Police make arrest in murder of 8-year-old girl shot moments after wreck

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Houston police say an arrest has been made in the murder of 8-year-old De'Maree Adkins. Chief Art Acevedo said HPD is working with the Fort Bend County District Attorney's Office to charge the suspect.

Chief Acevedo did not identify the suspect, but described him as a 19-year-old male. He said more details will be released when the suspect is charged.

Police say the girl's mother was driving home with her daughter around 2 a.m. Saturday, when a car that was possibly racing other vehicles, T-boned their car.  

"They t-boned, at some point somebody from the other two cars that were traveling at a high rate of speed got out and fired at the other vehicle striking a young 8-year-old female," said Houston Police Department homicide unit Detective David Stark. 

The shooting happened near 6300 block of South Sam Houston Parkway at West Fuqua. Chief Art Acevedo said during a press conference Wednesday that Adkins was not the intended victim.

Chief Acevedo said even though a suspect is in custody, anyone who knows anything needs to come forward. The chief said witnesses have a "moral obligation when a beautiful little girl is killed in front of her mother."

Mayor Sylvester Turner also stressed the importance of community participation in this investigation. He said it's because of the community stepping up and providing leads that someone is in custody.

Anyone with information is encouraged to contact the HPD Homicide Division by phone at 713-308-3600 or Crime Stoppers of Houston at 713-222-TIPS.