Deputies said about 30 people were at the apartment complex pool when the child was found unresponsive.
HARRIS COUNTY, Texas — A 5-year-old boy died Saturday after he was found unresponsive in a crowded apartment complex pool in northwest Harris County, authorities said.
The drowning happened about 7 p.m. July 4 at the Cortland Wortham Apartments in the 10225 block of Wortham Boulevard, near North Eldridge Parkway and FM 1960. The Harris County Sheriff’s Office said deputies responded to a life-in-danger call and found emergency crews trying to save the child.
Investigators said the boy had been at the pool with his mother and aunt. At some point, the child went underwater while the adults were in another area of the pool, deputies said. A person at the pool noticed the boy was unresponsive and helped pull him from the water. “We all jumped in to help,” a neighbor told ABC13. “We did all that we could to try to save his life.”
Emergency medical workers performed CPR at the pool before taking the child to a hospital. He was pronounced dead there, deputies said. Authorities said at least 30 people were in or near the pool when the boy was found. Several people left before investigators arrived, but deputies said many had been identified and would be interviewed.
Sheriff Ed Gonzalez said investigators were working to learn how long the boy had been underwater and what happened in the moments before he was found. Deputies also were seeking surveillance video from apartment management to build a clearer timeline. Officials had not released the child’s name as of Sunday.
The case remained under investigation by the Harris County Sheriff’s Office. Detectives said the Harris County District Attorney’s Office will review the findings and decide whether any charges are warranted. No charges had been announced Sunday, and officials said several details, including exactly how the child went underwater, were still unknown.
The death came during a busy Fourth of July holiday period for Harris County first responders. Gonzalez said deputies also handled another child water emergency that day, involving an 8-year-old who was taken to a hospital in serious condition after a separate pool incident in the Humble area.
The Cortland Wortham complex sits in a residential and commercial area of northwest Harris County, close to major roads and apartment communities. On Saturday night, investigators remained at the scene as they spoke with witnesses and worked with property staff. The pool area had been crowded before the emergency call, deputies said.
As of Sunday, the sheriff’s office had not announced a final timeline or cause beyond drowning. The next step is witness interviews, video review and referral to prosecutors once detectives complete their preliminary findings.
Author note: Last updated July 5, 2026.