Photo courtesy of Grant Family / KHOU
Houston officials have offered a $30,000 reward for any tips regarding a road rage shooting that left a 9-year-old girl in critical condition last week.
Mayor Sylvester Turner held a press conference Monday morning, urging the Houston community to send in tips that may lead to the arrest of those involved in the shooting that critically injured Ashanti Grant, who currently remains hospitalized, NBC News reported.
The 9-year-old’s family told Houston police they were traveling at around 9 p.m. when someone driving a white GMC Denali pickup started firing rounds into the family’s vehicle after aggressively cutting them off multiple times on the road.
Elaine Williams, Grant’s grandmother, said that they “called her name, and she didn’t respond.”
The shooting incident was captured on video at a nearby gas station after the family had pulled into the parking lot, realizing that the young girl riding in the back seat was shot in the head.
Last week, a $5,000 reward was raised for information leading to the arrest. However, the reward was increased after Houston entrepreneur Tilman Fertitta pledged
an additional $25,000 in reward money to $30,000 on Monday, ABC 13 reported.Turner said that “people know” who shot the 9-year-old fourth grader during the news conference.
Turner thanked Grant’s family members for being on stage with him and said the city is “praying” for the young girl’s recovery.
“When things happen to our kids, we will go the extra step to find you — because we are talking about our children,” Turner said.
“I’m going to refer to her as princess because that’s what she is,” Finner said. “She is precious,” he added.
Turner noted that 125 Houston police officers had been added to the city’s streets to crack down on crime.
“Nine-year-old Ashanti is an innocent child who was struck by a bullet,” Turner said
. “Ashanti should be in her school with her teachers and classmates and returning to her family. Instead, she remains in a hospital, fighting to recover.”“If that doesn’t move someone who has information to provide information … I don’t know what will,” he said.
The family created a GoFundMe to pay for the 9-year-old’s medical fees as she continues to fight for her life with her parents by her side.