Woman 8 months pregnant when shooter in white car opened fire on her and boyfriend, deputies say

HOUSTON, Texas (KTRK) -- The woman shot to death while she was riding in a vehicle on Airtex Drive near I-45 on Friday night was eight months pregnant, the Harris County Sheriff's Office said.

She and a 17-year-old male driver of a blue Nissan Altima were shot at when someone in a white Volkswagen Jetta pulled up next to them at about 6:12 p.m., according to investigators.

Both victims were rushed to Houston Northwest Hospital where the 20-year-old woman died with a gunshot to her neck. The male is stabilized and being treated for two gunshots.

The sheriff's office could not offer any additional suspect descriptors other than paper license plates and dark-tinted windows on the Jetta, which drove away eastbound on Airtex toward I-45 after the shooting.

Sgt. Ben Beall of HCSO said the incident may be road rage, but he added that the driver claimed that there was no prior interaction with the Jetta.

"According to the driver, he said there was no interaction before that. They did stop at the gas station just west of us here and he said he has no idea where the vehicle came from. It just came out of nowhere started shooting at him," Beall said at the scene.

A portion of Airtex between Ella and Blue Ash remained closed for the investigation.

The office of Harris County Precinct 4 Constable Mark Herman received the initial shooting call.

"A male and female victim have multiple gunshot wounds," Herman's office tweeted. "The victims are being transported to a local hospital in critical condition."

When asked what charges would be filed if the shooter is caught, Beall said there's potential for a capital murder charge.

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