‘Light of my life’: Mom mourns 5-year-old girl killed when suspect opens fire on family’s car

CYPRESS, Texas (KPRC) – A Texas mother is speaking out after her 5-year-old daughter was shot and killed and two of her siblings were injured when a suspect opened fire on the family’s car.

Monica Hicks says she was driving home from her mother’s house about 11:30 p.m. Saturday with her five children when someone opened fire on her car as she neared her apartment complex in northwest Harris County.

“I didn’t hear a loud gunshot, but I heard like a phew. By that time, my back window shattered. All my kids in the back seat were screaming, and they continued to shoot in my car,” Hicks said. “It’s so sad that on my way home to safety, me and my kids were basically gunned down.”

Hicks’ youngest daughter, 5-year-old Zah’Layah Walton, was hit by gunfire and later pronounced dead at a hospital. Two of her siblings were hurt by shattered glass.

“[Zah’Layah] was the light of my life. That was my baby,” Hicks said. “All of my children were there. They witnessed their sister lifeless on the floor, and they are traumatized.”

Harris County Sheriff Ed Gonzalez said 47-year-old Jeremy Porter was arrested Sunday and charged with capital murder. He said automated license plate reader technology helped detectives identify the suspect.

Court records show Porter admitted to firing five rounds at Hicks’ car. He allegedly said he shot at the car because he thought the people inside had shot at him and were driving erratically.

Hicks says Porter’s actions are inexcusable – regardless of any claimed justification.

“Anybody that’s defending him or feel like his actions are justifiable, y’all deserve to be exactly where he is,” Hicks said. “No one is going to bring my daughter back.”

Porter’s next court hearing was scheduled for Tuesday.…Read more by KPRC via CNN Newsource