AUSTIN, Texas – Authorities in Texas are searching for a 39-year-old suspect accused of fatally shooting an 8-year-old and four other neighbors.
On Saturday morning, San Jacinto County Sheriff Greg Capers said authorities were still searching for the suspect, a Texas man who was armed with an AR-style rifle. Authorities said he went next door and began shooting after the family asked him to stop firing rounds in his yard because they were trying to sleep.
The shooting occurred overnight in the town of Cleveland, about 45 miles north of Houston.
Capers said the suspect is a resident of Mexico. According to an update posted on the sheriff’s office’s Facebook page Saturday morning, a judge has issued an arrest warrant for the suspect and assigned a $5 million dollar bond.
Capers asked residents nearby to avoid the area, due to a heavy police presence.
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According to Capers:
- There were 10 people in the house – four were confirmed dead at the scene, and the 8-year-old child was pronounced dead at a hospital.
- Three other patients were transported to the hospital and their status “is not known at this time.”
- A pediatric patient was transported to a local trauma center using a helicopter, police said.
- There were 2 additional people inside the residence that were evaluated on scene and released.
Two of the victims, all believed to be from Honduras, were found laying over two children inside, he said.
“The Honduran ladies that were laying over these children were doing it in such an effort as to protect the child,” Capers said.
What authorities say happened before the shooting
Family members walked up to the fence and asked the suspect to stop shooting rounds, Capers said. In response, the suspect told them it was his property, Capers said. One person in the house got a video of the suspect walking up to the front door with the rifle, he said.
Authorities have previously been to the suspect’s home, and had “spoke with him about him shooting his gun in the yard,” Capers said.
Some of those in the house had just moved from Houston earlier in the week, but he did not know whether they were planning to stay there, Capers said.
Who are the victims?
Three of the victims were women and one was a man. Their names were not released. Capers said the victims were between the ages of 8 and about 40 years old.
Authorities did not immediately release the gender of the child who died but said several other children were found unharmed.
Contributing: The Associated Press
