An argument allegedly rooted in gang differences may have led to the shooting,.
The argument escalated between the two men when one drew a pistol from a backpack, and the other drew his piece from a jacket, resulting in a western-style gunfight in which as many as nine shots were fired.
One of the shooters was wounded, according to police. The second shooter ran and was hunted by tracking dogs in nearby woods but ended up turning himself in at a hospital later.
"He had it hidden in his clothes and after that, he pulled it out and started shooting the other guy and accidentally shot another dude, and a guy was on the floor saying, 'I'm shot, somebody help me. We ran into a back office and they locked the door, and we stayed there until the police came," said one witness.
A lot of people ran into the bookstores. They told us to get away from the doors and stay in, stuff like that," said another witness.
There are reports from witnesses that one of the innocent victims is a student and one is a teacher at Lone Star College.
There were no assault-style rifles used in the shootout nor long guns of any kind. According to police, the combatants had pistols. Even though Texas is a concealed carry state, Lone Star College has a policy against allowing guns., known as a gun-free zone.
Two of the victims have reportedly suffered multiple gunshot wounds but were conscious when they arrived at Ben Taub Hospital. Both have been taken into surgery in what's being called "relatively serious condition."
Medical crews could be seen tending to at least three victims outside buildings on campus.
The Aldine school district has four campuses near Lone Star on lockdown. Dunn Elementary, Parker Intermediate and Nimitz ninth grade campus and Nimitz High School campus have all been secured. Also, all after-school activities and athletics involving Nimitz High School have been canceled Tuesday afternoon and evening. The Aldine ISD police chief is monitoring the situation.
The Harris County Sheriff's Office shut down WW Thorne in both directions, preventing school buses from reaching the Aldine ISD schools. District officials say until the sheriff's office opens the road, students can't be moved from those campuses.
The University of Houston system was on high alert, as a precaution in the wake of the shooting. There has been no security threat at UH.
Officials have also closed Aldine Westfield and Old Hardy Road from Richey Road to FM 1960.
Texas Governor Rick Perry has been briefed on the situation and his office is in contact with state law enforcement. A staff member says the governor's thoughts and prayers are with those who have been impacted.
The Lone Star College System has an enrollment of 90,000 students and six college campuses, according to its website. Its North Harris campus is about 20 miles north of downtown Houston.
