Person Of Interest in Custody in Shooting That Killed 4-Year Old Child

HOUSTON, TX -- Police have arrested a man they believe could be connected to the shooting that took the life of a 4-year old girl, and injured her mother and sister Monday night.

Police arrested the man on Tuesday on an unrelated assault charge at a motel in the 200 block of Bammel-Westfield Road, and are questioning him about the shooting.

A handgun matching the description from witnesses was found in his room, and ballistics tests are being performed to determine if it is the same weapon that took the life of 4-year old Ava Castillo, and wounded her 10-year old sister Betsida Castillo, and her mother 27-year old Diana Gomez.

Investigators said that Gomez was unloading groceries into her apartment in the 10000 block of Greens Crossing Blvd. at about 9 p.m. Monday night, when she was approached by three men in dark clothing and demanded her purse.

Gomez refused, and one of the men pulled out a gun and began shooting.

The three men took her purse and drove away in a dark colored car.

Gomez, who was shot multiple times, was holding Ava Castillo.

Betsida Castillo, who was standing near her mother, was also shot and was on her mother’s cell phone calling for help when police arrived.

All three were taken to Memorial Hermann, where Ava Castillo died.

Betsida Castillo was released late Tuesday to relatives, while her mother, who relatives say was shot seven times, will require more care and healing.

“It has been tough,” Gomez’s sister, Julie told KPRC. “Why would you rob someone with small children?”

Julie said she broke the news to her sister that Ava had been killed, and her mother, who is on a breathing tube, wept.

Meanwhile, a neighbors dropped off balloons and flowers near the scene of Monday’s shooting.

Investigators said they are looking for three men who were wearing dark-colored clothes and got away in a dark-colored vehicle.

Deputies said they are also reviewing surveillance footage from the apartment complex and interviewing witnesses.

Anyone with information was asked to call Crime Stoppers at 713-222-8477.

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