Block party for local rapper ends in gunfire, two people hospitalized

HOUSTON (KTRK) -- Two people are in the hospital after a Fifth Ward block party where several popular rappers appeared Sunday night ended in gunfire.

It happened around 9:30pm near Liberty Road and Staples street.

Eyewitness Joe Ballard saw the victim as they were injured.

"I could see the bullets come right -- I could hear them zoom, zoom, zoom, so we got down," Ballard said.

A flyer found on the ground said 'Rapper J Prince Jr' threw the party as part of a birthday celebration. Word about the party spread on social media, and at least 500 people showed up. Among them also was Chris Brown, who is performing tonight at the Toyota Center. Those who know Prince Jr says neither he nor Brown were still in attendance at the time of the shooting.

"It was so many people here that police couldn't even get through the streets. It was that packed," said blogger Mesha Brown who covered the event.

Houston Police say they were called to the area for traffic control earlier in the evening. They were just a block away when the shooting began.

Two young men were hit and taken to the hospital. One is in serious condition. The second man is stable.

Police don't know who was behind the shooting or why. The victims have not been identified.

If you know who opened fire, you're encouraged to call Crime Stoppers at 713-222-TIPS.