HEC Announces Internal Probe Into George Floyd's Niece's Shooting

HOUSTON, TX — A Houston Police Department internal investigation into the response to the shooting of George Floyd's niece found officers initially went to the scene, Houston police said Wednesday.

HPD is still in the early stages of its investigation, Houston Police Chief Troy Finner said. The Houston Emergency Center also announced its own internal investigation into the incident Wednesday.

Arianna Delane, Floyd's 4-year-old niece, was shot while she was sleeping early Saturday morning in her family's apartment in south Houston. She was taken to the hospital by family members, where she underwent surgery and is in stable condition, according to authorities. The shooter fled the scene, and a suspect description still has not been released.

Houston police were notified of a possible gunshots fired by the department's ShotSpotter technology, and officers found evidence of gunshots at the apartment complex. Officers searched the area but were not flagged down by anyone and left because the family had already taken Delane to the hospital approximately three to four minutes after the shooting, Finner said.

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The Houston Emergency Center announced its internal investigation after an initial inquiry indicated HPD was not told of the incident "at the same time as medical personnel."

Finner thanked HEC for conducting its own investigation and expressed intent to work together to bolster emergency response times.

"Collectively, we will determine whether changes in protocols and training will need to be made as to how calls are handled and coded for dispatch," Finner said.

Anyone with information about the shooting is urged to call HPD's Major Assaults & Family Violence Division at (713) 308-8800 or Crime Stoppers at (713) 222-TIPS.