A five-year-old boy remains in a critical condition in hospital after an eight-year-old family friend shot and wounded him.
Houston Police Department were called to a home in Houston Gardens at 12.30pm on Saturday after reports of a shooting.
The boy's dad took the eight-year-old to a hospital and he was later transported by helicopter to another - with his condition said to be critical, according to police.
Commander Jonathan Halliday revealed the older child, who was described as a family friend, had a gash on his head and was taken to a nearby hospital as a precaution.
However, details surrounding his injuries have not been released.
Mr Halliday said: "When they arrived, they learned that a five-year-old had been shot one time reportedly by an eight-year-old."
Police confirmed three people are being held in connection with the shooting - but no charges have been brought.
The officer said: "We know that one adult was inside the house, but we're not sure the total number of people."
Mr Halliday said it was not clear how the older boy got his hands on the gun but revealed "they're all family friends".
There was at least one adult at home when the gunshot went off - with the police's department for major assaults investigating the shooting.
The shooting comes just weeks after a young boy allegedly shot dead his mother because she refused to buy him a virtual reality headset.
The 10-year-old suspect, from Milwaukee in the US state of Wisconsin, initially told police that the shooting was an accident.
However he later changed his story and said he intentionally aimed the gun at his mother, 44-year-old Quiana Mann, before pulling the trigger just before 7am on November 21.
The youngster has been charged an adult with first-degree reckless homicide due to Wisconsin law's which states kids as young as 10 must be charged as adults for serious crimes.
The child's lawyers are trying to have the case transferred to a juvenile court.
His lawyer, Angela Cunningham, described the case as "an absolute family tragedy".
The boy, who was described by family members as having mental health issues, is currently being held in juvenile detention.
