HARRIS COUNTY, Texas — The Parker home in east Harris County is usually filled with the sounds of five children, but mom Jessica Parker is grateful they were away when not one but six bullets struck their home in the middle of the night over the long New Year’s weekend.
“I want to cry when I think about what could have happened,” said Parker who was home with her husband. “It was just chaos. It sounded like someone was inside the house just hitting stuff. We didn’t really know what it was."
She said they didn’t discover until later that bouncing bullets were likely to blame.
"The next morning is when we saw the hole above the TV. That was the first one," said Parker. "And then we found five more outside."
She said one bullet landed in her youngest son’s bed after ricocheting through the living room and then through a wall into his room.
"What if we had had the kids that night?" asked Parker. "Just by chance we didn’t have anybody here. It was just us.”
Parker and her family think they know where the gunfire may have originated. They found numerous casings at the end of their street.
The Harris County Precinct 3 Constable’s Office confirmed an investigation is underway but said no arrests have been made.
Meanwhile, Parker wants money for damages as well as any applicable charges.
She also shared advice for gun owners.
"Use common sense," said Parker. "I think everyone has the right to a gun, I’m not one of those people, but with a gun, use safety. We’re not in the area where you can just shoot willy-nilly wherever you want.”