Man killed while preparing for surprise party

A man was fatally shot Saturday with a gun that was believed to be unloaded while preparing for a party at a southeast Houston home, police said.

Homicide investigators say 26-year-old Martin Lopez, his wife and his wife’s sister were all preparing for a surprise birthday party at the home in the 5700 block of West Airport Boulevard. Lopez’s wife was with her sister in a bedroom when he asked her to bring him his gun, which he legally purchased, police said.

Police said the magazine was separated from the gun, and everyone believed the gun was not loaded. While the woman handed it to Lopez, the gun went off and fatally struck Lopez in the head, police said.