Home / Crime and Justice / Houston Youth Gun Violence Surges 45%
Houston Youth Gun Violence Surges 45%
17 Feb
Summary
- Firearm offenses rose 45% among Texas youth from 2020 to 2025.
- Seven teenagers were victims of separate shootings in Houston last week.
- Higher-risk youth needing mental health treatment reached all-time highs.
A concerning 45% increase in firearm offenses has been reported among young people in Texas between 2020 and 2025. Data from the Texas Juvenile Justice Department indicates a simultaneous rise in higher-risk youth exhibiting needs for aggression and mental health treatment, with these figures reaching all-time agency highs.
This trend is tragically reflected in Houston, where seven teenagers became victims of separate shootings in the past week alone. The most recent incident involved a 16-year-old girl fatally struck by gunfire at a house party attended by approximately 300 people on Dagg Road over the weekend.
Victims' ages in these recent shootings ranged from 15 to 19 years old. One teenager was killed at a car meet-up, while another, aged 16, was shot while selling items arranged via social media at his apartment complex. The violence underscores the pervasive risk of gun violence affecting young people in the city.
