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Teen killed during chase stemming from parking lot takeover

HARRIS COUNTY, Texas — A teen was killed and three other people were hospitalized after a vehicle fleeing deputies crashed in the 16500 block of Ella Boulevard overnight.

The incident began around 11:05 p.m. when deputies responded to reports of a vehicle doing donuts during a parking lot takeover near Veterans Memorial Drive and FM 1960, according to the Harris County Sheriff’s Office.

Deputies found the vehicle doing donuts while people inside were reportedly sitting on its doors. When deputies attempted a traffic stop, the driver fled eastbound on FM 1960 before turning south onto Ella Boulevard.

The driver turned off the vehicle’s headlights during the pursuit. The vehicle later struck a median curb at a high rate of speed, lost control and rolled before landing upright.

Investigators believe five people, most or all of them teens, were inside. One teen, believed to be about 15 or 16 years old, was pronounced deceased at the scene. Three other occupants were transported to local hospitals.

A fifth person fled the scene on foot. That person’s condition remains unknown.

Firearms were recovered from the vehicle. Investigators are working to identify the driver and determine whether the deceased teen was driving.

The crash is being investigated as an in-custody death because deputies did not lose sight of the vehicle during the pursuit.