(Washington Insider Magazine)-HOUSTON (Transatlantic Today) – Three of his neighbors were reportedly killed by a shotgun-wielding man early on Sunday after he allegedly set fire to a number of rental units in Houston, including one he had just been evicted from, in an apparent attempt to draw the victims into an ambush, according to authorities.
Houston Police Chief Troy Finner stated during a press conference on Sunday that the suspect, a Black male in his 40s, was shot dead outside the burning homes by a policeman who arrived at the site as Houston firemen were forced to flee due to gunfire.
The incident happened in a southwest Houston neighborhood shortly after one o’clock in the morning on Sunday.
The suspect, whose identity was withheld for the time being, was just notified that he was being evicted from his room, according to Finner. However, according to Finner, a motive is still being investigated.
The chief claimed that starting at 1:07 a.m., many 911 calls were placed claiming there was a shooting and a fire.
Fire workers got on the site ahead of police, but when they encountered gunfire, they were forced to retreat, according to Houston Fire Department Assistant Chief Michael Mire.
After firemen came under fire, according to Finner, a Houston police officer with seven years of experience arrived at the site. According to Finner, the officer fatally shot the armed suspect after spotting him lying down in a parking lot across from the fire.
According to him, the officer, whose identity was not immediately made public, has been placed on administrative leave while an inquiry is ongoing.
Finner said that next to the suspected shooter’s body, authorities recovered a shotgun with a used round. If the man shot at the police prior to being shot dead, the man indicated it was still under investigation.
Two white guys, both in their 60s, were brutally shot and died at the scene, according to Finner. He identified the third shooting victim as a Black man in his 40s, and he was rushed to a hospital where he was later pronounced dead.
He said that a man in his 40s or 50s had been shot in the arm, and that another survivor had been injured while fleeing the scene.
The multi-unit rental complex’s landlord informed ABC station KTRK in Houston that the suspect had resided there since 2013 but had not made rent payments. This is where the flaming ambush took place. The tenant was officially kicked out and gave in his keys on Saturday, according to the landlord, who requested that his identity not be revealed.
According to the landlord, the complex’s property manager was one of the people killed in the attack.
