Pregnant woman killed, four injured in Houston birthday shooting

A pregnant woman was killed and four others were injured during a shooting early on Saturday morning in Houston, according to police. 

Houston Police Department officers responded to multiple reports of a shooting at Margaret Jenkins Park at around 1:18 a.m., Assistant Chief Ernest Garcia said during a news briefing. 

A preliminary investigation found that multiple groups were at the park celebrating a birthday party when an altercation broke out and several individuals began shooting. At least 36 shots were fired, according to shot spotter technology. 

A 21-year-old pregnant woman, identified as Autumn Villain by her family, was shot and killed at the scene, according to police. She was five months pregnant and attempting to leave the party with her mother when she was shot. 

"As we were getting ready to leave, they started a little commotion," Ebony Vallian, Autumn’s mother, said. "One (man) pulled a gun. When he pulled his gun, the other guy's girlfriend came out of her truck and came with a gun. They were talking back and forth about who would do what and however, and they started shooting at each other."

"I looked back and my baby was down on the ground. Gone," she added. "I lost my baby. She was in school, trying to get a job, trying to become something, and she's gone now."

Four others were wounded and transported to a local hospital. According to Garcia, they all are in stable condition. A fifth individual was grazed by a bullet but refused to go to the hospital. Two individuals who were hospitalized were arrested in connection to the shooting. 

Police are investigating the incident to determine if any additional arrests are warranted. 

The shooting in Houston this past week marked the 400th mass shooting in the United States that has taken place so far this year, according to the website Gun Violence Archive, which tracks firearm deaths in the nation.