Louise Wilson: Parents of Texas teen recently killed in a road-rage shooting share a message for murderer
HOUSTON, TEXAS: The devastated parents of a Texas teenage girl who recently lost her life in a road-rage shooting in Houston have shared a message for the perpetrator.
Last week, the Houston Police Department's Homicide Division released a new sketch of the man wanted in 17-year-old Louise Jean Wilson's on December 10, 2023, shooting death in an effort to try and identify him.
What did Louise Jean Wilson's parents say?
"We're Christian people, and nobody's too far from redemption," Louise's father, Daniel Wilson, told Fox News. "And whoever did this we know isn't a Christian at the moment, but they could always be one.… We want something good to come from her death," he added. Louise was shot while she was driving through Houston on I-45 at around 1 am to watch the sunrise with her friends in Galveston.
Why was Louise Jean Wilson shot?
Houston homicide Detective Caleb Bowling said last month that the teen, who was about to become a high school graduate, merged into the right lane and unknowingly cut off the suspect's vehicle. The suspect, described as a Black man in his 20s driving a black sedan, allegedly accelerated and "overtook" Wilson's vehicle on the driver's side before he began firing.
The girl has been regarded as a hero after she safely pulled off to the side of the road to save her friends' lives after being shot in the chest. Daniel said people need to understand "firing a gun into a car" will "kill someone."
"It's so much more serious than that," Daniel said, adding "I don't know this person's mindset, but what they did to our daughter – shooting into a car, you have to know you're going to kill somebody."
Louise Jean Wilson died at the scene
Louise was shot multiple times and died at the scene. One male witness was shot and transported to a hospital with injuries not considered life-threatening while the second male witness was not injured. "This was intentional," Krista Wilson, Louise's mother, said.
Daniel said that based on what they know from the Houston PD's investigation, the suspect was apparently carrying a firearm to fire in his car door or somewhere he could easily access it to shoot at other drivers. It is not clear exactly how many people were in the suspect's vehicle.
"Our plea is for anyone in the car to speak up," Daniel said. Krista added, "Whether they were involved or not."
Louise Jean Wilson's parents' desperate plea
Daniel is also pleading for Houston lawmakers to make improvements to the city's infrastructure, including cameras that can record on major roadways. The father said during a press conference last week that "this is not the country" he and his family members "fought to defend" in the military.
Police are looking for any additional witnesses who may have seen the shooting unfold to come forward with more information. A $20,000 reward is being offered for any information leading to the shooter's identity and arrest.
