February 28, 2011 - Houston police are investigating the death of a child found after extinguishing a fire at 1215 Herbert about 11:10 p.m. on Sunday (Feb. 27).

The victim, Muhammad Salim Gillespie, 5, suffered burns anad was pronounced dead at the scene.

HPD Homicide Division Sergeant B. Evans and Officer K. Meeks reported:

HPD patrol officers and HFD were called to the scene of a house fire at the above location.  A woman and her two small children were asleep inside the residence and were awakened by a strong smell of smoke.  The woman saw the flames in the dining room area, grabbed her two children and attempted to ehlp them escape through a window.  The five-year-old chlld (Gillespie) panicked and ran away from his mother.  The mother helped her other son escape and then ran next door to her mother's house to get help in re-entering the burning home to find the boy.  Several attempts were made to re-enter the home and locate the child but were unsuccessful.  HFD emergency personnel arrived, entered the fully engulfed residence and found the child at the back of the house, lying next to the bathroom.  He died at the scene.

The cause of the fire will be determined by the HFD Arson Division.

VHS/JKS  2-28-11
Inc. #025541811