Gunman Randomly Shoots Into Car Killing Jazmine Barnes

Photo: Courtesy of Jazmine Barnes GoFundMe.

Jazmine Barnes, a seven-year-old child in East Harris County, Texas was shot dead by an unidentified gunman on New Year's Eve as she rode in a car with her mother and three siblings on the way to the grocery store.

Barnes' mother, LaPorsha Washington, was shot in the arm and her six-year-old sister was injured by shattered glass. From her hospital bed, Washington pleaded with the public for any information on the shooter, who remains at large.

"Any information, anything," said 30-year-old Washington. "I mean, if it’s one letter off the license plate, if it’s something that’s hanging from his mirror, any little detail that you can give investigators about this truck, about this man."

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She recalled her daughter's final moments, telling CNN affiliate KTRK that the family was listening to music as they drove through an intersection near a Houston-area Wal-Mart, when a red four-door pickup truck pulled up on their left and fired several shots into the car. Moments later, Jazmine lay slumped over next to her sisters.

"I turned around and my seven-year-old was shot in the head," Washington said.

THE BIGGEST QUESTION SURROUNDING THE MURDER OF #JazmineBarnes ::: why? Why would someone shoot up a car full of girls on a Sunday morning. Mom LaPorsha Washington can't wrap her head around it. #khou11 pic.twitter.com/WL74WTWR3t
— Melissa Correa (@KHOUmelissa) January 1, 2019

The Harris County Sheriff's office describes the suspect as a bearded white man, possibly in his 40s, who may have been wearing a red hoodie at the time of the shooting. They released a photo of the vehicle taken from surveillance footage and asked the public to call with any information.

Investigators do not have motive for the shooting and have not ruled out the possibility that it was a racially motivated hate crime. Sherif Ed Gonzalez told reporters: "It's our belief that it was totally unprovoked, whatever it was, and we're leaving no stone unturned. We're going to leave every motive out there as a possibility."

Help us identify the person who killed 7-year-old Jazmine Barnes on Sunday. If you live near Wallisville Rd/ E. Sam Houston Pkwy look over your surveillance video. We’re looking for a 4-door red truck. If you have info call 713-221-6000 or @CrimeStopHOU at 713-222-TIPS. #HouNews pic.twitter.com/nyMudgs60x
— HCSOTexas (@HCSOTexas) December 31, 2018

A GoFundMe page has been set up to offset the costs of Barnes' funeral costs and activist Shaun King has offered a $25,000 (£19,894) reward for any information about the killer.

URGENT. ALL HANDS ON DECK.

A 40 y/o white man w/ a beard in a red pickup truck pulled up on 7 y/o Jazmine Barnes and her family near a Houston @Walmart and shot and killed her and injured others.

I am joining the search for her killer and have a $25,000 reward.

Need him NOW. pic.twitter.com/ugfA2nJ1k8
— Shaun King (@shaunking) January 1, 2019

In a press conference, Barnes' father, Chris Cevilla described his daughter as "sweet" and "innocent."

“I’m asking, from the bottom of my heart,” he said. “Whoever knows anything, please step up at this point in time and help me and my family get justice for my baby girl.”

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