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| Gunman dead after 'random' rifle rampage in Houston suburb | Gunman dead after 'random' rifle rampage in Houston suburb |
| (about 3 hours later) | |
| At least one man armed with a high-powered rifle went on a shooting rampage through a suburban Houston neighbourhood on Sunday, police said, resulting in two deaths and multiple injuries. | At least one man armed with a high-powered rifle went on a shooting rampage through a suburban Houston neighbourhood on Sunday, police said, resulting in two deaths and multiple injuries. |
| Violence erupted at about 10.15am at an auto repair shop, police said. The incident was not declared over for more than two hours as police combed the area, searching for the suspect or suspects, who appeared to be shooting at officers and random civilians, and even a helicopter. | Violence erupted at about 10.15am at an auto repair shop, police said. The incident was not declared over for more than two hours as police combed the area, searching for the suspect or suspects, who appeared to be shooting at officers and random civilians, and even a helicopter. |
| One suspect was killed by a Swat team member. Another man, potentially a suspect, was shot and taken to hospital but is expected to live, police said. | |
| Police spokesman John Cannon said that the dead man is believed to be a customer in his fifties. “The suspect just came out unprovoked and fatally shot him for no apparent reason,” he said. Cannon said that the main suspect was armed with a pistol, which he used to kill the man in the vehicle, and the rifle that he used to shoot at police. | |
| The spokesman said the active shooter incident lasted about an hour but police continued to search the area in response to unfounded reports of a third gunman. | |
| Two officers narrowly escaped serious injury and three civilians were hurt, Montalvo said. One of the officers was struck by a bullet but survived because he was wearing a protective vest, she said. A deputy was hit in the hand. The condition of the others was not immediately known. All were taken to hospital. | |
| “The suspects had high-powered rifles, AR-15s,” she said, speaking before police had questioned whether there were two gunmen. “We do not know what started this, but we do know that they were shooting randomly.” | “The suspects had high-powered rifles, AR-15s,” she said, speaking before police had questioned whether there were two gunmen. “We do not know what started this, but we do know that they were shooting randomly.” |
| A fire broke out at a gas station opposite the repair shop, possibly sparked by a bullet hitting a pump, Montalvo said. | A fire broke out at a gas station opposite the repair shop, possibly sparked by a bullet hitting a pump, Montalvo said. |
| A police helicopter had to take evasive action after being hit by five bullets, police said, underlining the power of the weapons used. | A police helicopter had to take evasive action after being hit by five bullets, police said, underlining the power of the weapons used. |
| The suspects were described as white or Hispanic, but no further information was released. | The suspects were described as white or Hispanic, but no further information was released. |
| Standing close to a police SUV with a windscreen riddled with bullet holes, Ray Hunt, president of the Houston police union, said it was remarkable that more people were not injured or killed. | Standing close to a police SUV with a windscreen riddled with bullet holes, Ray Hunt, president of the Houston police union, said it was remarkable that more people were not injured or killed. |
| “This is a miraculous situation for the police involved. It could have been a lot worse,” he said. | “This is a miraculous situation for the police involved. It could have been a lot worse,” he said. |
| Hunt said the constable wearing a vest was shot in the chest but was virtually unscathed because the bullets hit metal breast plates, passing through and lodging in the fabric behind. | Hunt said the constable wearing a vest was shot in the chest but was virtually unscathed because the bullets hit metal breast plates, passing through and lodging in the fabric behind. |
| “It definitely saved his life,” he said. | “It definitely saved his life,” he said. |
| Earlier, Swat teams had gone door to door conducting searches in the neighbourhood around Memorial Drive, which is mostly residential but also has a country club and two big upscale outdoor shopping malls. | Earlier, Swat teams had gone door to door conducting searches in the neighbourhood around Memorial Drive, which is mostly residential but also has a country club and two big upscale outdoor shopping malls. |
| Full of families and popular with energy industry workers, the area 15 miles west of downtown Houston is what many would consider an example of the American dream, with large detached homes along quiet, tree-lined streets, many flying the stars and stripes by their front porches. | Full of families and popular with energy industry workers, the area 15 miles west of downtown Houston is what many would consider an example of the American dream, with large detached homes along quiet, tree-lined streets, many flying the stars and stripes by their front porches. |
| But on Sunday it was more akin to a battleground as police blocked off roads, officers swarmed the streets as a helicopter buzzed overhead and locals were urged to shelter indoors. | But on Sunday it was more akin to a battleground as police blocked off roads, officers swarmed the streets as a helicopter buzzed overhead and locals were urged to shelter indoors. |
| This guy is super lucky. Was shot at at by shooter while he was driving. He's okay! #khou11 pic.twitter.com/Aou97HnfGw | This guy is super lucky. Was shot at at by shooter while he was driving. He's okay! #khou11 pic.twitter.com/Aou97HnfGw |
| One resident told KHOU local news that he was driving when a bullet came through the right front door of his truck and through the front passenger seat. “I was driving, and that’s when I heard ‘thump’,” he said. | One resident told KHOU local news that he was driving when a bullet came through the right front door of his truck and through the front passenger seat. “I was driving, and that’s when I heard ‘thump’,” he said. |
| Lisa Schwartz was returning from church when she passed the initial scene, a few blocks from her home. | Lisa Schwartz was returning from church when she passed the initial scene, a few blocks from her home. |
| “I just thought the first shot was a firecracker,” she said, standing on the corner of a street blocked off at both ends by about a dozen police cars. “We drove right by it … then we kept hearing multiple rounds and it was close.” | “I just thought the first shot was a firecracker,” she said, standing on the corner of a street blocked off at both ends by about a dozen police cars. “We drove right by it … then we kept hearing multiple rounds and it was close.” |
| Another resident, Kevin Swantkowski, “thought it was fireworks”, he said, until he realised the time, and wondered: “Why are they doing fireworks?” | Another resident, Kevin Swantkowski, “thought it was fireworks”, he said, until he realised the time, and wondered: “Why are they doing fireworks?” |
| He described the area as “just suburbia”. The events were “pretty crazy”, he added. “Man, guess we’re staying in tonight.” | He described the area as “just suburbia”. The events were “pretty crazy”, he added. “Man, guess we’re staying in tonight.” |