By LEWIS SPEARMAN
CROSBY A boy from Mont Belvieu was tragically killed while visiting his best friend’s house on Thursday, March 13.
Friends say the tragedy began as a get-together before an outing which was to include four-wheeling, last weekend.
Crosby ESD#5 responded to an accidental shooting call in the 5000 block of 6th Street at about 6:50 p.m.
Detectives say that although there were no signs of life in Travis Hawes, 12, LifeFlight Helicopter was summoned by medics to attempt a rescue. The helicopter was unable to fly because of inclement weather, so Crosby medics took the boy to East Houston Regional Medical Center in Channelview, where he was pronounced dead at 7:52 p.m.
Harris County Sheriff’s Detectives determined the youth had been struck in the right side of the chest by a .22 caliber bullet from a rifle.
Detective notes show that the son of Lanny Jeffcoat had been picked up from his mother’s Dayton home that day. The two went to Mont Belvieu and pick-up Travis Hawes and returned to Crosby. While at the Crosby home, a friend of the father visited. Shortly thereafter, a gunshot was heard coming from one of the bedrooms.
Detectives say Special Crimes Unit continues to investigate, and sort through evidence as to exactly what had happened, but all agree that there were multiple firearms in the bedroom where the two 12-year-old youths were playing unsupervised. As of presstime no charges had been filed.