Woman fatally shot during SW Houston purse snatching

HOUSTON (KTRK) -- Police are still searching for the gunman who ambushed a Houston mother-of-four upon her return home.

Investigators now identify the victim as 40-year-old Ha Tran. They say she was attacked just after parking her van on the street near her apartment around 9:30pm Wednesday in the 8100 block of Maplecrest. According to police, the man demanded Tran's money and a cellphone, then shot her.

"I hope they find the person that's done this and the family gets justice, and that her soul rest in peace," said Alexis Bradford, who describes herseff as a friend of Tran's.

Bradford says Tran leaves behind a husband and four children between the ages of 3 and 11.

At first, police said the same suspect might have been responsible for a similar robbery at the same apartment complex 30 minutes prior to the murder. A spokesperson on Thursday afternoon, however, could find no mention of that from detectives.

The gunman is described only vaguely as a man wearing a red cap and black shirt. If you have any information about this case you can contact Houston Police or Crime Stoppers at 713-322-TIPS.