Serial shooter suspected in 5 random attacks on pedestrians, 1 dead

MISSOURI CITY, Texas -- Investigators in Houston report that a serial shooter targeted five people in the past week, killing one and injuring four. Each of the victims was walking alone at the time of their attacks and apparently picked at random. The suspect is still unknown and at large.

A man who police say is the fifth victim of the random shooter says he's still in shock over what happened to him since all he was doing was "going for a walk."

Jose, who wants to withhold his last name, said he woke up to a beautiful, sunny Sunday and decided to take a walk in his neighborhood. It was 7:30 a.m. and Jose was walking down Hampton Circle Road in Missouri City when he noticed a man pull over on the side of the road. The man then began walking toward him and stopped about six feet away from him when he began firing.

Jose says the suspect stayed quiet and gave no warning as he fired five shots. One bullet struck Jose in the arm. A second bullet grazed his abdomen.

Houston and Missouri City police believe Jose's case is linked to four other similar cases. In each instance, police say the victims, who are simply walking down the street, are shot at by the suspect who then drives away in a dark-colored SUV. One victim, Pak Ho, died. Police are now investigating multiple tips.

Another victim, a 21-year-old college student, says he thought his life was over.

"I'm just truly blessed, and my condolences to the family of the victims who weren't so lucky," he said.

Blessed is the only word the Missouri City man used to describe how he feels after his chilling, close encounter with the alleged killer.

"I wasn't expecting that. I was shocked. It all happened so fast. I was like, whoa," he says.

On Wednesday evening, the man was walking home from the store along Lexington.

"A black-colored Cherokee approached me. He kind of stopped back a little far, and I was guessing he had car problems because the front of the lights were off, so I didn't pay any attention to it," he says.

But that man didn't have car trouble, he was out to kill. The 21-year-old found himself staring down the barrel of a gun.

"He ran towards me with a gun, and he just pulled the trigger," the victim said.

But miraculously the gun didn't fire. It was jammed.

"When he pulled the trigger it started clicking. Then he started hitting the gun, and then that's when I took off," the victim said.

The five incidents are as follows:

Feb. 17, 7 p.m. in the 600 block of Lexington in Missouri City. The gun jammed, and the victim got away.

Feb. 17, 7:30 p.m. in the 8300 block of Twin Hills Drive. This is where Pak Ho was shot and killed.

Feb. 17, 10:30 p.m. in the 7900 block of Belbay. Victim was hit near the thigh area but survived.

Feb. 18, 1 a.m. in the 8500 block of Bissonnet. Victim was shot at the bus stop, but survived.

Feb. 23, 7:30 a.m. in the 15000 block of E. Hampton in Missouri City. Victim shot once in arm, grazed in stomach, and survived.

"Right now he seems to just be targeting people walking," says Detective Andy Robb.

The serial shooter mainly struck in southwest Houston. Police say he killed Ho on Twin Hills Dr., and shot another four, including the 21-year-old survivor, who says literally dodging a bullet has made life more precious than ever.

"I don't take it for granted. Because you never know when life will end," he said.

HPD Sgt. Tommy Ruland says investigators believe the suspect is driving a dark or black Jeep Cherokee, made somewhere between 1999 and the early 2000s.

"We're looking for a black male, light skin, possible mixed race, stocky build, early 30s," said Ruland.

"The MO seems to be consistent that everyone's attacked so far has been a pedestrian walking alone," said Ruland.

Anyone with information on the suspect in these incidents is urged to contact the HPD Homicide Division at 713-308-3600 or Crime Stoppers at 713-222-TIPS to be eligible for a reward of up to $5,000 for information leading to the arrest of the suspect.