'I literally hear the gunshots pass my face': 9 injured amid barrage of gunshots in Houston
A man opened fire on commuters near a strip mall in southwest Houston, Texas, early Monday morning, wounding nine people before being shot and killed by police. A bomb squad is searching what is believed to be the suspect's car.
Eyewitnesses, many of whom were traveling along Weslayen Street in the West University Place neighborhood, said a gunman carrying a revolver opened fire, shooting dozens of bullets beginning around 6:20am local time.
#Houston shooting UPDATE: Gunman killed by police https://t.co/T3qIk1JBpI
— RT America (@RT_America) September 26, 2016
The Houston Police Department (HPD) confirmed "an active shooter situation in a shopping center near the corner of Weslayan and Bissonnet in southwest Houston," and that police killed the suspect while he exchanged gunfire with officers. HPD said it considers the scene "still active" but contained. A bomb squad is checking a Porsche believed to have belonged to the suspect near The Oaks condominiums on Law Street.
EXCLUSIVE VIDEO: Shots fired as Houston Police confront suspect firing randomly near Weslayan, injuring nine. https://t.co/f9Vl1ZIgE6pic.twitter.com/Y0xYj4esIt
— abc13 Houston (@abc13houston) September 26, 2016
BREAKING: HFD says suspect in active shooter investigation is dead. #khou11pic.twitter.com/U15AI2J6ZS
— Lauren Talarico (@KHOULauren) September 26, 2016
The HPD said nine people were injured amid the gunshots, one of whom is in critical condition. The FBI said its agents are on the scene.
FBI offering HPD assistance with ongoing investigation of active shooter incident in southwest Houston @HoustonPolice remains lead agency
— FBI Houston (@FBIHouston) September 26, 2016
The HPD said the suspect is "reportedly a lawyer," and that the car police searched "had additional weapons inside."
Suspect vehicle had additional weapons inside. #hounews.
— Houston Police (@houstonpolice) September 26, 2016
Suspect reportedly a lawyer. Investigation to determine if issues at his firm led to shooting. #hounews
— Houston Police (@houstonpolice) September 26, 2016
HPD Interim Chief Martha Montalvo told reporters that the gunman was having problems at the firm for which he worked and that police were searching the shooter's social media. Montalvo would not identify the suspect. The HPD said it will also search the suspect's home.
Suspect reportedly a lawyer. Investigation to determine if issues at his firm led to shooting. #hounews
— Houston Police (@houstonpolice) September 26, 2016
The Porsche is registered to attorney Nathan Desai, according to KPRC's Aaron Wische.
#BREAKING:@houstonpolice say gunman was attorney who had issues at firm. @KPRC2: Porsche being searched registered to attorney Nathan Desai
— Aaron Wische KPRC (@AaronKPRC) September 26, 2016
Former law firm of Nathan Desai, lawyer whose car is focus of #HoustonShooting investigation. #abc13pic.twitter.com/4piCaEWd2y
— Miya Shay (@miyashay) September 26, 2016
Looks like alleged #Houston shooter attorney Nathan Desai was a real player with his clients pic.twitter.com/H90xYgDz3T
— StockMarketNietzsche (@Investor4201) September 26, 2016
Witness Antoine Wilson, who told KTRK that he was traveling near the scene at the time of the shots, said: "I literally hear the gunshots pass my face" as he was attempting to understand what was occurring.
"It was a whole bunch of shooting, and I had [rolled] my window down to see what was going on … and didn't realize that I was right there by the shooter," Wilson said, adding he did not see the gunman.
6 shot, gunman taken down by police in SW Houston, Eyewitness tells @FotiKallergis what he saw https://t.co/f9Vl1ZqFMy#abc13pic.twitter.com/DVn90B1JF6
— abc13 Houston (@abc13houston) September 26, 2016
"The first shots came into my friend windows. My front window was shot through four times, my side window was shot," another eyewitness told KTRK. "We don't know where the shooter was. I don't know if he was on foot or where he was."
6 injured in Weslayan shootings, gunman 'neutralized,' officials say
— abc13 Houston (@abc13houston) September 26, 2016
Victim speaks about her harrowing experiencehttps://t.co/Fs5eviA0lHpic.twitter.com/S4YTk9QBAo
This kid's composure! He was woken up by gunshots when shooting scene erupted outside his SW Houston home: https://t.co/uLwgvEDlxx#abc13pic.twitter.com/ImBT33SfI5
— abc13 Houston (@abc13houston) September 26, 2016
Many commuters had vehicles with bullet holes and busted windows, according to local reports.
He was on the way to the gym this morning. Shot at twice. Not injured. #khou11pic.twitter.com/uTE7mO9l6e
— Josh Marshall (@JoshKHOU) September 26, 2016
Seeing several vehicles hit by gunfire ditched near shooting scene. #abc13pic.twitter.com/SvV7ixPHVH
— Kevin Quinn (@imkevinquinn) September 26, 2016
The wife of a shooting victim relayed to KTRK the harrowing story of her husband being shot at the scene.
"All I know is that he was screaming on the phone, 'I'm hit, Jen, I'm hit,'" she said. "I go into hysterics, I call my best friend and her husband is a sergeant for HPD. And basically they told me, 'Get down, it's a hot zone right now. There are cops everywhere on the ground'."
Wife of shooting victim recalls terrifying scene in SW #Houston. FULL COVERAGE: https://t.co/0AKeWfESa6#abc13#hounewspic.twitter.com/iP0xhyRUHR
— abc13 Houston (@abc13houston) September 26, 2016
Houston Mayor Sylvester Turner said officials believe the shooter was acting alone.
"The motivation appears to be a lawyer whose relationship with his law firm went bad," Turner told reporters.
Mayor @SylvesterTurner on shooting: From all indications, it was a lone gunman and he's been "put down" - https://t.co/PpBPothZ2c#abc13
— Miya Shay (@miyashay) September 26, 2016
Governor Greg Abbott tweeted a message of sympathy for the victims of Monday's shooting.
Statement on the horrific shooting in Houston this morning: pic.twitter.com/mubrx2oG9m
— Gov. Greg Abbott (@GovAbbott) September 26, 2016