An argument during a Sunday night softball game escalated into a physical fight and a shooting, leaving a father of three dead and three other adults wounded, according to the Harris County Sheriff’s Office.
Jarmon Mattix, 36, died in the parking lot of Fall Creek Sports Complex at 9810 Wyatt Shores Drive. His sister, Destiny Williams, said she witnessed the shooting.
“He shot my brother right in front of me and my mother,” Williams said.
Williams described her oldest brother as an “amazing father” and “amazing brother,” a husband and a truck driver who worked every day.
“It’s just, it’s hard. It’s going to be hard to get through,” she said.
Deputies responded around 9:24 p.m. Oct. 18 to a weapons disturbance call reporting people fighting and gunshots, according to an HCSO news release.
They found Mattix unresponsive in the parking lot with gunshot wounds. Emergency medical personnel pronounced him dead at the scene.
Another man and two women were wounded and taken to a hospital with injuries authorities described as non-life-threatening. Sheriff Ed Gonzalez said they are expected to recover.
Williams said the injured women are her mother and Mattix’s wife. Gonzalez said Monday he could not confirm the relationships among the victims.
The sheriff’s office said detectives interviewed witnesses who described an argument during the game that escalated into a physical altercation in the parking lot, resulting in the shooting.
“Detectives have identified suspects involved in the shooting and are conducting follow-up interviews,” the release states.
The release did not identify those suspects or announce charges.
Williams said she arrived after the softball game had started but was present for the confrontation in the parking lot. She said she heard racial slurs before her brother was shot.
“He was over here just yelling different racial slurs,” Williams said.
Williams believes her brother was targeted because of racial bias. Investigators have not established a racial motive in the information provided to KPRC 2.
Asked about her account Monday, Gonzalez said the investigative supervisor had not reported that allegation to him during their morning conversation.
“There was no indication that he made to me regarding that,” Gonzalez said.
He said those concerns would be examined.
“And those aspects will be looked into. But I hadn’t heard of it,” he said.
Williams wants investigators to thoroughly examine what happened.
“Do your job. Make sure you do it to the fullest extent,” she said. “Black. Brown. White. Blue. It doesn’t matter. We all are people.”
Gonzalez offered condolences to Mattix’s family and called for people to handle disagreements before they become violent.
“It’s heartbreaking when you see an evening of recreation and fellowship that ends up in violence,” he said. “And we’ve got to do better at managing conflicts, you know, and making sure they don’t end up becoming just senseless violence.”
Gonzalez also referenced the recent death of a 5-year-old girl in a roadway shooting.
“All of this is preventable,” he said.
Andy Kahan, director of victim services at Crime Stoppers of Houston, said he is concerned about people turning to firearms to settle disagreements.
“So I think in this day and age, unfortunately, people are more prone to anger,” Kahan said. “And when they get angered, they have no issues or problems about using a firearm to settle their differences.”
Kahan said overall gun violence is declining while juvenile gun violence is increasing. However, he did not provide underlying data establishing the comparison periods during the interview.
All four people shot at the softball complex were adults, but he said anger management remains a concern.
Mental health expert Chau Nguyen said people do not have to engage in every argument — and should prioritize their safety over resolving a disagreement in the moment.
“The best thing you can do to deescalate is walk away,” Nguyen said.
She said people should recognize that another person involved in a confrontation could have a weapon.
“Walk away, it’s just not worth your life,” she said.
For bystanders, Nguyen recommended contacting authorities rather than joining the confrontation.
“If you’re a bystander, the best thing a bystander can do is call the authorities,” she said. “You don’t need to be part of the confrontation.”
Gonzalez similarly urged people to seek help when a disturbance is escalating.
“If it’s something that’s getting out of hand, if it’s escalating, you know, it’s always best just to call your local authorities, call 911,” he said.
Nguyen also encouraged adults to consider what children are learning from their reactions.
“Model good behavior, healthy conflict resolution,” she said.
Feeling angry does not require acting aggressively. Guidance from Houston Methodist, Mayo Clinic and the American Psychological Association recommends creating a pause between the emotion and the response.
If you feel yourself getting worked up:
If another person is becoming aggressive, prioritize distance and safety rather than trying to win the argument. If someone threatens violence or there is an immediate danger, get to safety and call 911.
In Harris County, people can text 911 if it is too dangerous to speak. Give dispatchers the location and follow their instructions. Calling is preferred when it is safe to do so. 911.org
Kahan urged firearm owners to keep their guns locked up so children and people who should not have access cannot reach them.
“Well, if you have firearms, you have to keep them locked up,” he said. “It can’t be accessible for anybody.”
He also encouraged parents to ask about firearm storage before their children visit another home.
“If you have a teenager and they’re going over a friend’s house, you know, be a parent,” Kahan said. “Does that particular family have a firearm? Do they have a gun? Do they keep it locked up?”
Anyone — including students — can anonymously report concerns about someone possessing a weapon they should not have to Crime Stoppers at 713-222-TIPS (8477).
“So if you’re in school or you know somebody that has a weapon and they shouldn’t have a weapon, you can always reach out to Crime Stoppers,” Kahan said.
Crime Stoppers is a way to share information anonymously; an immediate threat or emergency should be reported to 911.
Anyone with information about the Fall Creek Sports Complex shooting is asked to contact the Harris County Sheriff’s Office Homicide Unit at 713-274-9100 or Crime Stoppers of Houston at 713-222-TIPS (8477).
