New photos show close call in drive-by shooting that injured 3-year-old girl

SOUTH HOUSTON, TX (KTRK) -- We have new crime scene photos that show just how lucky a three-year-old girl was during a drive-by shooting a week ago. They are photos we almost never get to see, but the South Houston Police Department released them in hopes they lead to an arrest.

A Pasadena family was on their way home on April 19 when their SUV was shot at along South Allen Genoa near Avenue A in South Houston.

The father, who was driving, says he noticed a car weaving between lanes. When he tried get to around it, the erratic drive sped up, pulled next to them and fired five times.

Two children, ages 1 and 3, were in the backseat. The one-year-old baby was far enough away, but one bullet came to seriously injuring three-year-old Leah. Multiple photos show its path. It grazed the little girl's leg, missed her body, went through the seat and exited on the other side. Two others also went straight through. Another hit the steering wheel.

"Some of the angles of the bullets could have hit the wife, who was in the front seat; got close to hitting the father; unfortunately hit the child but she's OK," South Houston Police Department Herbert Gilbert said.

Precious Leah is healing. Investigators want to catch the shooter before it's worse for someone else. They released pictures that depict the paths of the bullets. They're photos typically only shown to a jury during trial, but police are hoping that releasing them will compel someone to give them new information.

"You don't pull put a gun, start shooting at someone because they are trying to maneuver around you," Gilbert said.

The shooter was in a white, four-door car with dark, tinted windows. That's the best description police have.

Anyone with information about the identity of the suspect is asked to contact Crime Stoppers of Houston at (713) 222-TIPS (8477).

Crime Stoppers will pay up to $5,000 for any information called in to the 713-222-TIPS (8477) or submitted online at www.crime-stoppers.org that leads to the filing of felony charges or arrest of the suspect in this case. Tips can also be sent by text message. Text TIP610 plus your tip to CRIMES (274637). All tipsters remain anonymous.