were carrying my sister out, and she was lifeless," Cleshaun said.
HPD said the so-called pop-up party was hosted at a venue known as the Curfew Club.
The invitation was allegedly in the form of a social media post advertised as "the hottest teen club in Houston."
Menendez-Sierra said obtaining surveillance video to help with evidence will be difficult since the event happened at an empty building.
"It's non-sanctioned, and they're not under any regulations, which is what causes the problems with these kinds of events. With no regulations, there's nothing guarding it. Nothing to make sure it's a legit establishment," he said.
Remnants of the chaos were still visible the morning after. Two women who came by the scene called it a sick twist of fate, given a year ago, this was a place of worship.
"This was Restoration Houston Ministry Church, and what we do is help men and women suffering from drug addiction and homelessness," Kim Lon Ward said.
Lon Ward's friend and fellow minister, Deanna Freeman, said the church was pushed out because of rising rent costs. She says the place has gone downhill ever since.
"This is not the first party that has been here. There have been multiple parties, but this is the first one that we heard of that has been a tragedy such as itself," Deanna Freeman said.
Witnesses told police that they saw a Black male suspect, who was described as tall and thin, was seen wearing a black hooded sweatshirt and a black mask covering his face.
At this time, HPD does not have information on a suspect or getaway vehicle. Anyone who can help with the investigation is asked to call Crime Stoppers at (713) 222-TIPS.
"If you were here tonight, we need your help. If you were a witness to what happened, we need you to call that number. We need you to give us information so we can bring these people to justice," Menendez-Sierra said.
Editor's note: Houston police initially stated that the two victims killed were both 16-year-olds. In an HPD release, police say that the two included a 14-year-old girl and a 16-year-old boy.